Hugh Hughes Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 480-481

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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HUGH HUGHES. The spirit of self help is the source of all genuine worth 
in the individual and is the means of bringing to man success when he 
has no advantages of wealth or influence to aid him. It illustrates in 
no uncertain manner what it is possible to accomplish when perseverance 
and determination form the keynote of man's life. Depending upon his 
own resources, looking for no outside aid or support, Mr. Hughes has 
risen from a humble position in life to one of affluence, and is to-day 
one of the most prosperous and substantial men of Aurora county, as 
well as one of its most high]y respected citizens. 

He was born in the north of Wales, in 1838, in which country his 
parents spent their entire lives, the father being engaged in the 
practice of veterinary surgery and also in farming to a limited extent. 
Our subject was reared on the home farm and attended the public schools 
of the neighborhood until sixteen years of age, when he entered upon an 
apprenticeship to the carpenter's trade. He had to pay for the 
privilege of learning the same, besides boarding himself. 

In 1850 Mr. Hughes came to America, landing in New York, and from there 
he went to Chicago, where he worked at his trade three years. During 
the next few years he followed his chosen occupation at various places, 
including Columbia county, Wisconsin, and the cities of La Crosse, St. 
Louis and Dodgeville, Wisconsin, and then spent five years in Colorado, 
where he received a salary of seven dollars per day. 

Returning to Dodgeville, Wisconsin, Mr. Hughes was there united in 
marriage with Miss Jane Parry, who died soon afterward, leaving one 
child, Annie, and a few years later he wedded Miss Lizzie Jane Roberts, 
who was born in this country of Welsh parentage. In early life her 
father was a miner and later followed farming, but is now living 
retired. By his second union Mr. Hughes has seven children, namely: 
William, Ellen, Gladys, Starnley, Dudley Jenney and Catherine, all of 
whom are attending school with the exception of the youngest, who has 
not reached a sufficient age. 

After his marriage, Mr. Hughes located in Dodgeville, where he 
continued to work at his trade for fifteen years, but in 1882 he came 
to Aurora county, South Dakota, and took up two quarter sections of 
government land in Dudley township, where he now owns one hundred acres 
under excellent cultivation, sixteen acres planted in trees, and one 
hundred acres of pasture land. Upon his place is a substantial 
residence, with serviceable outbuildings a good well and windmill, and 
everything about the farm testifies to the thrift and enterprise of the 
owner. Besides his valuable farm, he owns property in Plankinton, and 
at one time had an income of seven dollars per day from his rents. 

Politically, Mr. Hughes is a strong Republican, and for eight years he 
served as treasurer of Dudley township. Socially he is a Master Mason 
and an Odd Fellow, and religiously his estimable wife is a member of 
the Methodist Episcopal church.