John Thomas Haugh
One of the energetic and highly capable buisness men of Denison is John Thomas Haugh, who for twenty-seven years has been connected with the clothing business of this city.
He is a native of Davenport, Iowa, born October 12, 1854, and is a son of Mark and Margaret (Rasp) Haugh, the former born in Ireland and the latter in Canada. The father emigrated from the Emerald isle to Canada and engaged in lumbering, coming to the United States in 1848. After living for a short time in Chicago he removed to Davenport, Iowa, where he followed various pursuits and became a farmer in the vicinity of that city. He passed away in 1862 at the age of forty-eight years, but. his wife is still living and has made her home in Denison since 1882.
Michael Haugh, the paternal grandfather of our subject, lived to be ninety-five years old and spent his last years in Scott county, Iowa. His children were Mark, Martin and John.
The maternal grandfather, John Rasp, settled with his family on a farm in Scott county, Iowa, and had eight children, namely: Michael, Margaret, Mary, Ellen, Eliza, John, Thomas and Bridget.
There were five children in the family of Mark and Margaret Haugh, three of whom are now living, namely: John Thomas, the subject of this review; Mary L., the wife of Patrick Meade, of Crawford county; and Bridget, now Mrs. Thomas Clarke, of Denison.
John Thomas Haugh was reared upon his father's farm in Scott county, Iowa, and received his education in the district schools and at St. Anthony's parochial school in Davenport. He came to Crawford county in 1882, and in order to get a start in life worked at anything he could find to do. In 1884 he entered the employ of M. Goldheim, clothier, and four years later purchased an interest in the store. In 1892 Mr. Goldheim having died, the business was continued under the name of Haugh & Kemming, but in 1900 the firm was dissolved, and in April, 1901, Mr. Haugh became associated with F. W. Brummer. and the business has since been carried forward under title of Haugh & Brummer. It is now one of the most prosperous concerns of the kind in this part of the state.
On the 6th of May, 189I, Mr. Haugh was united in marriage to Miss Mary Farrelly, a native of Ireland, and a sister of Rev. Father Farrelly of Denison. One daughter, Marguerite, has blessed this union.
Mr. Haugh and his estimable wife were both reared in the faith of the Catholic church and are consistent members of that organization. Socially, he is one of the well known men of the community, being a member of Charles Carroll Council, No. 780, Knights of Columbus. Politically, he gives his support to the democratic party, and although his attention is mainly devoted to his business he is at the present time serving acceptably as member of the city council. It is safe to say that no citizen stands higher in the estimation of the people of Denison and vicinity than the gentleman whose sketch is herewith presented.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.