Zeph was born on 5 June 1871. He was the son of
Thomas W. Haynes and
Agnes Isabella Fee. Zeph died on 26 March 1886 at age 14. He was New Tag Obituary from the March 30, 1886 Arkansas Gazette:
"Monticello, Mar. 27 - This has been quite an eventful day for Monticello. One death and three fights. Little Zeph Haynes, the son of Mrs. Belle Haynes, widow of Tom Haynes, formerly sheriff of this county, accidentally shot and killed himself today. The circumstances, as brought out in the evidence before the coroners jury of inquest were about as follows: He went hunting with two boys, 15 or 16 years old, who live near this place. When they had been for some time rambling through the woods in quest of game, one of the older boys and Zeph were endeavoring to swap guns. Zeph, not being exactly satisfied with the other's gun, proposed to test it by shooting at a bird sitting on the limb of a tree before them. In order to do this, he started to lean his own, a single barrel shotgun, against a tree. The gun being cocked and the muzzle pointing toward him, the hammer struck the tree and it went off, firing a whole load directly through his heart, killing him instantly! The charge entered his left breast, going through his heart and came out just under his shoulder blade near his backbone. The tragedy occurred about two miles from this place. The poor little fellow, whom the writer knew well, was a bright, affectionate, promising and obedient child of 12 or 13 years old. Being a favorite and loved by all who knew him, his loss is regretted with the deepest sorrow by the good people of our town. But, oh, for the bitter pangs and aching heart of that sadly bereaved, loving and gentle mother. Permit the writer to express his heartfelt sympathy and profound sorrow. May God comfort her bleeding heart, soften the intense anguish of her troubled sould and help her to bear the awful grief of a true and devoted mother."
On 30 March 1886 at
Monticello, Drew Co., Arkansas.