My Genealogy Hound

William Maas, a representative and leading farmer and stock raiser of Farmington township, Oakland County, whose farm of 116 acres is situated in section 16, was born in Prussia, Germany, January 12, 1849, and is a son of John and Sophia (Bict) Maas.

John and Sophia (Bict) Maas were engaged in farming in Germany until 1867, when they came to America with one child, William, the subject of this sketch, then 18 years of age, who was the youngest of their children, who were as follows: Fred, who was married in Germany and came to the United States later than did his parents and younger brother, and is now living in Livonia township, Wayne County, Michigan, — he has reared seven children, and his wife is now deceased; Caroline, deceased; one who died in infancy; and William, whose name heads this sketch.

William Maas received his school training in Prussia. Since coming to this county, he has very industriously followed agricultural pursuits and to good purpose, for he holds a prominent place among his fellow citizens as a successful man. In 1880 Mr. Maas purchased his present farm of 116 acres in section 16, Farmington township, and has since been industriously engaged in general and diversified farming and in raising stock. He has made many improvements on the farm, and has, it is agreed by many, one of the best tracts of farming land in the county.

Mr. Maas was united in marriage with Louisa Westfall, whose family history will be found on other pages of this work in the sketch of her brother, Fred Westfall. Our subject and wife are the parents of nine children, namely: Caroline, born in 1877; John, born in 1878; Ida, born in 1880; William, born in 1882; Herman, born in 1884; Albert, born in 1886; Paul, born in 1888; Fred, born in 1890, and Minnie, born in 1893. Mr. Maas is a member of the German Salem Church and a supporter of Republican political principles.