The US GenWeb Archives provide genealogical and historical data to the 
general public without fee or charge of any kind. It is intended that 
this material not be used in a commercial manner. 

From History of North Washington, published 1903, now in public domain. 
Submitted by Candy L. Grubb March 27, 1997. Both above notices must remain 
when copied or downloaded.

candyg@ieway.com

_____________________________________________________________________________


WILLIAM P. HUGHES

	William P. Hughes is owner and editor of the Northport News,
a paper of distinct literary merit and vitality and one of the consistent
champions of the resources of the Evergreen state.  In Northport Mr.
Hughes is known as one of the leading business men, while in the news-
paper world, he is recognized as one of the pointed, bright and inter-
esting writers of Washington.  Combining his business ability and 
literary training, he has won a marked success, and a review of his 
career will be very interesting reading in the history of Stevens 
county.
	William P. Hughes was born in Salem, Illinois on October 14,
1857.  His father, Thomas Hughes, married Miss Jane Sargent, a native
of Ohio and whose father was a wealthy merchant of Ohio.  The father
died when aged eighty-seven and his widow is still residing in Mound
City, Kansas.  Our subject's paternal grandfather was a noted physician
and surgeon in Wales.  He brought his family to the United States in
his last years and died here, aged ninety.  Thomas H. was sixteen when
he came with the rest of his family to this country.  Our subject was 
one of the following named children, Mrs. Louise Kincaid, Bond, Emory S.,
Captain John R., William P., Mrs. Nellie Coleman, and Thomas G. F., 
deceased.  At the early age of eight, our subject went with his parents 
to Mound City, Kansas and thirteen years later was taken to Independence,
Kansas.  After a good education in the public schools, he began the
printer's trade and followed it so thoroughly, that at the age of 
fifteen, he was a member of the national typographical union.  Then he
began a series of journeys to various parts of the United States and 
Canada and he has been in the employ of every leading newspaper on the
American continent, where the English language is spoken.  Mr. Hughes
is still an honorary member of the union mentioned above, being allied
with the Spokane branch.  After he had satisfied his longing for
traveling, he stopped at Austin, Texas, and there enlisted with the 
Texas Rangers and after a time of service received his honorable dis-
charge.  Then he returned to his trade and next we see him in Leadville,
where he did prospecting in addition to printing.  After this he was on
the Rocky Mountain News at Denver and in 1881, came to Laramie and 
worked on the Morning Times.  It was just across the street from Bill
Nye's Boomerang.  Mr. Hughes became well acquainted with Mr. Nye.  Also 
there he became acquainted with Miss Alice Murphy, who he married in
June, 1882, in the city of Denver.  Mrs. Hughes' father, P.G. Murphy, 
is a retired stock dealer and dwells in Northport.  From Wyoming our 
subject went to Eureka, Nevada and was assistant foreman of the Morning
Sentinel.  After that he went to Los Gatos, California, and ran the Mail
for eight years.  At the same time he establishes the Saratoga Sentinel
and Los Pinas Tribune, operating them all successfully.  In 1892 Mr.
Hughes landed in Spokane and soon was employed by the Spokane Falls and
Northern railroad to start a paper in Northport.  He pulled his plant
in with ox teams and soon had the News, bright and clean, ready for 
the readers, and from that time until the present has never missed an 
issue or an opportunity to say a good word for Northport.  He established
his first paper in Northport and was appointed the first postmaster,
the date being 1892.  He was also elected mining recorder and in 1895,
was appointed United States commissioner.  The latter two positions 
he still holds and was postmaster also, for six years.  Mr. Hughes was
elected first mayor of the city and was afterwards police judge.  For
the past six years he has been United States river reporter, while in
local matters he has always taken a prominent part, manifesting a keen
interest in everything tending to upbuild and forward the interests
of Northport and this part of the state.  Mr. Hughes has been a staunch
supporter of church and schools, while in commercial relations he has
shown no less zeal, being a member of the board of trade.  He is 
deeply interested in the welfare of the town, has platted three 
different additions and put in the first water system.  To Mr. and Mrs.
Hughes, three children have been born, Nellie L., Jennie and William P.