T. Jeff McHugh, E. Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana
Submitted by Mike Miller


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T. Jeff McHugh, M. D., who is one of the prominent physicians and surgeons of the younger
generation in the City of Baton Rouge, is a representative of a sterling family whose name has
been identified with the history of this part of Louisiana for nearly a century and a half.  The
original representatives of the family in America came from Ireland and settled in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania, and 142 years ago the family was founded in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana.

Doctor McHugh was born at Zachary, East Baton Rouge Parish, October 16. 1890, and is a son of
Thomas F. and Nettie (Brown) McHugh, both likewise natives of this parish, and now residents of
the City of Baton Rouge.

Thomas B. McHugh was born at Zachary, this parish, in the year 1863, was there reared and
educated and there he became a leading merchant and influential citizen. He there continued in
the mercantile business until 1893, and for seven years thereafter was engaged in farm
enterprise near Baker, this parish.  He then, in 1900, removed with his family to Baton Rouge,
where he and his wife have since maintained their home.  Mr. McHugh Served sixteen years as
clerk of the District Court of East Baton Rouge Parish, and at the time of this writing, in the
spring of 1924, he holds the office of deputy sheriff of this parish.  He has been active in the
ranks in the democratic party, and served for a time as mayor of Zachary.  He is affiliated with
the Masonic fraternity.  Mrs. McHugh was born at Baker, this parish, in 1869.  Of the two
children Dr. T. Jeff, of this review, is the elder, and Doris A. is the wife of Dr. Arthur T.
Prescott, professor of government in the University of Louisiana, and the subject of individual
mention on other pages of this work.

Dr. McHugh attended a private school in Baton Rouge, and in 1908 he was here graduated from St.
Vincent Academy.  Thereafter he was for one year a student in the University of Louisiana, and
he then entered the medical department of Tulane University.  In this latter institution, at New
Orleans, he was graduated as a member of the class of 1914 and with the degree of Doctor of
Medicine.  As a collegiate the Doctor is affiliated with the Kappa Alpha academic fraternity and
the Kappa Psi medical fraternity.

After his graduation from the medical college Dr. McHugh further fortified himself by the
experience he gained in two years of service as an interne in the Charity Hospital of New
Orleans, and since 1916 he has been successfully established in the general Practice of his
profession in the capital city of Baton Rouge, where his well-appointed offices are in the New
Reymond Building.  He is giving effective service also as health officer of the city.  The
Doctor is actively identified with the East Baton Rouge Parish Medical Society, the Louisiana
State Medical Society and the American Medical Association.  He is a member of the Baton Rouge
Chamber of Commerce, is a loyal advocate of the principles of the democratic party, and he and
his wife are communicants of St. James Church, Protestant Episcopal.  In the Masonic fraternity
he has received the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, in the Consistory at Shreveport,
where also he is a Noble of El Karubah Temple of the Mystic Shrine.  His basic York Rite
affiliation is with St. James Lodge, A. F. and A. M.. in his home city, when also he holds
membership in Baton Rouge Lodge No. 490, B. P. 0. E.

Enduring honor shall attach to the name of Doctor McHugh by reason of the loyal and effective
service of patriotism which he rendered in the World war.  On the 28th of March, 1917, he
volunteered for service in the Medical Corps of the United States Army, and at Camp Nicholls, in
New Orleans, he received on the same date his commission as lieutenant in the Medical Corps.  He
was transferred to Camp Beauregard, at Alexandria. this state, there in March, 1918, he was
commissioned captain the following August, with the One Hundred and Forty-first Field Artillery.
He sailed for overseas service, and he remained in France, in active and valuable service, until
March, 1919, as regiment surgeon of the command mentioned above.  At Shelby, Mississippi, the
Doctor-Captain received his honorable discharge in May. 1919.  He is a member of Nicholson Post,
American Legion, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

On the 8th of June, 1920, was solemnized the marriage of Doctor McHugh and Miss Ruth Puckett,
daughter of Henry L. and Addie Puckett, who reside in Baton Rouge, where Mr. Puckett is a
prominent representative of the cotton brokerage business.  Mrs. McHugh was graduated from the
Baton Rouge High School and thereafter continued her studies in the University of Louisiana with
her graduation with the degree of Bachelor of Arts.  Doctor and Mrs. McHugh have a winsome
little daughter, Ruth, who was born August 24, 1922.

A History of Louisiana, (vol. 2), pp. 78-79, by Henry E. Chambers.  Published by The American
Historical Society, Inc., Chicago and New York, 1925.