HUGHES, JAMES M., WORKMAN, JR., SAMUEL L. and THOMAS McK., prominent citizens of Washington, are sons of S. L. and Susan (Workman) Hughes. Barnabas Hughes was a native of Ireland; came to America in 1756, settling in what is now the State of New Jersey. He had two sons, William and John. John Hughes came to Carlisle in 1770, and after a few years entered the Continental army under Capt. Hendricks. The company in which he was placed was formed with eight other companies into a battalion of riflemen in July, 1775, and placed in command of Col. William Thompson. They encamped at Cambridge, August 13, 1775; and in the month of September Capt. Hendricks' company, with others, left for Canada under command of Col. Arnold, and took part in the attack upon Quebec. After this expedition Mr. Hughes was promoted from the ranks to a captaincy, and he remained with the army during the remainder of the war, being present at the battles of Princeton, Brandywine, Germantown and Monmouth. At the conclusion of the struggle he married, in 1786, Sarah Wiley, and came to Washington county, Penn., with Timothy Ryan. They purchased large tracts of land on Fish creek (now in Greene county), patented to them in August, 1786; Mr. Hughes purchased Ryan's interest same year. During the year 1793 Mr. Hughes bought land on north branch of Ten-mile creek, where he kept a store for about nine years, and in 1802 he removed to the town of Washington, where he continued in the store business. After several years he returned to his land or farm in Amwell township, where he died September 18, 1815, leaving six children: Mary Ann, James, Samuel, Thomas, John and Isabelle. Of these, James married Mary, daughter of Gen. Abner Lacock, and at their decease they left five children: Sarah, Susan, Margaret, Samuel L. and Ann Hughes. In March, 1837, Samuel L. Hughes married Susan Workman. He was a successful farmer, and served as justice of the peace for seven terms, in Amwell township. He died in November, 1880, his widow in May, 1885, leaving nine children, viz.: Ann F., Mary V., James M., Workman, Jr., John W., Elizabeth E., Samuel L., Susan R. and Thomas McK., of whom Ann F. Hughes was married in 1861 to Hiram Vankirk, and they have two children: James H. and Francis J. Vankirk. James M. Hughes, eldest son of S. L. and Susan W. Hughes, at the age of eighteen years enlisted in the One Hundred and Fortieth Regiment P. V.1., for three years, or during the war. He participated in all the battles and skirmishes of his regiment from Chancellorsville to Appomattox, forty-three engagements in all. In 1867 he married Sarah E. Bane, and their family consists of two sons.: Blanchard G. and Haldain B. Hughes., who were graduated from Washington and Jefferson College in classes of '91 and '92 respectively. They each selected the law as a profession. Blanchard is a student at present in the Buffalo Law School, Buffalo, N. Y.; Haldain is registered with Messrs. Taylor & McIlvaine, Washington, Penn. Workman Hughes, JR., second son of S. L. and Susan W. Hughes, was elected to the office of recorder of deeds in November, 1878, and served six years, being the only recorder elected to that office for more than one term since 1842. During his term of office he, with the assistance of his brothers, James M., S. L. and T. McK. Hughes, made a complete index to the record of the office. When his term of office expired, January 1, 1885, he entered into the real estate and insurance business. On October 31, 1889, he married Hannah B. Wingett, and they have two children: Susan W. and Howard W. Hughes. John W. Hughes, third son of S. L. and Susan W. Hughes, became a master machinist. He married, July 16, 1877, Martha S. Good, of Illinois; they now reside in New York City. They had a daughter, Susan W., who died of diphtheria at Fair Haven, Vt., at the age of eight years. Samuel L. Hughes, fourth son of S. L. and Susan W. Hughes, was married November 11, 1883, to Minnie G. Spriggs, and they had three children: Margaretta, Susan W. and Thomas McKennan Hughes, of whom Margaretta died of diphtheria July 3, 1890. Mr. Hughes has been engaged in the real estate and life insurance business, in connection with his brother Workman Hughes, Jr., since January 1, 1885. Thomas McK. Hughes, fifth and youngest son of S. L. and Susan W. Hughes, studied law with the former firm of McCracken & McIlvaine (the latter being the judge of courts of this county), and was admitted to practice in the several courts of the county at the June term, 1880. At the age of twenty-three, and since 1881, he has applied himself to his profession, and is now enjoying a large and substantial practice. Mary V., Elizabeth E., Susan R. and Thomas McK. Hughes live on West Chestnut street, Washington, Pennsylvania.

Text taken from page 510 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed May 1997 by George & Mary Ann Plance of Gainesville, FL as part of the Beers Project. Published June 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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