Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Haass, Emil M D 1827 - 
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Author: Portrait & Bio Album, 1890

EMIL HAASS, M. D. The confidence which is bestowed by the people of Frankfort 
and vicinity upon this gentleman is not misplaced, as he is thoroughly skilled 
in the medical profession, is well read in general topics, has been a keen 
observer of life in its various phases, and has borne himself as a man of 
breeding and fine character in all the scenes through which he has passed. He 
opened his office at Frankfort Station in the fall of 1877 and was not long in 
securing a large practice which includes a wide extent of territory in Will 
and Cook Counties. He has been very successful in alleviating suffering, and 
well deserves the honor which he receives as a member of a profession which is 
exceeded in its benefits only by that of the ministry, and which in many 
respects stands side by side with the priestly calling. The family of which 
Dr. Haass is so worthy a member has given the world professional and business 
men of high standing, and women of great intelligence and worth of character. 
His paternal grandfather was Prof. George Haass, a native of Alsace, France, 
and a graduate of the Strasbourg Seminary. He engaged in the profession of 
teaching until the first French Revolution, when he removed to Baden, 
remaining there until his death, which occurred at the ripe age of eighty-four 
years. The father of him whom we write was also called George and was born in 
Baden, Germany. He was graduated from the famous university at Heidelberg, and 
became a minister of the Evangelical Church, having a pastorate at Bishopsheim 
and later at Milheim. At the latter place he became Deacon and had the 
supervision of the ministers of the district, a position of high authority in 
the Church. He entered into rest in 1865, at the age of sixty-five years. He 
was twice married, the first union resulting in the birth of three children: 
Charles, who died in New York; Sophia who died of yellow fever at Memphis, 
Tenn.; and Emil. The mother of these children was Caroline Masque, who was 
born in Strasbourg and was a daughter of Dr. Conrad Masque. The latter was 
born in France, studied the profession of medicine and practiced in Strasbourg 
until his death. His daughter received a fine education and taught in the 
royal families of the Duchess Amelia of Coburg, the Princess of Baden, and 
other branches of the nobility prior to her marriage to the Rev. George Haass. 
Her death took place in 1829. The second marriage of the father of our subject 
was blest by the birth of four children, of whom we note the following. The 
oldest son, George, entered the ministry and labored faithfully in the 
Master's vineyard until his death, which occurred in Germany. Maximillian came 
to America and during the late Civil War was Adjutant-general in Sherman's 
army under Gen. Osterhaus; he is now engaged in the drug business in Mendota, 
Ill. Theodore is a millionaire and owner of a castle at Baden-Veiler, in the 
Duchy of Baden. Matilda resides in Amsterdam, Holland. The subject of this 
sketch opened his eyes to the light of day in Strasbourg, Germany, August 5, 
1827. Soon after his birth his father removed to the Duchy of Baden and the 
lad was reared to the age of eleven years in Bishopsheim. He then went to live 
with an uncle in Paris, France, and there attended the Academy Royal until 
1844. He next entered the world-famous university at Heidelberg and after a 
year in that institution, went to Freiburg, where he continued his studies 
until 1846. The following spring he returned to the French capital, entering 
the medical department of the Academy Royal and continuing his studies there 
until the schools were closed on account of the Revolution of 1848, when Louis 
Philippe was dethroned, a Republic instituted and Louis Napoleon Bonaparte 
made President. The young student remained in the capital during the Reign of 
Terror but as soon as it was possible to leave the city he returned to Baden. 
About the time of his return to the parental home an attempt was made by 
German Revolutionists to found a Republic in Baden, and the ardent young man 
joined the forces, taking an active part in speechmaking and other efforts to 
accomplish their purpose, he was associated with Charles Shutts and other 
leaders whose names and deeds are historical. He held the position of 
Assistant Surgeon in the Revolutionist army, and being captured with the 
others when they were overpowered by the Royalists, he was court-martialed and 
sentenced to six years labor in the fortifications or to banishment. Accepting 
the latter alternative Mr. Haass returned to Paris and completed his medical 
course; being graduated in December, 1849. After practicing a couple of weeks 
at Lauchemaux, near the capital, he made arrangements to come to America. From 
his mother he had inherited some property which was luckily in France and 
could not be confiscated by the German Government, and this he disposed of. 
His father also sold some property in Germany and the young man therefore had 
a small capital with which to embark. About the middle of December, 1849, he 
left Havre, France, on the sailing vessel "Gallia," and after a pleasant 
voyage of three weeks landed in New York City January 6, 1850. One of the 
faculty in the academy at Paris had given Dr. Haass a letter of introduction 
and recommendation to a physician in Philadelphia and to that city he at once 
went. After consultation with the gentleman to whom he had been introduced, he 
concluded to begin his practice in the country and therefore located at 
Plainfield, where he sojourned nearly a twelvemonth. While in that town he was 
one of the committee appointed to receive the Swedish songstress, Jenny Lind, 
when she visited the place. The Doctor had previously heard her in Europe, as 
he had other famous singers of that period. The Doctor has a decided taste and 
love for opera, which he acquired while making his home in Paris. After a 
comparatively short sojourn in the Keystone State, Dr. Haass removed to 
Illinois, his first location being at Peru, where he practiced for two years. 
He then removed to Mendota, of which he was one of the first practicing 
physicians and where he not only worked up a fine business, but was also 
engaged in the drug trade. In 1860 he determined to remove farther west and 
selected Booneville, Mo., as the scene of his future labors. He was a strong 
Abolitionist, but realizing that it was not politic to announce his views, he 
kept them to himself during the period immediately preceding and following the 
breaking cut of the Civil War. However, as a strong Union man he helped to 
organize the Home Guard and after Gen. Lyons had defeated the rebels at 
Jefferson City, they were mustered into the service by Gov. Jackson and the 
band, two hundred strong, became attached to Lyons' force. Dr. Haass held the 
double position of First Lieutenant and Surgeon, and with his comrades 
participated in many skirmishes and the species of warfare known as 
bushwhacking, during the ensuing six months. The Home Guards were then 
disbanded, some to join the Fifth Cavalry, and our subject was ordered to take 
charge of the post hospital at Booneville as head surgeon. He performed the 
duties of that office until the hospital was abandoned, and he was mustered 
out and honorably discharged in July, 1863. We next find Dr. Haass sojourning 
again for a short time in Mendota, Ill., whence he removed to Morris, Grundy 
County, and with that city as his headquarters, successfully labored at his 
profession until 1877, in the fall of which year he came to Frankfort Station. 
Here he has added to his professional reputation and has made hosts of 
friends, everyone having a good word for him. He has been useful in the 
municipal affairs of the village, serving on the Board of Trustees four years 
and now filling the position of President of that body for the second year. He 
belongs to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of this place. He belonged to the 
Odd Fellows lodge at Mendota but is not now identified with that fraternity. 
In politics he is independent. Dr. Haass has a fine residence and lots, his 
home being sufficiently commodious, convenient and well furnished, displaying 
evidences of good taste in all its arrangements, but without ostentation. It 
is particularly well supplied with the literature of the day and the best 
works of classical writers. While living in the French capital, Dr. Haass had 
every advantage to observe life in its various phases and he there made the 
acquaintance of members of the different professions and leading lights of the 
day. It is a pleasure to converse with him and to hear him relate incidents of 
his meetings with men in the different walks of life, and describe the scenes 
through which he passed during the Reign of Terror and the revolution in his 
own land. He is indeed a man whom any community may be proud to claim as a 
citizen. The marriage of Dr. Haass and Miss Eliza Hess was celebrated at the 
home of the bride's mother in Mendota, April 25, 1855. Mrs. Haass was born in 
Neider-Eckenheim, Baden, Germany, May 26, 1833, to John and Anna B. (Volmer) 
Hess. Her parents were natives of the same duchy and her father was a farmer 
in excellent circumstances. He died in his native land and the widowed mother 
with her daughter came to America in 1853, dying in Mendota in 1864. The 
parental family consisted of three children—Marie, John and Eliza, the latter 
being the only one now living. John participated in the Revolution in Baden 
and being compelled to leave the country, emigrated to America, settling in 
Pennsylvania and subsequently sending for his mother and surviving sister. 
They crossed the ocean on the "William Tell" and after remaining in the 
Keystone State a year, took up their residence in Illinois. Mrs. Haass 
received excellent home training, was well educated, and grew to womanhood 
with a character which won for her many friends whereever she was known. She 
is a model housekeeper, a sympathizing companion, and a kind and considerate 
mother. Her happy union has been blest by the birth of seven children, viz: 
Emil who died in Morris; Charles who is employed in the grain elevator in 
Fronkfort; Emma, Maximillian, George, Alice and Albert, all of whom still 
abide under the parental roof. George is the tonsorial artist at Frankfort. 
All the children are bright and promising, well advanced for their years and 
are all that parental love could desire.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page 
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens 
of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890 

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