Haas, William 1870 - 1918

HAAS, MILLER, WILKINS, HUNTER, LINCOLN

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 12/16/2013 at 19:58:50

Elgin Echo, Thur., 21 March 1918. (condensed).

It has been some time since Clermont people received such a shock as they did Sunday morning when the word came that William Haas had been killed while repairing an electric light wire a short distance west of Hawkeye. Mr. Haas had gone out on the Sumner line to repair a broken wire on the high tension line, and before going had taken the precaution to go into the transformer house to pull the switches. In the hurry of making preparations he overlooked one of the switches for the high tension line that carried 13,200 volts. The broken wire was found about two miles west of Hawkeye and was lying on the ground. Mr. Haas reached down for the line and picked it up, thus receiving the full charge of the heavy voltage, which no doubt killed him instantly. Mrs. Haas and her brother, Mr. C. C. Miller, made arrangements to remove the body to Clermont where the Haas family has resided for the past 13 years.

William Haas was born in Canton Berne, Switzerland, August 7, 1870. When two years of age the family came to America and settled in Fayette county. He has resided in this county continuously. On Feb. 13, 1869, he was united in marriage to Miss Mary Miller, daughter of Hon. and Mrs. C. Miller. To this union were born two children, Herbert, now 19, and Anna Mae, aged 5, who with the sorrowing wife survive. He also leaves three brothers and three sisters - John, of Madison, S.D.; Dr. Fred G. and Mrs. Lena Wilkins, of Portland, Ore.; Mrs. Emma Hunter, of North Plains, Ore.; Mrs. Elizabeth Lincoln, of Inverness, Mont.; and Earnest, of Sheridan, Ore., besides numerous other relatives and a host of friends. His father and mother moved to Bethany, Ore., in 1869, and have preceded him in death. Also three brothers and one sister who died in infancy.

Mr. Haas was a prominent and faithful member of the German church of Elgin, was also a member of the town council and of the school board in Clermont for a number of years.

Funeral services will be held in the Lutheran church in Clermont, Friday at 12:30.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.

NOTE: The dates presented here are as they were clearly presented in the article. More research will be needed.

Submitter is not related.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------.