Charles J. Haas
A highly profitable and productive farm of two hundred and
eighty acres on section 19, French Creek township, Allamakee
county, is evidence of intelligent labor along agricultural lines
undertaken by Charles J. Haas, who was born upon the property
October 4, 1872. As his father, who settled upon this property,
was one of the most progressive men of his time, he follows in
his footsteps and is considered the most modern and up-to-date
agriculturist in French Creek township.
Joseph Haas, the father, a native of Germany, came to America
when about twenty years of age, entering upon his first work at
West Point, New York, where he subsequently removed to St. Louis,
where he was engaged in railroad work as stone mason and stone
cutter. Later he took contracts for putting in culverts and
laying of steel and finally by branching out was enabled to make
agreements which covered complete jobs of railroad construction.
In 1851, Joseph Haas came to Allamakee county to see his mother,
who had preceded him here and during his sojourn assisted in
completing the building of the stone elevator at Lansing.
Returning to St. Louis, he remained there until 1856, when a
brother in Allamakee county wrote him that a railroad was then to
be built form the junction to Waukon. Packing up his tools and
instruments, he came with his outfit and teams to Allamakee
county in order to be on the spot if construction should begin,
but although the road had been surveyed its building was delayed
for several years. He therefore turned his attention to
agricultural matters and purchasing three hundred acres of land
in French Creek township settled thereon. About thirty-five acres
of this tract were under cultivation and a primitive log shanty
was upon the farm. In 1857-8 Mr. Haas erected the stone house
which still stands and here made his home, engaging in the
breaking of the land and placing his acres under cultivation,
continuing in general farming until his demise on August 31,
1900. Careful management and thorough and progressive methods
resulted in gratifying financial returns and he was enabled to
extend the boundaries of his farm until comprised six hundred and
eighty acres. It was said of him by his old-time neighbors that
he was the most up-to-date farmer in French Creek township, for
it was he who installed upon his farm the first mowing machine,
the first riding plow and the first threshing machine. In fact it
was he who was always first to own any new machine, to try out
its merits, and always first to adopt any new method. That he was
successful his ensuing prosperity was the soundest proof. Joseph
Haas was united in marriage, in St. Louis, to Miss Julia
Remstein, a native of Germany, who came to the United States in
the company of friends when a young woman, and at the time of her
marriage was employed in St. Louis. She was a true helpmate to
her husband during all her life, and after his demise made her
home in Mankato, Minnesota, passing away at an advanced age in
April 1913. It is but natural that a man of such advanced views
as Mr. Haas should have taken an active part in the public life
of his township, and he held all the township offices with the
exception of that of assessor, ever discharging his duties to the
satisfaction of his constituents. He gave his support to the
democratic party and both he and his wife were members of the
Catholic church. In their family were ten children: Joseph, who
died at the age of twenty: Lawrence, of Hammer North Dakota;
George, of Jackson Junction, Iowa; Ferdinand, a salesman for the
International Harvester Company; Mary, the wife of Henry Sheltie,
of Kansas; Matilda, of Great Falls, Montana; Julia, who married
S. J. Ray, of Helena, Montana; Henry, of Waukon, this state;
Charles L. J., the subject of this review; and Katie, the wife of
Joseph Schultz, of Wilmont, Minnesota.
Charles J. Haas was reared under the parental roof and there were
early instilled into his boyish consciousness the old-fashioned
virtues of honesty and industry. In the acquirement of his
education he attended the district schools and later a business
college at Waukon, Iowa and at La Crosse, Wisconsin. Early he
became acquainted with agricultural pursuits, acquiring thorough
methods under the able guidance of his father and assisting him
until his own marriage, after which he continued along the same
line. He lost his wife soon afterward and then attended Upper
Iowa University, after which he was for one summer employed by
the Atlas Art Studio of Chicago, for which concern he solicited
orders for photo enlarging. The following summer he was employed
as fireman by the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad, running
out from Eagle Grove, Iowa, and for the following two years held
a position with the Plano Manufacturing Company, being stationed
as agent in North Dakota. When his father passed away in 1900 he
was appointed administrator of the estate and returned home.
After the affairs were settled none of the other heirs wishing to
take over the farm, he purchased the interests of the others and
has since continued the operation of the old homestead with ever
increasing success. He owns two hundred and eighty acres, all of
which is in a high state of cultivation, and engages in general
farming, planting grains most suitable to soil and climate, and
giving a great deal of attention to stock-raising. His buildings
are modern and up-to-date, substantial and suitable, and the
latest machinery and implements can be found upon his farm in
order to facilitate the labors that increase the yield of the
land. Mr. Haas follows in every way in the footsteps of his
father as a progressive agriculturist, and he has the distinction
of being the first in French Creek township to own an automobile.
The first wife of Mr. Haas was Miss Alice O’Brien, a native
of Allamakee county and a daughter of James O’Brien. Of this
marriage one son was born, Charles James, at home. Mr. Haas was
again married, his second union being with Miss Helen
Tilzenberger, a native of St. Lucas, Fayette county, Iowa. They
have six children: Viola Laona, Anna Marie, Evelyn Eleanora,
Daniel Ferdinand, Bernard John and Merill Joseph.
In his political views Mr. Haas reserves independent judgment
giving his indorsement to whatever candidates he considers best
suited to the offices to which they aspire. He has efficiently
served as township trustee and as school director has done much
toward promoting the cause of education. Both he and his wife are
members of the Catholic church, to which they give helpful
support, and are highly respected and esteemed in French Creek
township for their qualities of mind and character. While Mr.
Haas has attained individual prosperity and is considered one of
the most prosperous agriculturists of his district, he had done
much toward promoting general advancement and had proven a
serviceable factor in making this section one of the richest in
the state. He is public-spirited in the best since of the word
and is even glad to bear his share of time and money in promoting
any worthy public enterprise.
-source: Past & Present of Allamakee County; by
Ellery M. Hancock; S. J. Clarke Pub. Co.; 1913
-transcribed by Diana Diedrich
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