John Phillip "Phillip" Hass (1846-1939)

HASS, CRAWFORD, HENREHAN

Posted By: Dorian Myhre (email)
Date: 5/17/2021 at 16:53:13

From Nevada Evening Journal November 24, 1939 (page 1)

Phillip Hass Dies Today After Long, Useful Life

Phillip Hass died at his home at 1836 Eighth street this afternoon shortly after one o'clock.

Mr. Hass, who would have been 93 years of age on Christmas next, had been failing for the past year or more, suffering from complications due to advanced years.

Funeral services will be held Sunday at 2 p. m., at the Bishop funeral home, after which he will be laid to rest in the Nevada cemetery by the side of his wife, who passed away a few years ago.

Mr. Hass, longtime resident of Story county and for years a member of Hass & Gretten, one of the best known horse dealers in central Iowa, had been well and active until about three years ago, and had spent much time on the road with Mr. Gretten picking up horses.

Since declining health compelled him to remain in the home he had been devotedly cared for by his daughters and Mr. Gretten.

In his immediate family he leaves three daughters, Mrs. Lizzie Crawford of Gilbert and Mrs. Belle Henrehan and Miss Bessie Hass in Nevada. The latter has always lived in the home with the parents. He also leaves several grandchildren and great grandchildren.

In addition to the daughters E. C. Gretten had been a member of the family circle for probably 40 years. Engaged in the handling of horses, he had also made his home with the family and was to Mr. Hass a son in every sense of the word.

From Nevada Evening Journal November 27, 1939 (page 3)

Final Rites for Late Phillip Hass Sunday Afternoon

Final rites for the late Phillip Hass, 93, were held at the Bishop Funeral home here Sunday afternoon, attended by a group of relatives and friends that filled the rooms to capacity.

In addition to the members of the family and friends fro all parts of the county, there were scores of friends--many of them horsemen from various parts of the state.

The service was in charge of Dr. C. D. Loose of the First Methodist church of Nevada and the two songs, "Abide With Me" and "Perfect Day" were sung by Charles Handsaker, with Mrs. J. C. Hathaway at the piano.

The bier was banked with beautiful flowers, the gift of relatives and friends as a final tribute of the love and respect in which the deceased was held.

The pallbearers, all of them horse dealers who had been close friends of the deceased were W. H. Maxwell of Winterset, W. L. Elder of Des Moines, Dean Bowen of Chariton, Lew Wintermyer of Baxter, and Harry Crouch and Lew Hansen of Nevada.

The following brief sketch of the life of the deceased was read by Dr. Loose during the service:

"Philip Hass was born in Germany Dec. 25, 1846. He came to Davenport, Iowa with his parents when he was seven years old and lived in Scott county until he became a man.

Mr. Hass was married on March 9, 1873 to Sara Higgins and to them were born four children, Mrs. J. H. Crawford of Gilbert, Fred, who passed away in 1930, Mrs. Belle Henrehan and Bessie of Nevada. There are also four grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

"E. C. Gretten has been associated with Mr. Hass in business for nearly forty years and lived in the Hass home most that time.

"The wife and mother passed away in 1936, a short time before they were to have celebrated their sixty-third wedding anniversary.

"The family came to Story county in 1878 and lived here continuously since with the exception of four years spent in Des Moines.

"Mr. Hass passed away at this home Nov. 24, 1939, lacking but one month of having reached the age of 93 years.

"Mr. Hass with his wife and two older children came to Story from Scott county overland during the summer of 1878 and located first on a farm north of Cambridge, and lived for a number of years in that neighborhood.

He continued farming in various parts of the county until about 45 years ago when he located in Nevada and here had been the family home since.

Always interested in the horse business, that was his principal interest during the active years of his long life.

After Mr. Hass moved into Nevada E. C. Gretten, then a young man from near Gilbert, became associated with him in the buying, fitting, training and selling of horses.

Their activities ranged over a wide area and they were known in all parts of Iowa among horse raisers and dealers.

Mr. Hass was a man of many very fine characteristics, among the outstanding of which was his honesty and integrity with his fellowmen and his devoted love to members of his family and faithfulness to his friends.