John F. Hughes Biography


	This biography appears on pages 1200-1203 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

	This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit 
	organizations for their private use. 

	Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval 
	system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other 
	means requires the written approval of the file's author.

	This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside
	a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at

	http://usgwarchives.org/sd/sdfiles.htm


				JUDGE JOHN F. HUGHES. 

	Judge John F. Hughes, of Fort Pierre, who is sitting on the bench 
of the sixth judicial circuit of South Dakota, is now serving his 
second term in that office and is recognized as a jurist who adds to a 
thorough knowledge of the law an unbiased mind and the ability to 
decide a question solely upon its merits. He was born in Scott county, 
Iowa, November 26, 1856, a son of John and Eliza (Parks) Hughes, both 
natives of the north of Ireland, the father born in County Monaghan and 
the mother in County Armagh, John Hughes resided for seven years in 
Scotland, but in 1848 came to America and for a time engaged in 
contracting with a cousin. About 1852 he located near Davenport, Iowa, 
and for a time worked as a farm hand, but eventually became the owner 
of land nine miles north of that city, where he spent the remainder of 
his life, dying on the 22d of May, 1882. He gave his political 
allegiance to the democratic party and held a number of local offices. 
His wife died March 1, 1894. Their marriage was celebrated in Iowa and 
they became the parents of two children, of whom our subject is the 
elder. 

	Judge John F. Hughes attended the country schools of Scott 
county, Iowa, and subsequently took a classical course in St. Vincent's 
College at Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He resided upon the homestead 
during the period of his minority and when sixteen years of age, owing 
to his father's illness, he assumed charge of the operation of the 
farm. Before he was eighteen years old he began teaching near 
Davenport, his first school being located three miles from the city. 
Later he taught school in his home district. While teaching he took up 
the study of law in Davenport and for some time continued his studies, 
teaching at intervals. In 1882 he was admitted to the bar and in the 
fall of that year he made his way to Dakota territory and took up a 
preemption near DeSmet, but a few days afterward went down the river 
and a little later removed to Pierre. In the winter of 1882 he returned 
to Iowa, but in the following spring located in Pierre, where he 
engaged in the practice of law. He soon gained recognition as a lawyer 
of ability and built up a large and lucrative practice. He specialized 
in trial work, handling both criminal and civil cases, and the court 
records show that he won a large percentage of favorable verdicts for 
his clients. He recognized the fact that success in court depends first 
upon careful preparation and overlooked no point that might have a 
bearing upon the case. This habit of careful study of all phases of the 
case combined with his power of skillful and convincing presentation of 
his arguments caused his colleagues to recognize the fact that he was 
an opponent worthy of their best steel. During the period following the 
election of 1896, when Governor Lee was chosen for chief executive of 
South Dakota, Judge Hughes was retained as counsel for the governor in 
all litigation resulting from actions of defeated politicians. Judge 
Hughes ably represented his client and by prompt and accurate work 
secured the election of Kelley and Freeman Knowles to congress. He has 
held a number of offices in the path of his profession, having been 
city attorney of Fort Pierre and having served for four years as states 
attorney of Stanley county. He is now serving the first year of his 
second term as judge of the sixth judicial circuit, the excellence of 
his record having won him reelection without opposition and with the 
endorsement of all parties. His ability and strict integrity have 
gained him not only the confidence of the people but also the 
unqualified respect of the members of the bar of the circuit. 

	Judge Hughes has also been connected with business interests of 
Pierre for a number of years. For some time he engaged in the real-
estate and insurance business and for three years was a partner in J. 
D. Hilger & Company, who owned and conducted a clothing store. About 
1890 he began dealing in live stock on an extensive scale and still 
raises and sells many fine horses. He owns a half section of land 
adjoining Fort Pierre, which he personally operates, devoting it 
chiefly to the raising of alfalfa. He also owns two sections of land 
about four miles from Fort Pierre and has a number of other sections 
under lease, the entire tract being operated as a stock farm by his 
son, who is also financially interested in the property. Judge Hughes 
likewise owns valuable property in Pierre and Fort Pierre. In 1901 he 
removed from Pierre to Fort Pierre and at that time homesteaded the 
farm which he owns adjoining the latter place. However, he did not 
remove his office to Fort Pierre for a number of years. 

	Judge Hughes was married June 29, 1886, to Miss Helen Feeney, who 
was born in County Galway, Ireland. Her father, Patrick Feeney, died in 
Ireland, but her mother, who bore the maiden name of Margaret Connally, 
accompanied her family to Hughes county and passed away in Pierre. Mrs. 
Hughes was only about ten years of age when she came to this state. An 
uncle had previously settled in Hughes county and had the only house 
between Huron and Pierre and was well known in that section of the 
state. To Judge and Mrs. Hughes have been born thirteen children, 
namely: Felan, who operates the stock ranch before mentioned and who 
married Miss Florence Chamberlain; Francis, a rancher and stockman of 
Stanley county; Helen M., who teaches music and reading in the Fort 
Pierre high school; Kiran, who graduated from the high school with the 
class of 1915; Mary, who also graduated in 1915 and was the 
valedictorian of her class; Leo and Katherine, both attending high 
school; Loretta, Joseph, Irene and Josephine, all attending school; and 
two who died in infancy. 

	Judge Hughes is a republican and his advice is often sought in 
local party councils. In addition to the offices which have already 
been mentioned, he has held a number of positions of trust and honor. 
For four years he was receiver of public moneys in the Pierre land 
office, for several years in the early '90s he was chairman of the 
board of commissioners of Hughes county and for four years he was a 
member of the board of education of Pierre. During the various 
campaigns for the location of the capital, Judge Hughes took a most 
active interest in supporting Pierre and teas always been an earnest 
worker in behalf of any movement that would benefit his city or county. 
His religious faith is that of the Roman Catholic church and 
fraternally he is connected with the Knights of Columbus. He is not a 
club or fraternity man, but prefers to spend his leisure time at home 
with his family, to whom he is devoted. He possesses a naturally keen 
mind which has been disciplined by thorough training, and seldom fails 
in quickly distinguishing between the essential and the nonessential in 
any issue that arises in the work of the courts. His record as a lawyer 
and as judge is one of which he has just cause to be proud and he has 
been equally successful in his business enterprises. Although his 
official duties and his private interests have made heavy demands upon 
his time and attention, he has, nevertheless, found opportunity to 
assist in bringing about the advancement of his community along lines 
of civic and moral progress, and his public spirit has added to the 
esteem in which he is held wherever known.