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The following Biography of Charles F. Haanel is used with the permission of Kallisti Publishing 

Biography of Charles F. Haanel & the Haanel Family

In St. Louis--History of the Fourth City (S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., St. Louis, 1909) by Walter B. Stevens, this is what was written about Charles F. Haanel:

Charles F. Haanel is largely associated with the business interests of the city, being affiliated with a number of enterprises of acknowledged financial worth. Beside being president of the Continental Commercial Company he is also president of the Sacramento Valley Improvement Company and president of the Mexico Gold & Silver Mining Company. Mr. Haanel is in every sense of the word a self-made man, having risen in the commercial world to his present station of worth and prominence by the utilization of his own natural resources.

Born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, May 22, 1866, he is the son of Hugo and Emeline (Fox) Haanel, who removed with him to St. Louis when he was in early childhood. He initiated himself into the business world as an office boy for the National Enameling & Stamping Company. For this company he worked for a period of fifteen years.

Finally he resigned his position with this firm and being ambitious to rise higher in the financial world, he conceived the idea of organizing a company for the purpose of promoting an enterprise. At that time, the vicinity of Tehuantepec, Mexico was reputed as being especially adapted to the growth of sugar and coffee. He succeeded in convincing a number of capitalists of the feasibility of taking up land in that section of the country and working a plantation. The land was purchased and the company organized to engage in the raising of sugar and coffee. Of this company he was made president.

The plantation was successful from the beginning and soon became an enterprise of considerable financial worth. This was organized in 1898 and in 1905 Mr. Haanel organized the Continental Commercial Company, which was consolidated with the other company and also absorbed six additional companies. It is now operating under the name of the Continental Commercial Company with Mr. Haanel as president. It is capitalized for two million five hundred thousand dollars, and is one of the largest of its kind in the world.

Mr. Haanel has by no means confined his efforts to these lines, however, but has extended his labors to other enterprises with which he is associated in a prominent capacity. He was one of the organizers of the Sacramento Valley Improvement Company and from the beginning has been its president. Since its inception the company has enjoyed an era of prosperity and now owns and controls the largest Tokay vineyards in the world. He is likewise president of the Mexico Gold & Silver Mining Company, a company of some importance in developing the rich mineral resources of the southern republic.

In 1885 Mr. Haanel was united in marriage with Miss Esther M. Smith. Sixteen years later he was left a widower with one son and two daughters, and in July, 1908, he was married to Miss Margaret Nicholson of St. Louis, a daughter of W. A. Nicholson.

While Mr. Haanel is a Republican, his pressing business interests have given him no time to take an active interest in politics beyond that of casting his vote and using his influence for the election of the candidates of the party in whose principles he firmly believes.

He is a member of Keystone lodge, a thirty-second degree Mason and a Shriner. He is also affiliated with the Missouri Athletic Club.

He is a man of mature judgment, capable of taking a calm survey of life and correctly valuing its opportunities, its possibilities, its demands and obligations. He has wisely sought success along the lines of least resistance and yet when difficulties and obstacles have confronted him he has displayed a force of character that has enabled him to overcome them and continue on the pathway to prosperity. Many a man whose life is one of untiring industry does not win success for he lacks the complement to industry a laudable ambition which prompts the individual to reach out into other fields and eagerly grasp the opportunities that are presented. In these qualities Mr. Haanel is richly endowed and has thus attained his present enviable position in financial circles.

Mr. Haanel died on November 27, 1949 at the age of 83. He was buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery, St. Louis.

During his life, Mr. Haanel earned and received many degrees, including hon. Ph.D., College National Electronic Institute; Metaphysics, Psy. D., College of Divine Metaphysics; and M.D., Universal College of Dupleix, India.

Mr. Haanel was also affiliated with many groups, including Fellow London College of Psychotherapy; member Authors League of America; American Society of Psychical Research; member of the Society of Rosicrucians; the American Suggestive Therapeutical Association; Science League of America; Pi Gamma Mu Fraternity; Master Mason, Keystone Lodge No. 243, A.F. & A.M.; created a Noble in Moolah Temple.

A few pieces of Haanel's life (or should I say death) were discovered. You can view Haanel's obituary as it appeared in a newspaper. Once again, not much beyond the facts was written about him. In any event, it is an interesting find. A copy of Haanel's death certificate was also discovered.

The Haanel Family (Sometimes known as Hanel or Hanell)

The origins of the Haanel family are uncertain but a biography of Eugene Haanel (The Canadian Biographical Dictionary and Portrait Gallery of Eminent and Self-Made Men, Ontario Volume, 1880) states that the family came from Sweden. (I believe this biography to be accurate.)

The father of Charles Francis Haanel was Hugo Paul Haanel, brother of Eugene Emile Felix Richard Haanel and son of Franz Haanel and Ann Herde. Franz Haanel was a government officer - described as Secretary of the Council. One of the parents came from Austria and the other from Germany but there seems to be a disagree over which. This isn’t important because the borders of Prussia changed several times during this period. However, the biography mentioned above states that the great grandfather of Franz Haanel had left Sweden “on account of his politics”. The family lived in Silesia, Prussia, which now part of Poland (see map on left). Hugo was born in Leobschutz (now Glubczyce) and Eugene was born in Breslau. Hugo was the elder of the two brothers, born in 31st May 1835, while Eugene was born on 24th May 1841. (It is not known if there were any other siblings.) Both boys had a good education and seemingly were sent to the United States in the 1860s. Eugene Haanel probably left Prussia in 1857 and was already in the United States in June 1860 as he was recorded living in Baltimore, Maryland, on the census for that year. A Hugo Hanel was recorded as arriving at Castle Gardens, New York, on 18th June 1861. He had come from Hamburg, Germany, via Southampton, England, on the good ship Bavaria. Hugo was described as being aged 26 with the occupation of clerk, but his destination was unknown. (The 1920 census gives Hugo’s arrival as 1857 – this strangely coincides with Eugene leaving Prussia in that year.) No record of Eugene’s arrival could be found, but both were in the US at the outbreak of the Civil War.

Hugo served in C Company, 103rd New York Infantry from 5th April 1862 and was mustered out on 8th May 1862 at New Berne, North Carolina. The reason for his short service is unknown but when he applied for a Civil War pension in 1905, he was refused. Meanwhile, Eugene started the War as a steward at a hospital (and strangely enough was in New Berne at the same time as Hugo – one wonders if they met) but before the end of the War was a 1st Lieutenant with K Company of the 2nd Regiment Maryland Veterans Infantry. He was discharged in June 1865.

The first census to possibly show the Haanel family is the one for 1870 and they are under the name Heimell. They consisted of Hugo (though the initial is given as “C”), aged 35, and wife Emelia (26) with son Charles aged 4. Hugo is shown as being born in Prussia and Emelia as being born in Wisconsin, while Charles was born in Michigan. They were residing in St. Louis and C. Haanel’s occupation was a retired minister. It is possible that this is a different family but a St. Louis directory shows that Hugo Haanel was living at 1012 Wash, St. Louis in 1871. He was recorded as being principal of the Picker School. A year later he was principal of the North School of the Church of the Holy Ghost. (Both schools were connected with the Rev. Frederick Picker who was a minister in St. Louis in the 1840s and 1850s.)

Hugo (now under Hanell) was in St. Louis with an expanding family in 1880. Residing at 1131 N 20th in District 89, the family now consists of Hugo (46) and a school teacher, Emma (35), Chas. (14), Clara (8), Bernard (6), Eleonara (5) and Alice (2) plus servant Salina Cooper. (Interestingly, the 1880 Census was taken twice because of some illegality on the first attempt relating to rivalry between St. Louis and Chicago.) According to information from a later census there was a total of 8 children but only 6 were surviving in 1900. No census is found for 1890, but by 1900 Charles F., Eleonara (actually Honora), and Alice were married. Hugo (67), occupation recorded as a journalist, and Emaline (57) are with Clara C (28 and stenographer), Julius B (26 and cashier) and Hugo P junior (19 and stenographer). Also at the same residence are Julius A and Honora Soward with son Julius A junior, and Frank R and Alice Maas with daughter Madeline H. Hugo is known to have written on J.F. Herbert and to have translated at least one article (Herbart, J. F. [1877]. Possibility and necessity of applying mathematics in psychology. Journal of Speculative Philosophy, 11, 251-264.). In the 1889-1890 St. Louis, Missouri Directories, Hugo was resident at 1131 N. 19th with occupation listed as teacher. Also in the same directories was Julius B., living at the same address but working as a clerk for the St. Louis Stamping Company.

Interestingly Charles F. Haanel also began his working career at the St. Louis Stamping Company. According to Walter B. Stevens, Charles worked as an office boy at (giving the company its full name) the National Enameling & Stamping Company for fifteen years. This company was started by two brothers – Frederick and William Niedringhaus from Westphalia in Germany. The stamping process was brought from France and revolutionized the manufacture of cooking pans. Members of the Neidringhaus family were prominent citizens of St. Louis.

Meanwhile Charles was with his first wife Esther Martha (nee Smith), married on 22nd November 1888, and a small family on the 1900 census. Charles was a coffee manager aged 34, with Esther, aged 33, and children Jennie (10), Esther (8), Walter (6) and Edith (1). Directories for St. Louis give some interesting information on Charles. The first reference was in 1885 when he was unmarried, still living with his parents at 1131 North 19th and he is described as “coll”, which may have meant he was at college. In the 1889-1890 St. Louis Directories, Charles was residing at 3815 Page Avenue and working as publisher from 400 N. 3rd. After this he is showed as being president of the C.F. Haanel Publishing Co. in 1895, secretary of the Oaxaca Coffee Culture Co. in 1901, secretary of the Continental Sugar Refining Co. in 1904 and president of the Continental Commercial Co. in 1905. This company would seem to have consisted of the coffee and sugar companies above plus the Mount Rosa Land and Cattle Co., the Iolita Plantation, the Pittsburg Plantation Co., the Jumiapa Plantation and the Mount Verde Plantation. He is also described as secretary of the Mexico Gold and Silver Mining Co. To add to this Haanel was a member of the Keystone Lodge # 243 at Webster Groves, St. Louis (joined in 1904 and became a Master Mason in the same year), a 32nd Degree Freemason of the Scottish Rite and a member of the Ancient Arabic Order of the Mystic Shrine (joined in 1904).

On the 1910 Census Hugo, aged 74 and now a language professor, was with Emeline (aged 68), Paul, 29 and a real estate agent, and Julius A and Honora Soward plus their children - Herbert (9), Julius A jnr. (5), Bernard P (possibly F), aged 3, and eight month old Alice. All resided 4774 Greer Ave. in the 26th Ward, St. Louis. Between this census and the next Emeline died on 9th April 1918 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Hugo was recorded in 1920 living with Hugo Paul junior, and his wife Ruby (no surname known) in Chicago. Hugo died on 31st December 1921 at 1214 Norwood Ave., 25th Ward, Chicago, at the age of 86. His death certificate stated his last occupation had been a teacher at Washington University, St. Louis. Hugo Paul junior, who had been a stock broker, died in 1943 in Golf, Chicago. He was survived by his wife and two daughters, Mrs. E. Monroe Flyn and Martha E. Haanel. Those who also died in Chicago were Julius Bernard Haanel in 1956, Honora Soward (nee Haanel) in 1963 and her husband Julius, who died a year later.

In 1920 Charles F. Haanel (aged 53 and author) was still in St. Louis (23rd Ward) with Margaret (37) together with Esther L. (aged 27 and possibly working with her father), Beverly S. (9) and Charles jnr. (5). Jennie married Charles Frees of St. Louis and Beverly Sinclair married Chester Hawke (she died 10th January 1994, aged 84). Charles Francis Haanel junior., who was a corporal in the Army Air Corps, was killed in an automobile accident on 18th April 1942. There is also a record of a Walter Haanel dying in Sacramento, California, on 2nd April 1967. No other relatives are mentioned in Charles F. Haanel’s obituary but they could have been estranged.

Other members of the Haanel family are also recorded on websites. Clara Cordelia married William Henry Wear on 4th October 1910, Julius Bernard married a May or Mae Robinson around 1900 and their children were McKee, Marion, James and Elizabeth. Marion E. (born in 1908 in Missouri) married Curtis R. Beeler and died in 1964, James Fox Haanel (born 30 Oct 1912) married Mildred Johnson and died in 1994 and Elizabeth married someone with the surname Jackson. In 1910 Julius, May and two children were living Sacramento, California. Seemingly, Julius had joined his elder brother Charles in a business venture and was Vice-President of the Sacramento Valley Improvement Company. May Haanel died in Sacramento in 1918, after which Julius went to live with his sister Honora Soward in Chicago, where he died in 1956 (mentioned above).

Meanwhile, Eugene and Julia had five children and in 1872 moved to Germany, where Eugene took a Doctor of Philosophy degree at Breslau University. Then he moved directly to Cobourg, Ontario, Canada, taking up a position of Professor of Chemistry and Physics in Victoria College. They can be found on the 1881 Candian census but mistranscribed as Harriel. In 1888 he returned to the US to take up a professorship at Syracuse University and became a naturalized citizen. In 1901 he took the job of Superintendent of Mines for the Canadian government and lived in Vancouver. Eugene died at the aged of 86 on 26th June 1927 while living in Ottawa, Ontario. His contributions to physics and chemistry are still highly regarded and he received a glowing obituary in The Times of London.

Of Eugene and Julia’s children the eldest was Florence Eugenie (born in 1867, didn’t marry and died in 1950). Next was Grace D. born in 1869 and was with her family in Syracuse in 1900. She later married Dr. Charles Thornton Bowles, who attended the deaths of both Julia (in 1914) and Eugene. Born in 1873 the third child was Mary Beatrice and she married Francis Albert Cassidy (born 1853 in Ontario, Canada) on 2nd April 1902 in Ottawa, Canada. Eugene Haanel Cassidy was their son. He was born in Tokyo, Japan, in 1903 and became a famous photographer. He married Alice Caroline Coates, who was also born in Tokyo but in 1906. They had two children – David Roy and Sylvia – both born in Japan. It would seem that Eugene and Alice separated or divorced during the 1940s since at time Alice moved to the UK. Eugene became interested in things spiritual and founded the Ananda Gardens in California in 1969. He died in 1980 and Alice in 1994. Francis Cassidy had died in Vernon, British Columbia, in 1924 and Mary Beatrice passed away in Vancouver in 1937.

Other children of Eugene and Julia included Benjamin F.C. born in 1877 and was in the civil service in Canada in 1911. Next was Henry Eugene born in Coburg, Ontario, Canada in 1880 and married Maybelle Annette Kenyon on 28th July 1904. They were living Manhattan, New York, in 1920 and had at least one child. Eugene and Julia’s final child was Ruth W.E. who was born in New York in 1886. An interesting aside is that Maybelle Kenyon was the daughter of famous writer James B. Kenyon and sister of the equally famous Hollywood movie star Doris Kenyon.

Charles F. Haanel and Margaret were still living in St. Louis in 1930. He was 66 years old and Margaret 46 and they are at 7129 Cornel Ave, University City, with Beverley and Charles F. junior. Haanel’s occupation was given as author in a publishing company. St. Louis directories show that the Haanels continued to lived at 5032 Cabanne until 1930 when the moved to the above mentioned address. Between 1916 and 1921 Haanel’s occupation was concerned with a correspondence school at 709 Pine. In 1925 he was a publisher of the Master Key on the 2nd Floor, Lesser Building, 709 N. 9th and this was the same in 1930 and 1931. In 1935 his occupation was down as printer with an office at 3847 Washington Blvd. There are no references to him in the St. Louis directories after 1935 but he he, Margaret and Charles junior are recorded in 1941 in a Missouri directory living at 7129 Cornell. Charles senior and Margaret were still there in 1946.

What made Charles F. Haanel change from a businessman with a finger in many pies to a writer of books such as The Master Key (c. 1917), Mental Chemistry (1922), New Psychology (1924), A Book About You (1928) and, with Victor Simon Perera, The Amazing Secrets of the Yogi (1937)? Recently it has been suggested that made a fortune from selling some secret to folks who using it also became rich. There seems little evidence that Haanel was the bearer of some mystical knowledge (possibly related to the Emerald Tablets or something like that) and his fortune was already amassed by 1909 when Steven mentioned him in “St. Louis – The History of the Fourth City”. He can be shown to have sold his Master Key System at a very reasonable rate and was very open in doing so. It is unlikely that anything connected with the Freemasons can be pointed at to explain his writing interests, but his connection with the Rosicrucians is a possibility. There are several similarities between Haanel’s writing as the Rosicrucians, for example, “Law of Attraction” and both Rosicrucians and Freemasons show an interest in astrology. However, it may be relevant that Haanel’s sister Honora Soward (nee Haanel) was recorded as “practioner-healer” of the Christian Science Church. Certainly, Haanel had links with the New Thought Movement and advertisements were found in “The Nautilus” (which was edited by Elizabeth Towne), one of the flagships of the movement.

Charles died on 27th November 1949 and Margaret died three years later in 1951. In a Who’s Who of American women Margaret was described as a “communal worker”. According to his obituary Charles was survived by a wife and two daughters. What happened to Esther Haanel is not known at present. In 1918 Esther was in the St. Louis directory living with her parents at 5032 Cabanne and working as a teacher at the Devonshire School. Before her marriage to Charles Frees, Jennie was also a teacher and is recorded twice in directories, both times as Jean Haanel working at the Marquette School in 1910 and, five years later at the Sherman School.

Both Charles Francis Haanel and the Haanel family are very interesting. A full study of the life and works of Charles F. Haanel would be even more interesting.

Researched and written by: C W Evans-Gunther ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )
(c) 2006 CW Evans-Gunther and Kallisti Publishing
(If you wish to use this information on your web site, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it )

Sources for the article:

Ancient Arabic Order of the Mystic Shrine
Book of St. Louisians, 1906
The Canadian Biographical Dictioanry and Portrait Gallery of Eminent and Self-Made Men, Ontario Volume, 1880
Castle Gardens website
ChicagoGenealogy.com
Diana and Gayle's Tipword-Soward Files
Dunn-Pinson Genealogy Files
Grand Lodge of Missouri
Latter Day Saints Family Search website
Rootsweb (several Lists, especially StLouis-MO)
It would be difficult to list all the folk on various Rootsweb Lists who sent information or images but without them a good part of the article would have been impossible. Special thanks to them.
St. Louis City and Missouri Directories, from 1871 to 1946
St. Louis - History of the Fourth City, Walter B. Stevens, 1909
St. Louis Library (to whom go many thanks considering their workload)
United States Census Reports from 1850 to 1880 and 1900 to 1930

Plus various websites for general information on St. Louis and subjects such as the New Thought Movement and Freemasonry.