72

BIOGRAPHICAL AND PORTRAIT CYCLOPEDIA

business career; so upon leaving school he turned his attention to the study of details of brick manufacturer as pursued in his father's establishment. He was an apt student, and in time mastered the many details that enter into the successful management of such an enterprise, and in 1880 was made its general manager, and in 1882 became a partner in the business. The property of this firm and the growth of their business is the best evidence of the business ability of its manager. When the works were established in 1859 they were run on a small scale, but now cover about thirty acres of ground and give employment to about four hundred hands and turn out annually 18,000,000 bricks.     One of their products which has obtained a national reputation is the Haws silica brick. This make has supplanted the use of the silica brick which has theretofore been imported from England and Wales. In addition to this they are leaders in the manufacturer of specialities for use in Bessemer mills.     Mr. Haws is a republican in his political belief and has served as a member of the select council from the First Ward of the city, and while he interests himself in the cause of good government, municipal, state or nation, has never felt inclined to leave the sphere of business to enter the arena of politics.     In Masonic circles he stands deservedly high. He is a member of Cambria Lodge No. 78, Free and Accepted Manons; Orient Commandery, No. 61, Knights Templar, and is a thirty-two degree Scottish Right Mason.     He is president of the Johnstown Driving Park association and takes a lively interest in all wholesome and elevating sports.     In June, 1885, he married Mary S., daugh-

ter of Jacob Trefts, of Johnstown, and to their union have been born three children -- Lucy, Henry, Jr., who died at the age of two years, and Ralph.     Accurate in judgment, thorough-going and progressive in spirit, and possessing a rare executive ability, Mr. Haws ranks among the leading business men of Cambria county. THOMAS J. HUGHES, superintendent of the Cambria county almshouse, and a business man of recognized ability, is a son of John T. and Anna (Williams) Hughes, and was born in North Wales, December 27, 1844.     His father was also a native of North Wales, born in 1820, and came to America in 1848, his family, which then consisted of his wife and one son, accompanying him. He located in Cambria township, Cambria county, where he purchased two hundred and fifty acres of woodland, which he proceeded to clear up and convert into a tillable farm. He cleared up about two hundred acres of this land, put it in a good state of cultivation, and further improved it by the erection of a substantial and commodious building. He was a careful and neat farmer, and raised good stock, making a specialty of breeding fine horses. He was a true Christian and for many years was deacon of the Congressional church. He was a member of Rheyoma Lodge, No. 537, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, at Wilmore, this county. His marriage with Anna Williams, of North Wales, resulted in the birth of five sons and four daughters: Thomas J., subject; Margaret, the wife of William Howell, of Cambria township; Lemuel J., a farmer, residing on the old homestead; Mary Ann, the wife of Thomas D. Jones, a farmer of Munster township, this county; Jane, the wife of Reese Roberts, of Summerhill township, this county;

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