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| 70 | BIOGRAPHICAL AND PORTRAIT CYCLOPEDIA |
| ever since. He received his education chiefly in the night schools of Wales and Johnstown, attending one three months' term of day school by means of money saved between his tenth and fiftennth years. He went to regular work at ten years of age, and after coming to Johnstown followed coal and ore mining for the Cambria Iron company for seven years. He was then, in 1868, placed on the police force of the city, and one year later, under Burgess Hon. W. H. Rose, was made chief of police, which position he held up to May 10, 1890, when he was elected alderman in the First Ward for a term of five years. At the expiration of his term as alderman, in 1895, he was commissioned as county detective, which position he is still holding. In his long experience of nearly thirty years with the law-breaking element of human society, but few criminals have eluded his grasp, and the city and county are indebted to him for the suppression and prevention of crime in a large degree within their boundaries. Mr. Harris for several years has been engaged in different business enterprises in connection with his official duties. He operates a collection agency and real estate business, is a member of the Johnstown Electric Light company, Johnstown Telephone company, Johnstown Tri-County Agricultural and Driving Park association, Johnstown Driving Park association, and holds honorary membership inthe First Assistance Fire company. He is a member of the Johnstown Lodge, No. 137, Knights of Honor, and has held membership for twenty-seven years in Alma Lodge, No. 523, and Wm. F. Packer Encampment, No. 127, Independent Order of Odd Fellows. Mr. Harris is an example of what industry, energy, tact, and shrewdness can accomplish in one or more lines of business. The great | |
flood swept away over twenty-one thousand dollars' worth of property for him, and left him to commence life anew with a few shattered remnants of a fair competence. Mr. Harris is a stalward republican, and his official life has brought him in contact with many people. He is acquainted with many prominent men of national reputation. On August 6, 1863, John T. Harris married Margaret Davis, of Onliwyn, South Wales, who perished in the wild waters of the Great Flood, whose engulfing wave almost swept the city from off the face of the earth. Of her seven children, the five that were drowned with her were: Willie, aged twenty-three; Winnie, twenty-two; Maggie, nineteen; Sarah, seventeen; and Frank, who was in his twelfth year. The two children escaping were: Louis, the eldest child, whose family went through the Flood (they lost their only child, a boy, Johnny, aged three); and David, the youngest. When the flood struck the city, Mr. Harris' house was washed away, and as he was working his way through the water and drift toward dry land, he heard a child scream and went to its rescue, when he found his youngest child, David, floating on a mattress that was almost submerged in the scattered, rushing waters that were still dealing death to hundreds that had escaped from life from the shock of their great combined volume. ANDREW J. HAWS, one of the oldest business men of Johnstown, and the manufacturer of the celebrated Haws fire brick, used so extensively in the United States, is a son of Isaac and Barbara (Burtner) Haws, and was born near Freeport, Butler county, Pennsylvania, in 1825. Isaac Haws, a man of energy and will, was a native of Lancaster county, and resided successively near Free- |
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