History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, 
Publ. 1912 - Page 785-787
 
ANDREW W. HAFS.  One of the leading agriculturists and public spirited 
citizens of the vicinity of Genoa Junction is Andrew W. HAFS, a man who has 
kept well abreast of the times in all that pertains to his vocation, having 
believed in doing well whatever was worth doing at all, from his youth up,and 
it is this adherence to thoroughness and system that has won him a very 
substantial material success and rendered him a man of influence in his county.
 
Mr. HAFS was born in the town of Wheatland, Kenosha county, Wisconsin, 
September 1, 1865.  He is the son of Herman and Johanna (VOGT) HAFS, both 
natives of Pomerania, Germany, where they spent their earlier years, finally 
emigrating to Canada, and from there to Kenosha county, Wisconsin, in 1862, 
and there rented a farm.  After renting for some years on two or three 
different places, they purchased a farm in Randall township that county, near 
Powers lake, and there they lived about eight years, becoming very comfortably 
established through their industry.  About 1874 they bought a farm of one 
hundred and forty acres in sections 10 and 11, Bloomfield township, Walworth 
county, and later purchased eighty acres adjoining them on the south where 
they made their home and there the death of the mother occurred on November 
17, 1891.
 
Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Herman HAFS, one of whom, a son, died 
in infancy before the family left Canada; Mary died when about two years old; 
Bertha grew to womanhood, married John RADEEG and lived in Randall township, 
Kenosha county, until her death in September, 1898; Andrew W., of this sketch; 
Amelia is the wife of Frank WHITE and lives in Genoa Junction; Emma married 
John H. BERGER and also lives at Genoa Junction.
 
Andrew W. HAFS, of this sketch, grew to manhood on the home farm where he 
assisted with the work when a boy, and he received his education in the common 
schools.  In June 1889, he was united in marriage with Clara KOHLS, daughter 
of William and Wilhelmina (BARTZ) KOHLS.  She was born near Burlington, this 
state.  Her parents came from Germany and were among the very first settlers 
in the locality of Burlington.  Upon reaching Chicago from the old country 
they found a straggling hamlet in a semi-swamp.  The nearest settlement was at 
Kenosha, then called Southport, and they were compelled to drive there to 
market, making the trip with ox teams.  They endured all the hardships 
incident to pioneer life, and here they spent the rest of their days.  There 
Mrs. HAFS grew to womanhood, was educated, and lived until her marriage.
 
After his marriage Mr. HAFS spent five years on the farm where his father had 
located upon first coming to this county, in sections 10 and 11, Bloomfield 
township.  He then purchased a farm of one hundred and forty acres in section 
11, of Donald FORBES, which has been his home ever since.  It is noticeable as 
a neat, well-kept and pleasant place.  He has purchased the old homestead of 
his father, which he has placed under a high state of improvement and 
cultivation, and he is now the owner of three hundred and sixty acres of 
valuable and very productive land on which he carries on general faring and 
stock raising in a manner that stamps him as one of the up-to-date farmers of 
the county.  
 
Mr. HAFS has been influential in political matters for some time, and he has 
held several township offices, such as a member of the board of supervisors, 
justice of the peace and he is now township clerk.  As a public servant he has 
performed his duties in a faithful and most acceptable manner.
 
Mr. HAFS makes a specialty of raising high grade Holstein cattle and White 
hogs, at which he has been quite successful, and he is frequently called upon 
at farmers' institutes to talk on the subject of successful breeding and stock 
raising, in which he is exceptionally well versed.
 
Mr. HAFS and wife are the parents of two children, Oscar H. W. and Florence 
Aurora, both attending high school at Genoa Junction, where they are making 
excellent records.
 
Mr. HAFS and his family belong to the Lutheran church at Slades Corners, and 
no family in this part of the county stands higher in the community than they.
 
Submitted by Carol