Hon. William Hasson and Mary Collins

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Husband Hon. William Hasson ^{1 2}

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           Born: 27 Mar 1833 - Shippenville, Elk Twp, Clarion Co, PA 2
     Christened: 
           Died: 15 May 1923 - Oil City, Venango Co, PA 2
         Buried:  - St. Joseph's Cemetery, Oil City, Venango Co, PA

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         Father: James Hasson (1798-      ) 1 2
         Mother: Sarah Fetzer (      -      ) 2

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       Marriage: 11 Dec 1871 - Erie, Erie Co, PA 3

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Wife Mary Collins ³

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           Born: 23 Jun 1850 - Cleveland, Cuyahoga Co, OH 3
     Christened: 
           Died: 24 Aug 1925 3
         Buried:  - St. Joseph's Cemetery, Oil City, Venango Co, PA

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         Father: James Collins (      -      ) 3
         Mother: Margaret Duffy (      -      ) 3

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Children

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1 M James Hasson ³

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Emma F. Sleeman (1883-1936) 3
           Marr: 1909 - ? Venango Co, PA

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2 F Sarah Margaret Hasson ³

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

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3 F Mary Louisa Hasson ³

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: 
         Buried: 

         Spouse: William Owen Walker (      -      ) 3
           Marr: 1906 - ? Venango Co, PA

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4 F Jessie Cecelia Hasson ³

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           Born: 
     Christened: 
           Died: Aft 1926
         Buried: 

         Spouse: Marion Delmar Ritchie, M.D. (      -Bef 1926) 3
           Marr: 1902 - ? Venango Co, PA

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General Notes: Husband - Hon. William Hasson

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He was of Scotch and Huguenot ancestry, a lifelong Democrat and student of politics, and was a delegate to the Baltimore Democratic convention which nominated Woodrow Wilson. He represented the county in the legislature in 1875-76, 1883-84 and 1899-1900. In 1859, soon after Drake struck oil, he drilled a well on his own land and became an oil producer, and from that time onward he was a producer of oil practically every minute.

As early as 1856, he and his father, and family, as soon as the purchase of the "furnace tract" (the original Cornplanter reservation) had been made by Graff, Hasson & Company, located on the "flats" of what later became the main business section of the north side of Oil City, Venango County, Pennsylvania, which had cost $7,000. In 1859, soon after Drake struck oil, Mr. Hasson drilled a well on his own land, becoming an oil producer, which he continued to be the remainder of his life.
In the sixties, when President Lincoln called for defenders of the flag, Mr. Hasson joined the Pennsylvania militia and became a soldier as captain of Company I, originally known as the Petroleum Guards, of the 142d Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteers. At the close of the war, Captain Hasson returned to Oil City, where, he became one of the city's most honored and trusted financiers. In 1875-76 he represented Venango County in the legislature, and also in 1883-84 and 1899-1900. As a staunch Democrat, Captain Hasson sat in the convention which nominated Grover Cleveland for his second term; in the session which nominated Horace Greeley; and the session which nominated Woodrow Wilson for his first term.
Captain Hasson was progressive in every detail, and most philanthropic. Besides giving lots for several different church buildings erected on the north side of Oil City, he gave six acres of land for the Oil City Hospital, and forty-four acres for a public park which then bore his name.
In 1862, prior to his being mustered into service, he was elected the first burgess in the borough of Oil City. In 1863 he became one of the pioneer bankers of the place, being president of the First National Bank, which he served from January, 1866, until his death, when he was succeeded by his son James.
He and his family were all members of St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church.

1 J. H. Newton, History of Venango County, Pennsylvania (Columbus, OH: J. A. Caldwell Publishers, 1879), Pg 497.

2 George P. Donehoo, Pennsylvania - A History (NW) (New York, NY; Chicago, IL: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1926), Pg 89.

3 George P. Donehoo, Pennsylvania - A History (NW) (New York, NY; Chicago, IL: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, Inc., 1926), Pg 90.