Hon. W. D. Haller Goes To His Last Reward

No death in years has cast such a gloom over the city as the announcement last Thursday noon of the death of Hon. W. D. Haller, our pioneer druggist and man who has been actively associated with the interests of Blair almost ever since the town was incorporated.

For the past several weeks Mr. Haller had been suffering from a nervous breakdown, and while during the past week little hope had been entertained for his recovery, everyone felt that his condition might take a turn for the better and he would yet be spared to us. But I was not to be and he gradually grew weaker until death came to his relief.

The funeral was held from the Catholic Church Monday morning with Rev. Fr. O’Driscoll in charge and was largely attended by relatives and friends of long standing, among those from abroad being J. J. Hess, W. J. Cook, Herman Shields, and Herman Aye of Omaha, and Chris Matthiesen of Chicago. Telegrams of condolence were sent to the family from U. S. Senators Hitchcock and Norris and Congressmen Lobeck, Shallenbarger, Sloan, Kinkaid and Henry Cooper, who was a boyhood friend of Mr. Haller’s back in Wisconsin.

He is survived by his widow and one son, Bernard, and one daughter, Mrs. L. L Burstein, of this city; also, two brothers, Frank and Samuel, and three sisters, Mrs. Mary Kemp of Blair, Mrs. Frank Frazier of East Troy, Wis., and Mrs. Emanuel Casstetter of Burke, S. D.

The business houses and post office closed during the funeral hour. The active pallbearers were Chris Matthiesen of Chicago, W. J. Cook of Omaha, Joe S. Cook, J. B. Gibson, and Tom Beistlin of this city, Mayor J. S. Roberts and the members of the city council, together with all but two of the ex-mayors of the city, (A. C. Jones, who was ill, and L. A. Williams) acted as honorary pallbearers. The ex-mayors present were, S. W. Chambers, W. G. Harrison, Dr. C. R. Mead, Clark O’Hanlon, Magnus Johnson, John McQuarrie and J. F. White. Also the following old settlers, Peter Siert, W. H. Belknap, E. C. Pierce, Jas. H. Platz, L. L. Lantry and L. F. Hilton.

William D. Haller was born in East Troy, Wisconsin, April 17, 1846. Graduated at Baldwin College, Berea, Ohio, in 1866, and was a classmate of Congressman Lobeck. He came to Blair in 1871 and had the first drug store in company with Mr. Lane, where the Pilot building now stands, the building having been moved and is now occupied by the Y.M.C.A. on Lincoln Street. Mr. Haller was instrumental in organizing the Haller Proprietary Company in 1888 and was actively connected with its management for a number of years. He twice represented Washington County in the lower house and one time as State Senator from this district; and he has been mayor of Blair innumerable times. He had been a life-long republican and it was largely through his influence that this city was granted the present post office building, he having made two trips to Washington D. C., in the interests of the cause. He was also vice-president of the State Pharmaceutical Association and one of the examiners on the State Board of Pharmacy.

Mr. Haller had always been an active and energetic man, both mentally and physically, giving liberally of his time, labor and sympathy in homes of sickness and death. He early developed the habit of weighing things in the balance of reason, discarding that which to him did not harmonize with the Creator’s plan as he saw God’s laws in the big book of nature. He believed in doing good for the sake of humanity and not in the fear of the anger and vengeance of a higher power. Hell, to him, is what men make for themselves here on earth, and not a place of divine origin for future punishment. As to future existence, he felt that each will be rewarded according to the good deeds done in this life. That we come into this life not of our own accord, and go not of our own free will, but subject to the Supreme Power over all, and to that Power over all, and to that Power he was will to trust his fate when his time should come to meet the great mystery of death. His conviction were honest and sincere, resulting from much careful study and analysis on his part, and with which he calmly met the fate of all flesh. He was one of Nature’s big men, and his place in the community will never be filled. The Tribune joins the community in extending sympathy to the family and mourns with them in their hour of bereavement.

#2-Published in the Enterprise July 12, 1918

William D. Haller was born at East Troy, Walworth County, Wisconsin, April 17, 1846, while the state was yet a territory. His parents were natives of Switzerland. His boyhood days were spent on the farm where he attended the district school; later, when twenty years of age, he went to Berea, Ohio, and took a course at Baldwin College, returning at the close of his school career to Burlington, Wis., near his birthplace, and secured a place in a drug store and became a pharmacist. While employed there he made the acquaintance of George B. Lane, and a bond of everlasting friendship, exemplifying brotherly love, grew up between them and they decided to link their fortunes and engage in the drug trade. For this purpose, Mr. Haller started on a tour west to search for a desirable location, and after visiting many places in Wisconsin, Illinois, Iowa and Minnesota, came to Blair in the year 1872 and decided to locate here, buying the drug stock and business of J. H. Post, in the brick building now occupied by the Haller Proprietory Co. as a wareroom, later removing to the corner where the Bell Telephone’s office now is, in the frame building subsequently removed to Lincoln Street, owned by the Y.M.C.A, and ultimately their own building.

Mr. Lane was an educator, not druggist, and was superintendent for some years of the St. Louis, Mo. City schools and later of the Omaha city schools, coming to Blair occasionally to spend his vacations, depending entirely upon his partner to manage the business. While a resident of Nebraska Mr. Lane was appointed by Governor James W. Dawes superintendent of the 1885 state census, and later elected state superintendent of Public Instruction, both positions secured through the wide acquaintance throughout the state and political influences of Mr. Haller. Mr. Lane’s letter to Mrs. Haller, published here, within, is a splendid tribute to the memory of his dearest friend and a comfort to the family that will be cherished to eternity.

Deceased had four brothers, Samuel and Frank residents of this city, and Theodore and Jacob, deceased, former residents here, and five sisters, Mrs. Mary Kemp, of this city, Mrs. E. Castetter of South Dakota, and Mrs. Frank Frazier, of Wisconsin. Two sisters, Mrs. Jacob Wambold and Mrs. J. G. Schafer died some years ago, the former being a resident of Blair for several years before her death.

In 1885, November 24th, he and Mrs. Frances M. Vernon were married. Mrs. Vernon had three daughters and be became a father to them, loved them as his very own and his affection for them was lovingly reciprocated by them. Teresa, the eldest, married George J. Haller, nephew of the deceased, and they are living in Omaha. Grace, deceased married Guy Mead and little Blanche, the pride of his heart whom he idolized, was accidently burned to death when eight years of age.

A daughter, Marie, is the wife of Dr. L. L. Burstein, now a lieutenant in the medical branch of the army over the battle front in France and a son, Bernard, associated with his father in the business since his graduation from Creighton college at Omaha, and their mother are the surviving members of the bereaved family. A host of relatives too numerous to detail, are resident of city and county.

Funeral service was held at the Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. O’Driscoll officiating, on Monday at 10 o’clock A.M., the church being filled to over-flowing with relatives and friends and associates of a natural lifetime. By request of the family no funeral sermon was delivered by the officiating pastor on account of the nervous and enfeebled condition of the daughter, Mrs. Burstein, who had come from S. Joseph’s hospital in Omaha after undergoing a surgical operation, to attend the funeral and assuage, as far as she was able to do, and the grief and sorrow of her mother.

The active pallbearers were Thomas Beistline, Joe S. Cook, James E. Maher, Jabe B. Gibson, W. J. Cook and Chris Matthiesen. Mayor Roberts, Magnus Johnson, Dr. C. R. Mead, Peter Siert, John McQuarrie and L. F. Hilton, were the honorary pallbearers. All of the living mayors of this city, save two, A. C. Jones, who was ill, and L. A. Williams, were in attendance, together with the present mayor and members of the city council. All business houses of the city were closed during the funeral, from 10 to 12 o’clock.

Comforting messages of condolences were received from Washington to Mrs. Haller from Senator Hitchcock and Norris, Congressman Lobeck, Kinkaid, Sloan and Shallenberger of this state, and Cooper of Wisconsin, an intimate friend of the deceased since his youth, now representing the district where he was born.

Many former residents, too numerous to note, who have moved from Blair to other localities, returned to pay their last tribute of respect to their friend.

The funeral was the most largely attended ever held in Blair.

#3-Published in the Enterprise July 12, 1918

Hon. William D. Haller

In the death of W. D. Haller, briefly noted in last week’s Enterprise, this city and county and the state, society at large, in a lesser degree only than his immediate family, have suffered an irreparable loss. “Bill” Haller was a friend to humanity, everybody’s friend, and everybody was his friend; his loyalty to friends was proverbial, unquestioned. The person who inspired his confidence and consequent friendship, could, in his estimation, be guilty of no wrong doing; if there were rumors affecting the integrity of his friends they must be accompanied by proofs stronger than “Holy Writ” before he gave them credence. He was the especial friend and champion of the rights of the poor and oppressed, holding that the rich and affluent were able to take care of themselves. His charities to the poor are so notorious that they require no mention; no person was ever so poor, shiftless, worthless, down-and-out, that he or she could not get medicine for alleged sickness, real of fancied, at his store, without money or price. He has given away more that any man in Blair possesses.

He was influential and active in public affairs and held numerous official, declining many more than he accepted. He was an orthodox Republican all his life, never believed that the Democratic Party was qualified to manage public affairs. The people of the city, county and state reposed full confidence in his judgement and integrity by placing him at the head of the city government more than a dozen terms, electing him to the legislature several times, as senator and representative, and a member and president of the state pharmacy board. His name has frequently been considered by leaders of the Republican politics of the state for Governor and other state offices, and some 20 years ago, as a member of the state senate, he had strong and loyal support for the exalted position of Untied States Senator, and would certainly have been elected if he had exerted a personal effort to secure it, or even consented to be an active, solicitous candidate.

A letter of condolence from his former business partner in Blair for more than twenty years, Mr. George B. Lane, to Mrs. Haller, is a deserving tribute from one who knew his many virtues better than anyone living herewith reprouduced, as follows:

Seattle, Washington, July 8, 1918

Mrs. W. D. Haller, Blair, Nebraska

Dear Mrs. Haller:

Saturday night I received from your son the announcement of the death of you husband, William D. Haller. No news received by me for a long time caused me so much sorrow and grief. In 1867, while I was living in Burlington, Wisconsin, I first met Mr. Haller. He was then employed as a young clerk in the drug store of Dr. Cooper. I lived one year in Dr. Cooper’s family place and Mr. Haller boarded at the same place. In this way we formed an acquaintance which has lasted and strengthened for more than a half a century. Early in the seventies Mr. Haller and I formed the firm Haller and Lane, druggists in Blair, Nebraska. For some twenty years this partnership continued, and I had the opportunity of becoming closely acquainted with Mr. Haller in all of his characteristics. He was a man of the strictest honesty and had a very manly character; fidelity and loyalty to a friend were his dominating principles. With a big heart and a manly character he took an interest in public affairs and is well known and loved by all who knew him. Last year during the month of June, I took a trip across the continent and passed through Omaha especially to meet Mr. Haller at Fremont on the U.P. He met me at Fremont at about half-past two in the morning and accompanied me to Omaha on the train in which we had a very pleasant visit. He and I at that time both agreed that very probably we would never meet again, though at the time I did not think he would be the first to pass as he was several years my junior. I know rejoice that we had that visit and conversation.

With my best regards to you, Mrs. Haller, as well as members of the family. I am very truly your old friend,

Geo. B Lane

P. S. If convenient send me a local paper giving me an account of his death. Give my best respects to Frank Hilton if he is still there, which I presume he is.

#4-Haller, William D “W.D” 7/4/1918

Note: portrait in article

Source: Nebraska: A Guide to the Cornhusker State. Compiled by the Federal Writers Project, 1939 “Biographical Sketches”, p. 129

Hon. W.D. Haller, Blair, Nebraska

Republican representative from the eleventh district, was born in 1847, and reared on a farm in southeastern Wisconsin. At the age of nineteen he began working in a drug store of Dr. J.H. Cooper, of Burlington, Wisconsin. After several years, with another young man, he came west and began business for himself, in which he has been very successful. In 1871 he located at Blair, which is still his home, and engaged in the drug business. Mr. Haller is a member of the State Pharmaceutical Association, and is president of the Haller Proprietary Company. He is also of high rank in the Masonic lodge. What his fellow citizens think of him is shown by the fact that he has been elected mayor several times. Mr. Haller was elected to the legislature two years ago, and was re-elected to the house the present session. He gives close attention to the proceedings of the house and frequently occupies the floor. Mr. Haller is a member of the committees on constitutional amendments, insane hospital, medical societies and apportionment.

#5-Published in the Blair Enterprise April 7, 2023

By Aaron Hickman - news@enterprisepub.com
Editor's note: This is the second story of a two-part series looking at different items found at the Washington County Museum.

Haller Proprietary Company-Early druggist contributed to Blair in many ways

(Photo)A photo of W.D. Haller looks over the Haller exhibit at the Washington County Museum in Fort Calhoun.

On April 17, 1846, William D. Haller was born in East Troy, Wis., to Swiss parents. He graduated from Baldwin College in Berea, Ohio, in 1866. Early in his life he became friends with George B. Lane, and the duo decided to enter into the drug trade.

After traveling to several states in search of the ideal starting location, Haller found the right fit in Blair in 1872. He purchased the drug stock of Judson Post, who had been mayor from 1869-1870, and set up shop with Lane at 1569 Washington Street, which is right next to where Farm Bureau Financial Services is currently. In 1876 the company moved a block over to 1621 Washington Street, about where the Hoshi Palate restaurant is today.

Selling items such as Haller Green Salve, Pain Paralyzer, Toilet Cream, Insect Powder and Candy Laxatives, Haller’s medications were available both in store or from traveling salesmen. In Volume 1 of “If These Bricks Could Talk: Blair, Nebraska 1869-2019” by Donna Henton, a passage reads: “The traveling salesmen stopped at all rural homes and sold from the stock which they carried with them. In the early days of poor roads, this was a valuable service to those living a distance from town. Remember this was the horse and buggy days.”

In 1884, Haller and Lane went their separate ways after Lane moved to California to enter into business with a publishing house. Their partnership ended on good terms after a dozen years of success.

In 1888, Haller and his repertoire of remedies rebranded into the Haller Proprietary Company. Continuing to sell products both in store and with traveling salesmen, Haller also took mail orders as a way to make his remedies available all over the country. Eventually named President of the state Pharmacy Association, Haller became known for his promise of “no cure, no pay” and for producing some of the industry’s finest products.

Haller made time for more than just work, too. Serving as a political and philanthropic leader, it is said that when the city was deep in debt the people turned to Haller to be a guiding light as mayor. He was successful in this endeavor, serving in 1883, 1888-1890, 1901-1902, 1907, and 1912-1914. This was in the time period where mayors were elected to one year terms.

A display at the Washington County Museum reads: “W.D. Haller was known as a selfless, kind man. He never refused a customer, even when he knew they couldn’t pay. He literally gave the shoes off his feet to those in need, and it was said he gave away more than any man in Blair. In addition to pharmaceuticals, he also was elected as Blair’s mayor 14 times, then went on to serve several terms in the senate and house.”

Haller ran his company all the way until his death on July 4, 1918. He was 72 years old.

Upon his passing, Haller’s obituary read: “Nebraska lost one of the biggest and most thoroughly human men who ever blessed the big and generous west with his presence.’”

The business was taken over by Haller’s son Bernard, who then sold the business to Ed Wolff a few years later in 1921. Wolff had worked for the drug store for six years starting in 1899, and he and his wife Erma provided several upgrades to the building, including a soft drink fountain and a booth to serve customers ice cream and drinks.

Ownership of the store shifted several more times over the next few decades, and eventually the Haller brand was far removed from all the families that had stamped their name on the front. As pharmacies became more and more popular and modern drugs worked their way into being the typical prescription for a sickness, the need for homemade remedies became a thing of the past.

But there were still those who remembered what W.D. Haller had done for the Blair community while Blair was still a young town. On July 11, 1918, the following was printed in the Tribune under the title ‘Hon. W.D. Haller Goes To His Last Reward’:

“No death in years has cast such a gloom over the city as the announcement last Thursday noon of the death of Hon. W. D. Haller, our pioneer druggist and man who has been actively associated with the interests of Blair almost ever since the town was incorporated… He was one of Nature’s big men, and his place in the community will never be filled. The Tribune joins the community in extending sympathy to the family and mourns with them in their hour of bereavement.”

~~~Obituaries courtesy of Washington County Genealogical Association; newspaper clippings and obituary on file at the Blair Public Library, Blair, Nebraska ~~~

FindaGrave memorial # 129249704