Fred Haack

1873 (age 51)

Germany

He served a total of sixteen years. By 1892 son Fred was the bookkeeper for the family business. He did not advocate a radical agenda, but was often a contentious figure. He promoted city ownership of public utilities. He also advanced a bond issue that helped build a new school in his precinct. He was also in favor of paying aldermen to attend council meetings He sat on various committees concerning the judiciary, the poor, printing, licenses, bonds and salaries, and became a powerful chairman of the building committee later in his tenure. In 1900 the city council appointed a committee to investigate Haack in regard to the purchase of additional school grounds. In 1914 aldermen elected Haack president of the common council. He ran for mayor the next year, but was unsuccessful. By 1908 Haack had moved to a new residence down the block from his business. In 1915 he bought out the interests of other heirs to the shoe store property, which had also become a substation of the local post office. In April 1916 Haack unexpectedly failed to be re-elected to the council. Less than a week later his store was damaged by a fire that destroyed much of his stock. That October he was hired as a local insurance agent for the Eureka F. & M. and the Security of Cincinnati. He moved his family to Milwaukee, where Haack purchased rental property. He held the position of party secretary for many years. He later held clerical positions with various Milwaukee County institutions. In later life Haack was crippled in an auto accident. A few years later in August 1944 his body was found in the Milwaukee River.

Fred Haack

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advocate mayor

Background

Haack was born in Germany, and in 1882 he traveled to Sheboygan to join up with his father Frederick Senior who worked as a laborer.

Career

He served a total of sixteen years. By 1892 son Fred was the bookkeeper for the family business. He did not advocate a radical agenda, but was often a contentious figure.

He promoted city ownership of public utilities.

He also advanced a bond issue that helped build a new school in his precinct. He was also in favor of paying aldermen to attend council meetings

He sat on various committees concerning the judiciary, the poor, printing, licenses, bonds and salaries, and became a powerful chairman of the building committee later in his tenure. In 1900 the city council appointed a committee to investigate Haack in regard to the purchase of additional school grounds.

In 1914 aldermen elected Haack president of the common council.

He ran for mayor the next year, but was unsuccessful. By 1908 Haack had moved to a new residence down the block from his business. In 1915 he bought out the interests of other heirs to the shoe store property, which had also become a substation of the local post office.

In April 1916 Haack unexpectedly failed to be re-elected to the council.

Less than a week later his store was damaged by a fire that destroyed much of his stock. That October he was hired as a local insurance agent for the Eureka F. & M. and the Security of Cincinnati.

He moved his family to Milwaukee, where Haack purchased rental property. He held the position of party secretary for many years.

He later held clerical positions with various Milwaukee County institutions.

In later life Haack was crippled in an auto accident. A few years later in August 1944 his body was found in the Milwaukee River.

Politics

Running on the Socialist ticket, he was re-elected 5th ward alderman in 1898. Haack"s distinction as first American Socialist officeholder was recognized at the national Socialist Party convention held in Milwaukee in 1932. Also elected in 1898 on the Socialist ticket was local baseball manager August L. Mohr.

As the alderman for Sheboygan"s 5th ward, Haack turned from populism to socialism in 1897. Months later he objected to the appointment of a Socialist to a vacant council seat previously held by a Republican.

Membership

He was originally elected to the common council of Sheboygan, Wisconsin as a member of the Populist Party in 1897, but he soon joined in organizing the local Social Democratic Party. He joined the 24th ward branch of the city"s Socialist Party in 1930, and was re-instated as an honorary member of the 21st ward branch.

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Fred Haack

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