Obit for HUGHES, Thomas (b.1841 d.1921), Nicollet Co., MN ========================================================================= You can find other Minnesota related Archives at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/mn/mnfiles.htm Please note the county and type of file at the top of this page to find the submitter information or other files for this county. FileFormat by Terri--MNArchives Made available to The USGenWeb Archives by: Linda Miller Submitted: April 2006 ========================================================================= OBITUARY- LeSueur Herald, Wednesday ,August 3,1921, Front page THOMAS HUGHES DIES SUDDENLY--The announcement of the death of Thomas Hughes, one of the most prominent citizens of Lake Prairie, came as as a surprise to the people of LeSueur, where he is so well and favorably known. Mr. Hughes had apparently been in good health, with a possibility of many years to live, when suddenly he was stricken,and failed to rally, and died Sunday, July 31, 1921. Thomas Hughes was born July 12, 1841, at Middletown, Ireland,and when only five years of age came to America with his parents. For several years the family lived in New York City and later moved to Springfield, Illinois. In 1857 they came to St Peter, making the journey with an ox team and driving fifteen head of cattle. It was a long tedious trip but in those far off days young Thomas was full of energy, and enjoyed the excitement of each day, as it brought new scenes and new experiences to him. When the Civil War came on, Mr. Hughes enlisted in Company B, 1st Artillery and served with distinction, having taken part in all the expeditions of General Sibley. More than half a century ago he homesteaded a fine piece of land in Lake Prairie. On May 5, 1873, he was married to Miss Mary Mallay. Mrs. Hughes died several years ago; the children left to mourn the demise of an indulgent father are; Kate, James and Jay at home, Elizabeth at Mankato, George at Pipestone, Mrs. Howard of Hanover, North Dakota, Mrs. Louden of Bathgate, North Dakota, Mrs. Kiley of Minneapolis, Mrs. Rice of Breckenridge and Mrs. Wick of Center, North Dakota, and all are expected at the funeral which will be held at St. Peter today, and the remains laid at rest by the side of his wife. In the passing of Mr. Hughes this community loses one of its best and most popular citizens. His work is finished, and it is well done. No man did more to help develop this section than did Thomas Hughes. He worked "with a right good will" and made friends everywhere, sincere friends, who are now bowed in sorrow over his taking away. The family has the profound sympathy of all in the great bereavement that has come to them. OBITUARY Le Sueur News, August 4, 1921 "THOMAS HUGHES DEAD As announced in the news of Monday, Thomas Hughes of Lake Prairie was called in death Sunday morning last, after a very brief illness, probably brought on with the excessive heat of the past few weeks. He was a native of Middleton, Ireland, where he was born July 12, 1841. He arrived in this country in 1846 and after living at different points, reached St. Peter in 1859. With his widowed mother he settled on a farm and was the head of the family for some time. When the Indian warfare broke out he served at New Ulm and later in the 1st Minnesota Cavalry under General Sibley. On May 5, 1873 Mr. Hughes was united in marriage with Mary Mallay, who died March 4, 1915. To them twelve children were born, ten still living. The daughters are Mrs. William Hammel of Hanover, North Dakota, Mrs. C.P. Rice of Breckenridge, Mrs. A. Louden of Bathgate, North Dakota, Mrs. J.F. Kiley of Minneapolis, Mrs. Wick of Center, North Dakota, Miss Elizabeth, a professional nurse and Miss Katherine at home. The sons are George of Pipestone, James and Jay at home. Mr. Hughes was an industrious man, faithful, honest, trustful. He lived to make his children happy and to be a benefit to people in general. His home was known far and wide as one to which the stranger and the wanderer was ever welcome. The latch string was out--the greeting given from the heart, the hand extended a warm one. We never heard the name of Thomas Hughes mentioned except in a pleasing manner-- he was a friend of all men. his heart was a large one and it ever was used to help the needy. His tongue spoke only in kindness, his right hand did many very worthy acts and the left had no knowledge of it. Thomas Hughes lived a Christian life and died with the knowledge that he tried to do his duty in all things and towards all people. Even his moments to the last were moments of peace. He had no fear of death and conversed with his children until the very last. He then passed peacefully to his Maker to join his wife who had gone before. The funeral was held from the Catholic Church at St. Peter, Wednesday morning at 10:00 A.M. The family were all present to say adieu to father on earth. He lived to a ripe old age, he well performed every duty, he was rich in the Lord's vineyard. A good man has finished his work. All who knew him honored and respected him. Hundreds paid a final tribute to his memory." This next one is probably from the LeSueur News too as the last part is word for word the same as the one printed there on August 4, 1921 OBITUARY "RODE WITH SIBLEY IN SOUIX CAMPAIGN THOMAS HUGHES SERVED WITH CALVARY COLUMN AGAINST INDIANS WAS PIONEER OF LAKE PRAIRIE WELL KNOWN CITIZEN, WHO DIED SUNDAY, HAD HELD MANY PLACES OF PUBLIC TRUST A territorial pioneer of Minnesota, a veteran of the famous campaign that destroyed the power of the Souix Nation, and a useful citizen of Nicollet County for more than sixty years, Thomas Hughes died at his home in Lake Prairie township early Sunday morning. The final summons came to him suddenly. On Saturday he had seemed in his usual health, but that day he was taken violently ill, and breathed his last at 4:45 o'clock Sunday morning. It was given to Mr. Hughes to live a long and useful life, and one which was filled with thrilling incidents. Born in Middletown, Ireland, eighty years ago, on July 12, 1841, he was brought to this country by his parents when a boy only five years old. On the voyage across the Atlantic his father sickened and died, being buried in mid ocean. For six years after reaching America his mother, Mrs. Bridget McArdle Hughes, made her home in New York, but in 1852 the family moved west to Illinois, settling on a farm near Springfield. They lived there five years, but in 1857 the pioneer spirit impelled them to come to Minnesota. They made the trip overland and brought with them a herd of fifteen head of cattle. On their arrival here they settled at once in Lake Prairie township, and the following year Mr. Hughes took employment with the government and assisted in the erection of Fort Abercrombie. Twelve St. Peter men were employed for this work, but the ravages of time have left James Clark of this city, as the only survivor of the party. In those early years, Mr. Hughes frequently worked for the government, and in the fall of 1862, following the terrible Sioux outbreak, he enlisted in Company B, First Minnesota Mounted Rangers, his troop commander being Captain Horace Austin, afterward Govenor of Minnesota. In the Spring of 1863, General H.H.Sibley organized an expedition to carry the war into the Indian country, and later the First calvary fought in the battles of Big Mound, Dead Buffalo Lake and Stony Lake. All of the Souix bands were driven west of the Missouri river, and the frontier nerve suffered afterward from their depredations. Mr. Hughes received an honorable discharge from the military service at Fort Snelling and at once took up a homestead in Lake Prairie township, where he continued to reside until his death. The deceased had all of the trying experiences of the pioneers, but he was undaunted by those early- day obstacles and lived to see the rough frontier country Blossom like a rose and all the Southern Minnesota thrive and prosper. All his life Mr. Hughes took an earnest interest in public enterprise and public affairs. For thirty-three years he served his town as assessor, and he was clerk of the school board in his district for a period that probably was quite as long. Only recently he had acted as a viewer on one of the most pretentious drainage projects ever attempted in Nicollet county. Mr. Hughes was a good soldier and a good citizen; no man may have a better epitaph. On May 5, 1873, Mr. Hughes was united in marriage to Miss Mary Mallay, who passed away six years ago. Twelve children were born to their union. Two died in infancy, and those who remain to mourn the loss of their father are: Mrs. William Hammel of Hanover, North Dakota, Mrs. C.P. Rice of Breckenridge, Mrs. A. Louden of Bathgate, North Dakota, Mrs. J.F. Kiley of Minneapolis, Mrs. Wick of Center, North Dakota, Miss Elizabeth, a professional nurse and Miss Katherine at home. The sons are George of Pipestone, James and Jay at home. All of the children but Mrs. Louden were present at the funeral. Funeral services over the remains of the pioneer resident were held from St. Peter's church at 10 o'clock Wednesday morning. Rev. Father Sullivan conducted solemn requiem high mass, and the pall bearers were: Frank Osborne, Chris Osborne, William Powers, Frank Martin, Thomas Shea and Joseph Fay. Among those from a distance who came to St. Peter to pay a last tribute of respect to the memory of a good man were William Gilick, Mrs. T.F. Kiley, Mr. and Mrs. William Bliss and Mr. and Mrs. William Hamilton, Minneapolis; Mr. and Mrs. T. Mallay, Hutchinson; J. McGraw, Stewart; Mrs. Mary Baasen and Mrs. Gertie McHale, New Ulm, and Mrs. Ed Lamm, Mankato. ========================================================================= Copyright Linda Miller 2006. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm =========================================================================