By the time Seth was born, the area in which his parents were farming was named Hire Township. Don't be mislead by the place of birth stated in his obituary: Blandinsville. The majority of Blandinsville lies in Blandinsville Township, with a small portion lipping over into present day Hire Township. Seth's parents were counted in present day Hire Township from 1855 through 1880, and an 1885 biography of Seth's father stated he lived on Section 2 (2 plus miles to the southeast of the southern boundry of Blandinsville village) and owned additional acreage in Section 11. The latter abuts Section 2 on the south. The naming of Blandinsville in Seth's obituary is a common example of a nearby town being named rather than a rural location. It wasn't until George W. Hainline (Seth's father) married his second wife in 1893, that George was reported to be a resident of Blandinsville Township.

Seth married (first) Mattie B. Benner; married (second) Hannah M. Linville.

Regarding the displayed middle name, the only available document in which that appeared was the obituary of his son, Roy Lester Hainline. Seth never used even an initial.

Although year of birth 1855 is on his tombstone, death certificate and in an obituary, there is strong evidence that 1855 is incorrect. (The death certificate and obituary stated he was born September 1, 1855.) Census records bear inconsistent information. Following are extracted entries:

1860
Frances M, 7, male
Jacob, 6,
Seth, 5, [born about 1854]
James, 3/12 [James Oliver]

1870
Frances M, 16, female [sic]
Jacob E, 14
Oliver, 12
Seth, 10 [James Oliver and Seth, inverted order; Seth born about 1859]

1880 - Not found with certainty

1887 marriage license - Seth
1900 - Seth, Sept 1859
1902 marriage license - Seth
1910 - Seth, 48 [born about 1861]
1920 - Seth, 58 [born about 1861]
1930 - Seth, 68 [born about 1861]
1940 - Seth, INFORMANT, 81 [born about 1858]
1948 - death certificate - born Sept 1, 1855; his daughter, Effie, was the informant.

Records for Francis are far more consistent and support his reported date of birth. Records for Jacob, born between Francis and Seth, are somewhat consistent. In an 1885 biography of their father, these three brothers were named as:

Francis M., born Mar 30, 1855
Jacob E., born Nov 16, 1856
Seth, born Sept 1, 1858

What is the likelihood that Mary Jane, Seth's mother, gave birth to Francis on March 30, 1855, and Seth on Sept 1, 1855?

Seth's obituary was published December 23, 1948, in the Sentinel.