John Franklin Haas

John Franklin Haas was born on Itawamba Co MS on 23 Mar 1849 to Mary (unknown) and John Haas. John grew up on a farm in Itawamba (later changed to Lee County) MS.

His father John Haas had several slaves prior to the Civil War and the family was fairly affluent. On a deed of Trust dated 27 Jan 1872: Lee Co MS, Trust Deed, Deed Bk 6, pg 460. JF Haas pledged to Thos Evans S1/2,S16,TS9,R6 and all corn & cotton crop, 4 oxen (2 speckled, 2 black & white spotted), two bay mares, (1 6 years, 1 9 years) and 100 head of hogs for $300.00. Marked paid in full 31 Mar 1896. Certainly not bad for a young man of 23 years.

On Christmas Eve of 1873 John Franklin married Cecilia Amanda Gibson (b 24 Nov 1856) the daughter of a close neighbor (John Gibson). The wedding was held at the home of the bride.

It wasn't long before John F and Cecilia started a family. Four children were born in Tupelo, Lee Co, MS.

Arthur Valois Haas (b) 25 Sept 1874
John Elbert Haas (b) 10 Sept 1876
Pearl Victoria Haas (b) 29 Aug 1879
Charles "Lon" Alonzo Haas (b) 5 Sep 1881

The economic conditions in MS were very bad in 1881 and John F and Cecilia couldn't pay the note that was due the 1st of the year. They sold their property to John's brother-in-law William Lawrence and after Christmas 1881 the family moved to Mulberry, Franklin Co, AR. They moved with Cecilia's family.

While in Mulberry the following children were born to John & Cecilia:

Walter Dewitt "Pan" Haas (b) 25 Aug 1883
Maude Evelyn Haas (b) 31 Dec 1885
Elmer Anderson Haas (b) 05 Dec 1887

Between the time Elmer was born (1887) and the next child (Clyde Hampton Haas (b) 1892) the family moved to Ft. Gibson, Indian Territory.

A final child was born to John and Cecilia - a baby girl - Annie Mabel Haas (b) 31 Jan 1893 but she lived only a short while (d) 4 Feb 1894.

The Haas family farmed in and around Ft. Gibson, Okay and over the line in Wagoner County.

Sometime during the early 1900s John F opened a shoe and saddle shop in Ft. Gibson where he made shoes and saddles for most of the people in Muskogee and Wagoner counties. In "Dub" West's book Ft Gibson Gateway to the West John Haas is listed as one of the early Mayors and Justice of the Peace of Ft. Gibson.

John Franklin passed away 24 Apr 1921 of complications of flu. He is said to be buried in Ft. Gibson's Citizen Cemetery.

Cecilia Amanda Gibson passed away 1 Feb 1936 and is also said to be buried in Ft. Gibson's Citizen Cemetery.

Several of the children of John & Cecilia stayed in Ft. Gibson, raised their families and still have descendants in Ft. Gibson.