St Landry County Louisiana Archives Obituaries.....Haas, Captain Samuel January 9, 1919
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Mary K Creamer marykcreamer@yahoo.com April 10, 2015, 5:18 pm

St. Landry Clarion (Opelousas, La.) 1890-1921, January 18, 1919, Image 2

CAPTAIN SAMUEL HAAS

Captain Samuel Haas was born on June 29, 1836, at Alsace, France. He was the 
son of Samuel and Harriet Haas, who were natives of France. He died Thursday 
morning, January 9, 1919, at 7 o'clock.

There are few men in the history of St. Landry parish whose life affords a 
better example of the selfmade man than that of Captain Haas. He began life 
penniless and whatever he has accomplished has been directly attributable to 
his own efforts. His educational facilities were somewhat limited, though he 
had received in the higher school of experience, the training which had 
eminently fitted him for the responsible part he had taken in business life.

Captain Haas was principally raised in St. Landry parish, Louisiana. 
Merchandising and farming in his early life was his principal occupation. He 
began merchandising before the war, at Bayou Chicot, St. Landry parish, 
Louisiana with a stock of about $3000. At the time of his death he owned and 
controlled hundreds of acres of land, situated in the parishes of St. 
Landry, Evangeline, Avoyelles and Rapides.

When war was declared between the states, he was not slow in responding to 
the call of the south. At the beginning of the war he enlisted in Company K, 
Third Louisiana Cavalry Regiment, of which company he afterwards became 
captain. In this capacity he did gallant service.

In 1861 he was married to Miss Martha A. Cole, a native of Louisiana, born 
in 1845. She was a daughter of John and Lavinia (Hudson) Cole. Mrs. Haas' 
father was a native of Kentucky and her mother of Louisiana. Mrs. Haas died 
on September 7, 1907.

Captain and Mrs. Haas were the parents of five children: Dr. John A. Haas, 
president of the St. Landry State Bank of Opelousas, La.; Mrs. W. D. Haas, 
wife of Dr. W. D. Haas, a resident of Alexandria, La.; Chas. E. Haas, who 
died on June 14, 1915; Dr. A. M. Haas, a resident of Opelousas and state 
senator of the fourteenth senatorial district of Louisiana.

Rabbis Wise performed the religious ceremonies at the home of Leon S. Haas. 
Quite a number of visitors were present: Dr. D. B. Davis of Bunkie, La. 
Senator Well of Alexandria, La., and others. The remains were carried to 
Bayou Chicot and buried on the side of the grave of his beloved wife, the 
last sad rites being performed by Reverend Fox of Bunkie, La.

The only political position the deceased ever held was that of police juror 
from the old sixth ward of St. Landry, now a part of Evangeline. Under the 
appointive system there was one term when Captain Haas did not sit on the 
jury, from 1892 to 1896, but when the position was made elective he was 
chosen by the voters and remained a police juror term after term until he 
voluntarily retired. He was absolutely unbeatable in the old sixth was as 
long as he wanted the position.

At some later day, possibly in the early spring, Humble Cottage Lodge, Free 
and Accepted Masons of Opelousas, of which the deceased was a member, will 
hold its beautiful and impressive burial ceremony over the grave at Bayou 
Chicot, and due notice of the date of such ceremony will be given the 
public, so that the friends and acquaintances of the lamented deceased may 
be present.

A characteristic example of Captain Haas is shown by almost his last words 
before passings to the other world. Sam Haas business man and Sam Haas 
dispenser of charity were as unlike as the poles. Keen in business when 
business was on hand, yet when the needy were in distress he was among the 
first to extend the helping hand. The poor were his friends and he dearly 
loved to chum with the poor of every section where he was acquainted.

He was a real democrat in all his ways. The outer habiliments of the rich 
did not appeal to the old gentleman. His slouch hat and mud-be-spattered 
boots were his trade mark and the outer apparel of the man of wealth was 
repugnant to his disposition. Sam Haas was Sam Haas - just the same in 
Opelousas, on crowded city streets or at the log cabin of his poor friends 
in remote districts.

Just before passing from this sphere of existence, thinking of the afflicted 
Jews in other lands where the light and freedom of democracy has not yet 
reached, he requested his eldest son, Dr. Jno. A. Haas, to give to the 
Jewish relief fund five hundred dollars as his (the captain's) donation. Dr. 
Haas has notified the local committee in charge of the drive for funds of 
this bequest, and the many friends of the old captain will recognize that it 
is but another sample of his plain and unostentatious charity.



Additional Comments:
NOTE: Captain Samuel Haas is buried in the Vandenburg Cemetery located in 
Turkey Creek, Evangeline Parish, LA.

www.findagrave.com memorial # 62490290

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/la/stlandry/obits/h/haas5682gob.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/lafiles/

File size: 5.4 Kb