Person:Arthur Haas (1)

Arthur V. Haas was born 25 Sep 1874 in Tupelo, Lee County, Mississippi to John Franklin Haas and Cecilia Amanda Gibson Haas. At the age of seven the family moved from Mississippi to Mulberry, Franklin County, Arkansas. Between 1888 and 1892 the family moved from Mulberry to Ft. Gibson, Muskogee County, Indian Territory. Arthur was between 14-18 when the family moved to Ft. Gibson.

There are multiple family stories about what Arthur did during the next twenty years or so - whether any of them are true or not is open to question. It is known that Arthur was a friend of the famous Will Rogers and the "Rogers boys" (cousins of Will Rogers) that lived in Ft. Gibson. It is said in the family that Arthur spent some time working as a cowboy for Will Rogers' father on his ranch outside of Claremore, OK. Arthur is reported to have spent some time as a cowboy herding cattle out of Texas to the ship yards in Oklahoma and Kansas. Another story is that he spent some time as a logger in Oregon or Washington state. In any event by 1910 Arthur was renting a farm in the small town of Okay located between Wagoner, OK and Ft. Gibson.

Arthur married Ada Annie Brown (daughter of Gideon Leeper Brown and Cora Minnie Lanham) 27 Dec 1913 in Okay (known at the time as North Muskogee). One thing that Arthur was known for was his tendency to lie about his age and that is shown on their marriage license. He listed his age as thirty-three although he was actually forty at the time. Ada's age on the license is listed as nineteen (which is correct). However, on the original copy of the license (see source) Ada changed her age to twenty-four. Arthur continued to farm in Okay and was apparently successful. The children (Arthur V Jr, Sidney (Bill), Clyde, Temple and Lucy) were all born in Okay. Arthur Jr. said that the family lived in a large two story house and when the children were small they had a full-time live in Nanny.

Between 1924 and 1927 Arthur moved the family from Okay to a farm/ranch located to the north of 76th St North, Turley, Tulsa Co, OK. Arthur, Arthur Jr, Sidney and Clyde moved the family's belongings and livestock by wagon and on horseback - during one of the worst snow storms to hit the area in several years. Arthur Jr reported that he had never been so cold as he was on that three day trip through the snow. Ada drove their car with the younger children arriving at their new home without a stick of furniture, food or firewood. She borrowed an axe from a neighbor and chopped enough firewood to warm the downstairs of the house. Leaving the children at home she drove to a small country store, buying enough food to see the family through until Arthur and the boys arrived. Over the next few years Arthur borrowed money to expand his stock. When an economic downturn hit he was unable to repay his loans and lost the property. The family moved west across Peoria to a rented house. One day when the family was away from the house it burned to the ground. With the help of friends and neighbors the family started over with the bare necessities.

During World War II the family moved to a piece of property on 56th St. North on the west side of Peoria in Turley. They lived there until their deaths.