John William was born in 1850 at PASTURESIDE FARM in Walsden, the son of Reuben and Susannah Haigh. He grew up at the farm and by 1881 he had married Hannah Ratcliffe of Dog House. They lived at Pastureside and John farmed 50 acres of land. In 1881 they had a son Reuben aged 2 and daughter, but by 1891 the family had moved to Ruabon in North Wales where John William owned and ran the Ruabon Brick Company. By then the family had grown to 4, Reuben 12, and three daughters aged 10, 9 and 7. In the census he is given as a colliery proprietor and lived at Pen-y-Gardden, Ruabon. They also had two servants so obviously lived in some comfort.

The year that the family moved to Ruabon isn't known precisely, but his youngest daughter, Edith was born in Walsden in 1884, so he was still in the town then, unless his wife had moved back so that the child could be born there.

From the date of an article in "Remembering Ruabon" by T.W. Pritchard, which states: "The Ruabon Brick and Terra Cotta Ltd. Gwaith Jinks, 1883, was established by John William Haigh", it looks likely that he had set up this business before his daughter's birth in 1884. A report of his death in July 1901 says that he left Walsden for Ruabon in February of 1889. Which of these dates is correct, is to be guessed at. All we know for certain is that the family moved to Ruabon between 1881 and 1891.

How and why he chose Ruabon to move to, and set up a new business is not easily explained. There is no evidence of any other members of his family living in the area of Ruabon and it seems a strange choice, as Walsden folk tended to stay in the area. His father died in 1886 and his mother went to live in Keighley with her married daughter Elizabeth, until she died in 1897. John William inherited £76,000 from his father, along with Pastureside Farm and all the collieries that his father had an interest in. He kept all his interests in the collieries in Walsden, right up until his death in 1901, and all the coals under Inchfield, Walsden, were left by him, for future contingencies. He was also a director of the Cliviger Coal Company, Burnley.

In 1901, John William went to Harrogate to convalesce and on July 9th 1901, he suddenly died there. His death was reported in the Wrexham Advertiser on the 13th July 1901as follows:

"Death of Mr. Haigh

We regret to record the death of Mr. J. W. Haigh managing director of the Ruabon Brick and Terra Cotta Works which took place after a brief illness at Harrogate on Tuesday. The deceased who was about fifty years of age, had suffered from cold for some time, but undertook the journey to Harrogate with the view of recruiting his health. The journey however proved too much for him and he had a relapse soon after his arrival at Harrogate. Mrs. Haigh, the son and four daughters were at once sent for, the patient's condition having become and he succumbed to pneumonia as stated. He was a native of Todmorden and has been connected with the brickworks at Ruabon since it's construction, and when the new company was formed and registered on March 14th this year, he was appointed the managing director. The deceased was well known for his kind and genial disposition and his liberality in all cases of need. He was much beloved by his workmen and a host of friends. Much sympathy with the bereaved family is felt throughout the district. The Parish Church bells rang muffled peals on Tuesday afternoon and the news of the lamentable death soon spread throughout the district."

He was buried in the family vault in St. Peter's churchyard, Walsden, with his parents on July 12th 1901.

The inscription reads: In Memory of JOHN WILLIAM HAIGH of Pen-y-Gardden, Ruabon, N. Wales and Pastureside, Walsden Born September 17th 1850 died July 9th 1901.   On a stone scroll is the inscription From the employees of the Ruabon and Terra Cotta Co. Ruabon In affectionate remembrance of their employer John Wm. Haigh Esq., of Pen-y-Gardden, Ruabon