John H. Hughes, p. 586

JOHN H. HUGHES, an extensive farmer and dairyman of Amwell township, comes of Irish descent. His grandfather, Samuel Hughes, removed at an early day from New Jersey to Washington county, Penn., locating in Amwell township, and for several years he kept hotel on the National pike where John Little now resides. Samuel Hughes was married to Nancy Sample, and a large family was born to them. He accumulated a good property, and when far advanced in life moved to Iowa, locating near Fort Madison, where he died about 1860.

Workman Hughes was born February 5, 1822, in South Strabane township, Washington Co., Penn., was educated in the common schools, and when twenty-two years of age began business for himself. He first owned a farm on the National pike, and afterward purchased one of 300 acres in the southern part of Amwell township, now called the "McGiffin farm." He was united in marriage with Rachel Taylor, of South Strabane township, who bore him seven children, viz.: Samuel Taylor, born March 13, 1849; James W., born November 5, 1850; John H., born September 11, 1852; Mary E. (Mrs. Closser), born in October, 1854; Nancy J., born October 21, 1856; William, born in October, 1858, and Mrs. Rachel Myers, born May 12, 1861. On May 18, 1862, Mrs. Rachel Hughes died, and Mr. Hughes afterward married to Margaret Vance, and she dying in 1879, he was married to Margaret Scott. Mr. Hughes has been a prosperous business man, and has achieved his success unaided. In politics he has always been a Democrat, and has held several offices, serving in Washington county as director of the poor in 1872-74.

John H. Hughes, son of Workman and Rachel (Taylor) Hughes, passed his boyhood at home, on the old farm in Amwell township, Washington county; he attended the common schools until he was seventeen years of age, and has since been a great reader. On February 19, 1874, he was married to Lydia Meek, of Amwell township, and they have had the following children: Mary E., born March 20, 1875; Sarah M., born October 3, 1877; Lydia B., born February 11, 1879; Charles E., born October 28, 1881; Rachel H., born October 1, 1883; Alice G., born February 10, 1886; John Franklin, born May 1, 1888, and Hazel Edna, born May 20, 1890. Mr. Hughes has one of the finest creameries in Washington county, and is engaged in cheese and butter making, having made about 10,000 pounds of butter and 15,000 pounds of cheese. He owns a half interest in a farm of 170 acres which formerly belonged to David Evans. A Democrat in politics, he has filled several township offices. He is a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, and Mrs. Hughes is a Baptist.

Text taken from page 586 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).

Transcribed May 1997 by Kathy Petty of Evansville, IN as part of the Beers Project.
Published May 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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