White settlers and miners outnumbered the Oregon Indians as the United States proposed treaties that would move them off their lands onto reservations. Miners formed a volunteer group called “Exterminationist” because they believed the Indians were going to attack them. Attacks against Indians throughout the coastal and Rogue River Valley regions resulted in the massacre of men, women, and children of several peaceful tribes, leaving Indians decimated by disease, hunger, and homelessness. On October 7, 1855, the “Exterminationist” attacked and murdered 8 men, 15 women and children in a dawn attack. In retaliation, a group of “Rogue” Indians traveled up the valley attacking and killing white settlers. The Haines family were among those killed. Accounts from the time vary on the numbers killed and the name of the “Rogue” Indians. On October 9, 1855, at the homestead where the Haines family were massacred, Mr. Haines was found murdered and scalped, his young sons were killed with tomahawks, and Mrs. Haines and a daughter were taken captive. One account says they were later killed and their bodies thrown into the Rogue River near Hellsgate, while another says they later died from influenza and their bodies were found by the Rogue River near Hellsgate. Volunteer militia found the horrible scene duplicated many times in the Rogue River Valley that day. The apple tree on this site was planted by the Haines family.
