Haas, Charles 1857 - 1933

HAAS, RICE, MANNING, GOLDEN, TAVENER, KENNARD

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 3/17/2015 at 10:55:57

CHARLES HAAS.

As evidence of the life work of Charles Haas stands one of the largest, best appointed, best equipped meat markets of Winneshiek county, located on East Water street, Decorah. By attending strictly to business Mr. Haas has built up an enterprise which ranks second to none in the county and which brings him a gratifying annual income. Cleanliness and fair dealing are the watchwords of his establishment and are never lost sight of. He was born in Dubuque, this state, on December 5, 1857, a son of Jacob and Margaret (Rice) Haas, the former a native of Baden, Germany, and a blacksmith by trade and the latter born in Prussia. The parents were married in Maryland, where the father had located upon coming to the United States, in the city of Baltimore, when he was nineteen years of age. They subsequently moved westward to Iowa and in 1859 came to Decorah, where he followed the blacksmith's trade on a farm near the town. Upon the outbreak of the Civil war he answered his country's call for men and served in the Sixth Iowa Cavalry, being detailed on the western campaigns against the Indians. He had learned his trade in Maryland and before coming to Decorah in 1859 had spent a short time in Dubuque. On his farm near Decorah Mr. Haas lived until his death, respected and esteemed by all who knew him. He died in 1901, his wife passing to her reward eight years later, in 1909.

Charles Haas, in the acquirement of his education, attended district school, making the best opportunity of such advantages as were offered in those primitive times. He remained on the farm until nineteen years of age and then came to Decorah, where he engaged in the butcher business, from that time having so continued to the present day and having been located in the same store on East Water street ever since. He is associated in the business with his brother H. W. Haas. Mr. Haas has built up an extensive and profitable business by giving his sole attention to its affairs, a business which is up-to-date in every respect and would be a credit to a metropolitan city. It is one of the largest and best equipped markets in Winneshiek county and he does largely his own killing. Success has been his in rich measure and justly so, for it is but the outcome of continuous labor, incessant energy, vigilance and fair and honest methods.

On July 22, 1880, Mr. Haas was united in marriage to Miss Sarah Manning, a daughter of Malike and Sarah (Golden) Manning, both natives of Ireland. The parents came to the United States and subsequently located in Winneshiek county in an early day of its history. They were married in Boston, Massachusetts, but Mrs. Haas was born and reared in Watertown, Wisconsin, where the parents resided before coming to Iowa. She was the mother of the following children: Lizzie, the wife of Herman Tavener, of Decorah; Hattie, who married Arthur Tavener. also of Decorah; Nellie, who married Vern Kennard, of North Dakota; Grace, at home; Arthur J., of Decorah; and Violet, at home. Mr. and Mrs. Haas and their children are devout members of the Roman Catholic church of Decorah, in the work of which they take an active and helpful interest. Fraternally he is a member of Decorah Lodge, No. 443, B. P. O. E., and Decorah Nest, No. 1045, Order of Owls. He gave evidence of his public-spirit by serving four years as councilman from the second ward, doing valuable work in promoting measures for the benefit of the city and ably representing his ward. He is a stockholder in the Winneshiek Hotel Company and the Grand Opera House Company of Decorah. He has always led a busy, useful life in which indolence and idleness have had no part and whereby he is not only contributing to his own success but has become an important factor in the development of Decorah and Winneshiek county, always glad to bear his share in the work of making this what he believes it will one day become—one of the most prosperous localities in the world. In all that he undertakes he is actuated by a spirit of contagious enthusiasm that is an inspiration to others, and acting according to the dictates of his faith and judgment, time has proven the wisdom of his opinion. His life work has been a serviceable factor in the growth and upbuilding of Decorah, which has no more loyal advocate than Charles Haas.

Source: History of Winneshiek County, Iowa Vol. II Chicago the S. J. Clark Publishing Company 1913

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