Born in Ohio. Enlisted in the 63rd Ohio Infantry for three years. Mustered in as a Sergeant in Company E. Promoted to Adjutant and 1st Lieutenant of the 1st Alabama Infantry (African Descent) on 18 May 1863. Removed from duty as Adjutant and assigned to Company C on 18 May 1863. Mustered in on 11 Jun 1863 for three years at Corinth, Mississippi. On 3 Dec 1863 assigned to detached duty at provisional encampment at Fort Pickering, Memphis, Tennessee. Unit designation changed to 55th U.S. Colored Infantry on 11 Mar 1864. Dismissed from the service on 27 May 1864 for getting intoxicated and giving the countersign to unauthorized persons. A member of Custer Post No. 6 of Tacoma, Pierce County, Washington. Transferred to Phil H. Sheridan Post No. 44 of Tacoma, Washington. In 1891 served as Commander of Post No. 44. Died in Tacoma, Washington. Many of his records spell his last name as "Haskins", during his lifetime he signed his name as "Haskin".