Obituary: Benjamin Franklin Haus - First Clerk of Select Council, 
Reading, Berks Co., PA

HAUS, Benjamin Franklin  1831-1873; 
Reading Daily Eagle - Issue No. 207
Reading, Pa., Saturday Afternoon, September 27, 1873

Submitted by Frank & Alina Haus. This copy contributed for use in 
the USGenWeb Archives.  frh1@ptdprolog.net

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Following is a copy of news report now in the possession of Frank R. Haus, great, 
great grandson of Benjamin Franklin Haus

HAUS, Benjamin Franklin  1831-1873
Reading Daily Eagle - Issue No. 207
Reading, Pa., Saturday Afternoon, September 27, 1873
DEATH OF B. F. HAUS, ESQ.

     B. Franklin Haus, Esq., well known to all our citizens in his official position as 
City Clerk, died yesterday afternoon about 3 o'clock, at his residence, No. 44 North 
Seventy street, after a few days' illness, of inflammation of the bowels, resulting 
from a cold contracted at the agricultural fair on Friday of last week.

     In the death of Mr. Haus the various departments of our city government lose a 
most valuable officer, whose familiarity with his duties and efficiency in their 
performance rendered his services indispensable.  Originally elected Clerk to the 
Select Council, he was subsequently called upon to act as Clerk to the several joint 
committees of the Councils, and more recently as Secretary to the Water Board and Secretary to the Board of Health, the multifarious duties of all which positions were 
discharged by him with extraordinary accuracy and dispatch.  No one in any clerical 
office ever worked harder, and no one's work was better done.  To habits of close 
industry, he united a modest demeanor and an agreeable manner which made him a favorite 
with all who had business to transact at the City Hall.  After a faithful service of 
ten years, he has literally "fallen with his armor on", leaving upon our municipal 
records the memorials of a useful life, which will go far toward enabling his 
successors in office to supply the place for which his equal can hardly be found.

     Mr. Haus was a graduate of that school which has produced the best men in almost 
every pursuit of life--the printing office.  We was born at Lewisburg, Union County, 
and came to the city with his parents, when a youth, about the year 1846.  As is the 
case with almost every boy who is given the name Franklin, he has picked up some 
knowledge of type-setting, and expressing a desire to become a printer, he was placed 
under the charge of Hon. J. Lawrence Getz, in the office of the Reading Gazette.  He 
advanced rapidly in his art, and soon became an expert in its various branches.  While 
diligent in his mechanical duties, he availed himself of every opportunity that the 
printing office afforded for the improvement of his mind, and for several 
years before he left the Gazette office, was a frequent contributor to the editorial 
columns of that paper, particularly in its local department.  He wrote with facility, and in a graceful style, in which observation, reflection, and a lively imagination 
bordering upon the humorous, we his characteristics.  Has he adopted the editorial 
profession, he could not have failed in attaining to prominence as a journalist.  He 
abandoned the printing office for the counting room and was for some time in the employ 
of the old hardware firm of Friskier, Stevenson & Co. as clerk.  Subsequently he 
accepted a place in the Journal office, and had charge of that paper during the absence 
of the proprietors in the military service of the State at the time of Lee's invasion.  
While connected with that office, he was elected to the clerkship of the Select Council, the duties of which soon required his exclusive attention. and he then finally 
retired from the profession in which he had given bright promise, to devote himself, 
with no less assiduity and usefulness, to his labors at the clerks' desks in the City 
Hall, which the disease that has stricken him down compelled him to relinquish only on 
Monday last.

     Mr. Haus was about 42 years of age.  He was the son-in-law of Mr. George Foos, the
well-known builder of this city, and leaves a widow with six children, who have the 
heartfelt sympathy of his numerous personnel friends and official associates in this, 
their sudden and crushing bereavement.  He was a member of Lodge No. 62, A. Y. M., and 
for several years its secretary.  He was also connected with Metamora Lodge, No. 147, 
I. O. O. F., and Goethe Lodge, No. 60, D. O. H.