BIOGRAPHY: T. Mason RICHARDS, D.D.S., Cambria County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Lynne Canterbury and Diann Olsen. Portions of this book were transcribed by Clark Creery, Martha Humenik, Betty Mirovich and Sharon Ringler. USGENWEB ARCHIVES (tm) NOTICE All documents placed in the USGenWeb Archives remain the property of the contributors, who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations. In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities so long as all notices and submitter information are included. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit. Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors PRIOR to uploading to the other sites. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ ____________________________________________________________ From Wiley, Samuel T., ed. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Cambria County, Pennsylvania. Philadelphia: Union Publishing Co., 1896, p. 196-8 ____________________________________________________________ T. MASON RICHARDS, D. D. S., one of the leading dental doctors of Cambria county, located at Ebensburg, the county's capital, and a young man who, from the energy and ability already displayed, is destined to figure prominently among the leaders of his profession in the State, is a son of Thomas E. and Sarah (Hughes) Richards, and was born in Watertown, Ohio, February 16, 1860. Dr. Richards' grandfather, William Richards, was a native of Wales, and emigrated to America a few years subsequent to the Revolutionary War, locating first at Reading, Pennsylvania. He afterwards migrated to Pittsburg, this State; thence to Steubenville, Ohio, where he died in 1892, at the remarkably old age of one hundred and one years. He was an iron worker, skilled and proficient in his craft. The last forty years of his life, however, were spent in practical retirement, having acquired, by careful and economic business methods, and ample competency. He married Miss Evans, by whom he had seven children, four sons and three daughters. Thomas E. Richards, the father of Dr. Richards, was also a native of Wales, born in the year 1831, and died at Zanesville, Ohio, in the year 1895. He obtained a good English education in the common schools of his day, and further prepared himself for a business life by taking a course in Duff's Business College of Pittsburg. Finishing his education, he embarked in the general merchandizing at Watertown, Ohio, in 1853. In 1863 he removed to Beverly, the same state, and in partnership with his brother, D. J. Richards, ex-postmaster of Zanesville, under the firm style of Richards Bros., engaged in the pork-packing business, and in speculating in wool; this occupied his time and attention until 1873, when he sold out and removed to Zanesville, Ohio, and engaged in the wholesale mercantile business, under the firm name of T. E. Richards & Son. In 1890 he disposed of his business, and retired from the tumult and turmoil of a long and active business career, universally admired and respected. He was regarded as a safe and conservative business man, and, at the time of his demise, was secretary and treasurer of the Zanesville Barley company; president of the Trust, Safe and Deposit company of Zanesville; president of the Gohien Manufacturing company – a company engaged extensively in the manufacture of mixed paints. He was a republican in politics, loyal and active, and in 1890- 19 served as mayor of Zanesville. He married Sarah, a daughter of Richard Hughes, and they were the parents of four children: Addison W., a wholesale paper-dealer, etc., of Zanesville; Mary, deceased, was the wife of Professor L. A. Austin, professor of Greek and Latin in Rollins College in Florida; Ella R., the wife of Colonel D. S. Hurlbut, a traveling salesman of Zanesville, formerly of Mississippi; and Dr. T. Mason, the subject of this sketch. Dr. Richards and Miss Anna, a daughter of the last Thomas Lloyd, of Ebensburg, were happily married, and to them have been born two children: Margaret and Rowena. Mrs. Richards is a grand-daughter of Ezekiel Hughes, who was one of the pioneers of near Ebensburg, and who was a leading and prominent citizen of that vicinity. Her father, Thomas Lloyd, deceased, was a pioneer lumber merchant and extensive land-owner of Ebensburg. Dr. Richards was educated in the public schools of Zanesville, and afterwards studied dentistry under the preceptorship of C. H. Scott, D.D.S., of Zanesville. Subsequently he entered the Pennsylvania Dental College, of Philadelphia, from which he was graduated in 1883. The succeeding two years he practiced his profession in Pittsburg, and in 1885 located at Ebensburg – his present place of residence and field of practice. Politically he is a republican, and had served as burgess of the borough of Ebensburg. He is a member of St. John's Lodge, No. 219, F. and A. M., at Pittsburgh, of which Lodge he is a past master.