Philip M. Haas, the head of an extensive investment and farm loan business of Holton, Kans, is a native of the Sunflower State. He was born in Jackson county, April 24, 1869, and is a son of Martin and Vashtie (Henry) Haas, the former a native of Germany and the latter of Pennsylvania. Martin Haas came to America with his parents when a child, in 1834. He was a carpenter in early life, and later followed farming. His parents settled in Pennsylvania, and when he grew to manhood he went to Ohio, and from there to Iowa, and in 1857 came to Kansas, locating in Jackson county. He drove from Iowa to Jackson county, Kansas, with an ox team, and, to add to the discomforts of pioneer life and the plagues and pests of the plains, when he arrived in the new country he found himself in the heart of the border war. Leavenworth was his nearest market place, of any account, and he frequently drove there for supplies. This was before the establishment of Holton. He made regular trips west, about as far as Salina, on a Buffalo hunting expeditions each fall, and in this way obtained his supply of meat for the winter. He was one of the first permanent settlers in Jackson county, and his original homestead is still in the hands of the family, and has never been subjected to a single transfer and there has never been a dollar recorded against it, which is perhaps the only farm in the county, that can show such an abstract of such brevity. Martin Haas was a very successful farmer and stockman, and remained on his farm until his death, February 15, 1899. He was prominent in the county and served as trustee and treasurer of his township on different occasions. He was twice married, his first wife being Maria Guthrie, and to this union were born six children. The wife and mother died in 1862. His second wife was Vashtie Henry, to whom was born five children: Philip M., of this review, being the second in order of birth. Philip M. Haas was reared on a farm in Jackson county, receiving his early education in distrct[sic] schools, and afterwards attended Elliott's Business College at Burlington, Iowa, where he was graduated in the class of 1888. He then entered the employ of William Deering & Company, of Chicago, Ill., as traveling salesman, and traveled in Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas and Indiana for four years. He was then appointed under sheriff of Jackson county by his brother, Sheriff George N. Haas, and served in that capacity four years. In 1904, he engaged in the real estate and farm loan business at Holton, which he has since successfully followed. He was one of the organizers of the Kansas State Bank of Holton, in which he is still a stockholder, and is one of the extensive land owners of the county. He owns about 1,500 acres, a part of which is operated under his own supervision, and a part of which he rents. Mr. Haas was married September 6, 1893, to Miss Minnie B. Asher, a native of Missouri. She was reared and educated in Jackson county and attended Campbell University at Holton, and for a number of years prior to her marriage she was engaged in teaching in the city schools at Walker, Iowa. She was a daughter of M. D. and Elizabeth (McCreary) Asher, natives of Ohio, and early settlers in Jackson county, where they were married. They lived in Missouri for a short time, but returned to Jackson county. To Mr. and Mrs. Haas has been born one child, Kendall, born August 27, 1896, now a student in the Holton High School. The family are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. Haas is a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen.