The surviving off-shoots of an old apple tree originally planted over 150 years ago on the Haines family land claim are preserved here in the present-day town of Merlin. The Haines family were among the victims of the Rogue' reprisal raids on the bloody morning of Oct. 9, 1855. The bodies of Mr. Haines and his son were found dead and mutilated at the scene; his wife and daughter, already suffering from dysentery, were taken and reportedly died a few days later from their illness.