HASKELL, W.H.
                       Lake Charles, LA.



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Source: Southwest Louisiana Historical and Biographical by William Henry Perrin
published in 1891; page 157..
Typed by Margaret Rentrop Moore

W.H. Haskell, Lake Charles. - William Haskell, who was born in England, 1617,
and removed with his two brothers to Beverly, Massachusette, 1632, and from
thence to Gloucester, Massachusette, 1643, where he died in 1693, is the
ancestor from which the whole family descended.  Our subject's mother is still
living in Boston, Massachusetts, being ninety-four years of age.
The subject of this sketch is the oldest of seven children.  He spent his school
days in Newburyport, and the last year in Winthrop, Maine, receiving a thorough
academic education.   When seventeen years of age he left school and went to
sea.  He gradually rose from sailor to commander of vessels, and visited ports
in Europe, South America and the West Indies.    In 1848 he settled in New
Orleans (having abandoned seafaring life) and went into business.  In 1851 he
went to Lake Charles, and, finally, in 1852, settled there, where he has resided
ever since.  In 1855 he was elected recorder and notary and hekd that office
several years.  At the breaking out of the war he was engaged as a saw-mill
hand.  He was in the Confederate service for a short time, and was honorably
discharged, when General Butler captured New Orleans, by breaking up
of the battalion to which he was attached as quartermaster, and returned home,
where he soon after received the appointment of deputy collector of customes for
the district of the Teche, which offoice he held, together with deputy
Confederate marshal for said district, until the close of the
was.  After the war he resumed operation as a saw-mill hand for a short time.
When he received the appointment of parish recorder and notary ex-officio, in
which capacity he served several years.  In 1869 he was sent to the Legislature
from the parish, and served one term.  In 1872 he was appointed sheriff of the
parish, which office he held for two years.  In 1874 he was again
appointed deputy collector of customs for the district of the Teche, which
office he held two years.  In 1876, accompanied by all his family except Frank
E. And Hallie L., Mr. Haskell returned to his natice home on a visit, it having
been twenty-six years since his last visit. He subsequently, in 1879, engaged as
hotel proprietor, in which busineww he continued about three years.  After that,
for a period of several years, he was not engagged in any business. 
He again, in company with his wife, in 1885, visited his native home, and in
1886 visited California and New Mexico.  In 1888 he engaged in the real estate
business, and in 1890 added the business of insurance agency, in which business
he is still engaged.