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Facts and Events
John Franklin Haas, born 23 Mar 1849, always said he was born in Tupelo, MS. According the land records found to date John F.'s father (John Haas) purchased land in Itawamba Co., MS in 1849 and didn't sell it until 1857. It wasn't until 1866 that Itawamba County was divided and the part of Itawamba Co. where the Haas family lived ended up in the new county of Lee, MS with Tupelo as the county seat.
John F.'s mother died 27 Aug 1851 when he was two years old and his father married Talitha Robinson seven months later. The name of John F.'s mother is unknown. The household listing in the 1850 census lists the oldest female as Mary Ann. However, James O. Haas (John F.'s next oldest brother born three years before John F.) recorded his mother's name in his family Bible as Lucy. To date neither the name Mary Ann or Lucy have been found in any records relating to the Haas family.
John F. lived at home and worked on his father's farm until 28 Mar 1870 when he was purchased 80 acres of land from the State of Mississippi. The land was next to his father's land and John F. continued to live with his father and step-mother. By the age of 22 John F. was raising corn and cotton on his land and had acquired four oxen and one hundred head of hogs. However, John didn't spend all of his time farming. He owned a fine pair of matching bay mares and a racing surry and he found time to court Cecilia, the daughter of a neighbor John Gibson.
John F. and Cecilia were married at Cecilia's home on Christmas Eve 1873. Their first child (Arthur V) was born 25 Sep 1874, followed by John E. in 1876, Pearl in 1879 and Charles in 1881. Over the following eight years John F. and Cecilia borrowed money from two local merchants, pledging their land and the current year's crops as collateral, a common practice even today for many farmers. By the fall of 1881 a decision was made to move to Franklin Co., AR and on the 12th of Dec 1881 John F. and Cecilia sold the last of the land they owned in Mississippi to their brother-in-law W. T. Lawrence.
Arthur Haas couldn't tell me why the family chose Mulberry, AR (a very small farming community) as the family's destination, but he remembered the move. "I was about seven when we moved to Arkansas. I remember Poppa and Grandpa [John Gibson] loading everything in wagons and leaving for Arkansas. Mama, Grandma [Sophia Gibson] and us kids took the train. I don't remember exactly when we left but we had Christmas at home. It was the first time I had been on a train and it was exciting. Looking back now I can see that us kids were a handful on that trip. Poppa and Grandpa met us at the train station in Van Buren [AR] and we went by wagon to Mulberry to a big white two story house in town." The property this house was on was purchased by John F. 30 Mar 1882. John F. and his father-in-law also bought 40 acres of farm land on the outskirts of town. The family lived in Mulberry, AR for six years. Children Walter, Maud and Elmer were born during this time. John Gibson (Cecilia's father) died 1 Oct 1888 and his death may have precipitated another move. In any event the family moved to Ft. Gibson in Indian Territory between 1888 and Mar 1892.
The family first lived close to the old fort in what was called Old Town. Clyde, Annie (who died at the age of one) and Albert were born in Ft. Gibson. According to the 1900 Indian Territory census John was renting a farm in Ft. Gibson. By the 1910 Census John F. owned his own cobbler shop on Front Street and a home in town. Where John F. learned the leather goods trade is unknown, but at one time John F.'s father John was a tanner and the family's neighbor in Mississippi was a cobbler. John F. owned the shop until his death 24 Apr 1921. The shop was best known for its custom made saddles and cowboy boots. During the time that John F. lived in Ft. Gibson he and Cecilia were very active members of the First Methodist Church. John served at least on term as Mayor of Ft. Gibson and was a Justice of the Peace for many years.
John F. is said to be buried in the Citizens Cemetery (also known as the Cherokee National Cemetery) in Ft. Gibson. Family members say neither he or Cecilia have headstones. To date their graves have not been located. Most of the personal information on John F.'s death certificate is blank. To date a search for the records of the attending physician and the undertaker have been unsuccessful.
References
- 1850 Census, Itawamba County, Mississippi, in 1850 U.S. Federal Census
M432-373/376, 1 Jun 1850.
Visitation date: 7 Nov 1850 Census Itawamba Co, MS Series: M432 Roll: 373 Page: 376, District 6, pg 376, House # 1016, Family 1023
John Hass 40 yr M (b)TN Farmer, (RE)1,000; Mary Ann 35 yr F, (b) TN; Elizabeth F 11 yr F (b)MS; Martha Ann 8 yr F (b) MS; William S.7 yr M (b)MS; James A. 5 yr M (b)MS; John F 1 yr M (b)MS; Slaves (7) F-40, F-13, F-5, M-35, M-20, M-7, M-1 all listed as Black
- 1860 Census, Itawamba County, Mississippi, in 1860 U.S. Federal Census
M653-583/271, 1 Jun 1860.
Visitation Date: 24 Aug 1860, Itawamba Co, MS Census, Plantersville Post Office [error should be Priceville] Series: M653 Roll: 583 Page: 271, line 22
John Haas 41 yr M (b) TN (o) Tanner (RE) 2,500 (PP) 3,325; Talitha 42 yr F (b) TN; James 15 yr M (b) MS (o) Farm Laborer; John 11 yr M (b)MS in school during year; Rachel E 7 yr F (b)MS in school during year; Mary L. 5 yr F (b ) MS; Matilda C 3 yr F (b)MS; Rebecca M. 2/12 F (b)MS
Slaves: F-41, F-6, F-2, M-16, M-11, M-9, M-7 all listed as Black
- 1870 Census, Lee County, Mississippi, in 1870 U.S. Federal Census
1 Jun 1870.
[from scanned image ancestry.com] Lee Co MS Census, District 3, Tupelo Post Office. Page 8
John Hass 59 yr M (b) TN (o) Farmer (RE) 1,800 (PP) 760; Salitha [Talitha] 52 yr F (b) TN; John 21 yr M (b) MS (o) farm labor; Ellen R 17 yr F (b) MS; Mary L 15 yr F (b) MS attended school; Carolina M 13 yr F (b) MS attended school; Rebecca M 10 yr F (b) MS; James Baker 4/12 M (b)MS (b) Feb
- Marriage John & Cecilia, in Marriage Records, Lee County, Mississippi
24 Dec 1873.
Marriage John F Hass - Cecilia Gibson. Married 24 Dec 1873 at the home of the bride, Marsville, Lee County, MS.
- Deed from State of MS to John Haas, in Land Records, Lee County, Mississippi
5/500, 28 Mar 1870.
John F. Haas purchased S1/2 of S16, TS9, R6E in Lee Co, MS from State of MS. Land taken for unpaid taxes - now being sold.
- Trust Deed John Haas to Thomas Evan, in Land Records, Lee County, Mississippi
6/460, 27 Jan 1872.
J.F. 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.
- Deed from John F & Cecilia to John Haas, in Land Records, Lee County, Mississippi
16/94, 27 Apr 1876.
J.F. & Cecilia Haas to John Haas, Warranty Deed. $200.00. Selling S1/2 of N1/2 of SE 1/4 & N 1/2 of SW 1/4 of S16, TS9, R6E.
- Deed to W.T. Lawrence, in Land Records, Lee County, Mississippi
16/112, 27 Apr 1876.
J.F. & Cecilia Haas, John & Tabitha Haas to W.T. Lawrence, Warranty Deed. Selling S1/2 of SW 1/4 & S1/2 of SE 1/4 of S15,TS9,R6E. for $500.00.
- Deed from W. T. Lawrence, in Land Records, Lee County, Mississippi
15/284, 28 Apr 1876.
WT Lawrence to J.F. Haas, Warranty Deed. S1/2 of the NE 1/4 of S16,TS9,R6 for $200.00.
- Trust Deed to J.G. Young, in Land Records, Lee County, Mississippi
19/141, 25 Feb 1878.
J.F. & Cecilia Haas & W.T. Lawrence, Trust Deed to JG Young for $61.87. J.F. Haas S 1/2 of the NE 1/4 of S16,TS9,R6E and W.T. Lawrence N1/2 of the N1/2 of SW 1/4, S16, TS9, R6E and entire crop of cotton, corn, fodder, potatoes & sorghum of J.F. Haas.
- Deed from J.F. to W.T. Lawrence, in Land Records, Lee County, Mississippi
24/233, 12 Dec 1881.
J.F. & CA Haas to W.T. Lawrence, Warranty Deed for $350.00 40 acres off the North side of SE 1/4 S16,TS9,R6E and the S 1/2 of NE 1/4 of S16, TS9, R6E.
This deed covers the remaining land belonging to John F & Cecilia A. Haas. It is after this sale that the family moved to Mulberry, Franklin County, Arkansas.
- First Deed in Arkansas, in Land Records, Franklin County, Arkansas
J/486-487, 30 Mar 1882.
E B and Julia A Bryant to John F Haas. 25.00 ... Part of the SE 1/4 of the SW 1/4 S26, TS10N, R29W more particularly described by commencing at the south east corner of said quarter thence north 35 yards thence west 75 yards thence south 35 yards thence east 75 yards to place of beginning containing 1/2 acre ... Filed & recorded Mar 31st, 1882. (This property is at the corner of Hwy 64 & 215 - Mulberry, AR)
This is the first record found for John Franklin & Cecilia Haas in Arkansas.
- Final Deed in Arkansas, in Land Records, Franklin County, Arkansas
P/849-850, 12 Mar 1884.
J.E. Gibson & J.F. Haas & Wives - Warranty Deed to John Hammonds. J E Gibson and J F Haas and S A Gibson and C A Has their wives ... 300.00 .. to John Hammonds ... County of Franklin, state of Arkansas .. A part of the SE 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of S26, TS10, R29W ... commencing at the SE corner of said quarter thence west 70 yards thence north 70 yards thence east 70 yards thence south 70 yards to place of beginning containing one acre. ... this 12 Day of March 1884, Signed: J E Gibson, F J Haas, S A Gibson, C A Gibson. (Examination of CA Haas and S A Gibson in private by R H Hicks, J.P., dated 12 Mar 1884). (This property is located at the corner of Hwy 64 & 215)
This is the final record of John Franklin Haas found in Arkansas. The next record found for them is in Ft. Gibson, Muskogee County, Indian Territory.
- Newspaper Article, in Ft. Gibson Post Newspaper, Muskogee County, Indian Territory
17 Feb 1898.
17 Feb 1898 - Ft Gibson Post Newspaper, Ft. Gibson, Indian Territory - "Boomer Edition" Page 5, column 3: J F HAAS: is a shoemaker of more than ordinary ability. He has been in Fort Gibson for a number of years, and he has no idea of leaving. His place of business is on Front street, near Dr. McBride's office. He does all kinds of saddle and shoe repairing, and guarantees satisfaction. He also manufactures fine shoes and boots to order. Located: Newspaper microfilm. Oklahoma Archives, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Ft. Gibson Post, Gossip Column, in Ft. Gibson Post Newspaper, Muskogee County, Indian Territory
6 Oct 1898.
6 Oct 1898 - page 5, column 3, Fort Gibson Post newspaper, Ft Gibson Indian Territory: Mrs N F Nash of Bridgeport, Tex., was here last week visiting her aunt, Mrs J F Haas. Located: Newspaper microfilm. Oklahoma Archives, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
- Book listing, in Gateway to the West Ft. Gibson
/220.
Gateway to the West: Ft. Gibson Page 220: The Oldest Church in the Oldest Town In OK: The First Methodist Church. J.B. (J.B.) Haas, member. Page 256: Mayors of Ft. Gibson: J.F. Haas (no date)
John Franklin is also listed as a Justice Of the Peace.
- John's Death Certificate, in Death Certificates, State of Oklahoma
14/, 24 Apr 1921.
Muskogee Co, Ft. Gibson, OK. Register 14. J.F. Haas; John F. Haas, Male. White. Date of Death: 24 April 1921. Age 72 yrs, 1 mo and 1 day. Occupation Shoe Cobbler. Birth place: Miss. All info on mother and father is blank. Informant is blank. Cause of death Chronic Bronchitis, duration of over 1 year. Doctor: GS Stewart of Ft. Gibson. Burial: Ft. Gibson, OK on 26 April 1921, by RE Coleman, Undertaker of Ft. Gibson. Location: Department of Human Resources, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
John is said to be buried in the Ft. Gibson Cemetery. A grave has not been located. Family members report that neither John nor Cecilia have headstones. A search for the records of Dr. Stewart and R.E. Coleman, undertaker have been unsuccessful. This death certificate is frustrating because Cecilia was alive when John died. If she had given the information the very elusive mother would have been named.
- Obituary for John Franklin, in Ft. Gibson New Era Newspaper, Ft. Gibson, Muskogee County, Oklahoma
28 Apr 1921.
John Franklin Haas Obituary notice from the Ft. Gibson, OK New Era Newspaper, 28 April 1921, Local News, Funeral of John F. Haas, page 8, 1st column: "The funeral of J.F. Haas took place from his home at 10 o'clock Tuesday morning. The services at the home were conducted by Rev. C.H. Buchanan the Methodist pastor, of which church he was long a member. Mr. Haas was born at Tupelo, Lee County, Miss. He was the son of a Methodist preacher, and at the time of his death was seventy-two years and one month old. He came West many years ago, and had lived in Ft. Gibson twenty odd years and was well known and respected by a large circle of friends. He leaves a widow and a large family of children." Located: Newspaper Microfilm, Oklahoma Archives, Oklahoma City, OK.
- Thank You newspaper notice, in Unidentified Newspaper Clippin.
"We wish to thank our friends and neighbors and especially Dr. Stewart, Mrs. Fuller and Mr. Davis for their kindness and help during the illness and death of our dear husband and father. Signed: Mrs. J.F. Haas, Arthur V. Haas, Charles H. Haas, Walter D. Haas, Elmer H. Haas, Clyde H. Haas, Albert F. Haas, Mrs. Pearl Sisson, Mrs. Maud Coombs"
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