William Edward Haas
Hon. William E. Haas, mayor ot Delaware. Ohio, was born December 17. 1874. at Bucyrus, Crawford County, Ohio, and is a son of J. L. and Mary ( Frank) Haas.
The parents of Mayor Haas were born and reared on farms in Crawford County. Ohio. In 1876, they came to Delaware, and J. E. Haas has been employed in the blacksmith department of the shops belonging to the Big Four Railroad, in this city, for the past 31 years. His family consists of four sons and three daughters, namely: Anna, who married Frank Vining, who is a member of the police force at Delaware; William E.; Charles O., who is in business at Delaware; Matilda, who married Edward Schweitzer, at Delaware; Vincent, residing at Moxahala, Ohio, where he is serving as secretary of the Chapman Coal Mining Company; Joseph, who died aged four months; and Frances, who is the possessor of rare musical talents, which have been well cultivated.
During his boyhood, William E. Haas attended the parochial schools at Delaware, and when it became a family law that he should become self-supporting, he went to work in a chair factory and continued his studies at night, in the public schools. Very much as many other ambitious youths, he tried one position after another in the endeavor to make the most of his time and opportunities, going from the chair factory to a grocery store and from there to a cigar factory, and later reaching the firm of Downheimer & Grasser, with which he learned the trade of cigar-making. On January 1, 1898, he entered into partnership with J. P. Grasser. in the manufacture of cigars, under the firm style of Grasser & Haas. Mr. Haas attends to all the outside work of the firm and writes all the advertising matter, which, on account of the extent of the business, is very heavy. Employment is given to from eight to 14 expert cigar-makers, and the firm has several exclusive brands which have proved to be favorites with the public.
On June 29, 1896, Mr. Haas was married to Catherine Hoch, who is a daughter of Joseph Hoch. who resides at Lancaster, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Haas have two children. Mary Catherine and Anna Josephine, both of whom attend school. The family belong to the Catholic Church.
For the past two years. Mayor Haas has been the only Democratic member of the Delaware City Council. He has been a leading and influential member of his party for some years and his nomination to the highest civic office, September 27, 1907, was a token of harmony in the Democratic ranks. He was elected November 6, 1907. receiving a majority of 12 electoral votes. Personally, .Mr. Haas is very popular in Delaware, where he has been for so long a sterling and public-spirited citizen, and hence the satisfaction on his election was wide spread. He is a member of the Commercial Club. in the deliberations of which he takes an active and interested part, and he belongs to the fraternal orders of the Knights of Columbus, the Eagles, and the United Commercial Travelers.
From 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens by James R. Lytle
The Fifteenth and Sixteenth Senatorial District, which is composed of Muskingum, Perry, Delaware and Licking Counties, was represented in the 79th and 80th General Assemblies of Ohio by a cigar manufacturer, Hon. William E. Haas, of Delaware, Delaware County.
Besides being a manufacturer, Senator Haas has had large experience as a traveling salesman, and with a naturally urbane and clever disposition, he has acquired the warm friendship of practically all who know him.
William Edward Haas was born at Bucyrus, Crawford County, Ohio, in 1875, but for the past thirty-five years he has resided at Delaware, Ohio. His father, Joseph E. Haas, was born in Germany. William Edward received his education in the public schools at Dela ware, and Catholic school.
On June 29th, 1898, he was married to Miss Katherine Hoch of Lancaster, Ohio, and they have two daughters, age 14 and 11 years respectively, and a son aged 3 years. Mr. Haas was a member of the Delaware City Council for two terms and his personal popularity was such that he was elected to the office of Mayor, and re-elected, serving two terms.
In the election for State Senator he was chosen by a majority of over 2000 in his District, and he was re-elected, thus serving as Sena tor in both the 79th and 80th General Assemblies. Senator Haas was an industrious and hard worker, both in Committee and on the floor of the Senate, and he favored all progressive and administrative measures. He is a lifelong Democrat.
He was Chairman of the Committee on Insurance, and he was author of the bill establishing a State Industrial Commission, which is an act of great importance to the people. Other committees upon which Senator Haas served, were. Federal Relations, Finance, Indus trial Schools, Labor, Mines and Mining. Municipal Affairs, Public Education, Public Utilities, and Taxation.
From Ohio Legislative History 1909-1913, by James K. Mercer, Legislative Historian.
Twice elected Mayor of the Republican city of Delaware, Ohio, William E. Haas stands today one of the leading Democrats of that aristocratic municipality. He was elected the first time in the year of 1907 by a plurality of twelve votes and again in 1909 by a plurality of 484, which attests his popularity and the exceptional quality and efficiency of his administration.
Mr. Haas was born in Bucyrus, Ohio, December 17th, 1875, and was brought to Delaware by his parents when an infant of but one year in 1876. After the completion of an ordinary common school education, he learned the cigar business, and in 1898 became a member of the firm of Grasser & Haas.
He was once defeated as a Democrat for township clerk, served for some years as member of the Board of Health, and was then for two terms a member of the City Council from the Fourth Ward.
He is always active in Democratic politics, and for the past seven years has served as treasurer of the Democratic Executive Committee of Delaware County. He is a regular attendant at Democratic State, Congressional and Senatorial Conventions.
In 1910 he was one of the two nominees for State Senator from the Fifteenth-Sixteenth Senatorial District, consisting of Delaware, Licking, Perry and Muskingum counties, and was elected. During his term in the Senate he took an active interest in all legislation and became one of the most popular members of the 79th General Assembly. In 1912 he was renominated, and his reelection, which was never in doubt, was consummated on November 5th of that year. In him the Sixteenth District has a real Senator.
From The Democratic Party of the State of Ohio, edited by Thomas E. Powell, published by Ohio Publishing Company, 1913