ROBERT
HUGHES. This worthy and honored resident of Weller
township, whose home is on section 24, is a native of Richland
county, his birth having occurred in Blooming Grove township,
Mar. 4, 1833. He is the only survivor in a family of ten
children whose parents were John and Elizabeth (Rogers)
Hughes. The father was born in 1793, in Pennsylvania,
where he was reared and married. The mother was born in
Ireland in 1796, and when a child of seven years came to America
with her parents, who spent the remainder of their lives as
farming people in Beaver county, Pennsylvania. Mr. and
Mrs. Hughes began their domestic life upon a farm in Beaver
county, where seven of their children were born, and in 1832
came to Richland county, Ohio, locating in Blooming Grove
township, one mile north of Shenandoah, where he purchased one
hundred and sixty acres of land, but five years later he sold
that place, and removed to the farm on section 24. Weller
township, where our subject now resides. Here he made his
home until the fall of 1860, when he sold the place to his son
and took up his residence in Shelby, where he died in August,
1862. The mother of our subject had died in 1852, and for
his second wife he married Mrs. Hester (Hunter) McCready,
who survived him some years. In early life both parents
were active members of the Presbyterian church, but after coming
to this county, there being no church of that denomination here,
they united with the Methodist Episcopal church.
Politically the father was first a Whig and later a Republican.
Robert Hughes attended the public schools of
this county in early life, and, his brothers having left their
paternal home, he remained to look after the cultivation of the
farm. In the fall of 1860, on his father's removal to
Shelby, he purchased the place, and has since successfully
engaged in its operation.
On the 23d of April, 1861, Mr. Hughes was united
in marriage with Miss Jane Palmer, a native of Franklin
township, this county. Her father, Charles Palmer,
was born in London, England, and came to America in 1819, in
company with a brother. They were left orphans during
childhood and on attaining their majority received a small
fortune, which they brought with them to this country.
Coming to Richmond county, Ohio, the brother located in Weller
township, while Mrs. Hughes' father settled on the
farm in Franklin township, now owned by Wesley Ferree,
where he made his home until 1856, when he removed to Washington
township, three miles south of Mansfield. He spent his
declining years, however, with our subject and his wife.
He was a man of firm convictions, was an ardent abolitionist and
an active member of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Of the five children born to Mr.
and Mrs. Hughes four are living, namely: Wilbert G.,
who is now serving as the postmaster of Epworth, is engaged in
general merchandising at that place, and is also interested in
farming, threshing and the sawmill business; Carrie M.,
at home, is a talented musician and artist, and many portraits
and scenes from her hands now adorn the home; Fred C. is
living on and operating the old home farm; and Anna E. is
the wife of Edwin A. Clingan, who runs a farm and stone
quarry in Weller township.
Politically Mr. Hughes is identified with
the Republican party, and fraternally is a member of Weller
Grange, No. 1070, P. of H. For half a century both he and
his wife have held membership in the Methodist Episcopal church,
in which he has served as a trustee and steward for many years.
They stand high in the community where they have so long made
their home, and no citizens of Weller township are more honored
or highly respected.
Source: Centennial Biographical
History of Richland, Ohio - Illustrated - By A. J. Baughman,
Editor - Published Chicago - The Lewis Publishing Co. 1901 -
Page 129 |
