William HAHS was born in Missouri, March 6, 1836, and now lives in Cache Township, Johnson County. He is a son of Francis and Array (Nation) Hahs, both natives of Missouri. Francis Hahs was a farmer, and followed that occupation in Missouri until he sold his farm there and came to Illinois, crossing the Mississippi River at Willard's Landing. He settled on a tract of Government land in Johnson County, cleared off the timber and lived there until 1845, when he died. William Hahs remained at home until he was fifteen years of age, having secured but about six months' schooling in Johnson County. When fifteen years old he was bound out, the consideration being a horse, saddle and bridle when he should become twenty-one years old. After the expiration of this apprenticeship he worked by the month until he was twenty-eight years old, by which time he had saved money enough to buy a farm in Cache Township, Johnson County.

When the war came on our subject enlisted in Company C, One Hundred and Twentieth Illinois Infantry, and participated in the battles of Guntown, the sieye of Yicksburg, and numerous other battles and skirmishes, serving all through the war. He was honorably discharged at Camp Butler, September 14, 1865, after which he then returned to Johnson County, Ill., and engaged in farming. He has now a farm of one hundred acres in section 10, Cache Township, upon which he has erected his own buildings. He was married in the year 1860 to Mary C. Swim, a native of  Johnson County, who died on the 10th of  June, 1882. He was married again, September 4, 1882, to Mary E. Dunn, who was born in Tennessee, December 12, 1858, and is the daughter of William and Susan (Muncrif) Dunn, both natives of Tennessee. Mr. Hahs and his wife have three children living: William Riley, Sarah Jane and Rolly Robert. Mr. and Mrs. Hahs are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he is a member of Moscow Lodge No. 457, A. F. & A. M., and votes the Republican ticket.