James W. Hughes, p. 648

JAMES W. HUGHES, a well-known and respected citizen of Amwell township, was born November 5, 1850, in South Strabane township, Washington Co., Penn. His paternal grandfather, Samuel Hughes, was a native of New Jersey, his parents having emigrated from Ireland to that State. Samuel came to Washington county at an early day, and, locating in Amwell township, conducted a hotel on the place which is now the home of John Little. He was united in marriage with Nancy Sample, and reared a large family. He was a successful business man, and in his later years moved to near Fort Madison, Iowa, where he died about 1860.

Workman Hughes was born February 5, 1822, in South Strabane township, Washington Co., Penn., and received a common-school education. At the age of twenty- two years he began business for himself, first buying a farm on the National pike, and afterward purchasing the "McGiffin farm," as it is now called, consisting of 300 acres, situated in the southern part of Amwell township. In 1847 he was married to Rachel Taylor, of South Strabane township, and their children were Samuel Taylor, James W., John H., Mary E. (Mrs. Closser), Nancy J., William and Rachel (Mrs. Myers). Mrs. Hughes died May 12, 1862, and Mr. Hughes in 1864 wedded Margaret Vance, who died in 1879, and in December, 1880, he married Martha Scott. As a result of his own untiring efforts he has prospered in life. Politically he is a Democrat, and has held several offices.

James W. Hughes, son of Workman and Rachel (Taylor) Hughes, remained on the parental farm in South Strabane township, this county, and was educated in the common schools until his twenty-second year, when he began business for himself upon a farm below Ten-Mile, Amwell township, where he remained two years. In the fall of 1876 he went to Iowa, but, returning home the following year, he purchased a hundred acres of the old farm in Amwell township, which he now owns. He then rented the H.H. Reynolds farm, and worked upon it for three years, when he moved to the small house on Mr. Lacock's farm, and in 1883 built the barn on his own place, erecting a house there in 1886. On January 1, 1880, he was united in marriage with Margaret Horn, and their union has been blessed with the following children: Nellie R., born October 13, 1880; Samuel W., born December 24, 1881; Alonzo R., born December 10, 1883; George Russell, born February 7, 1886; Sabina A., born February 24, 1888; and Elsie Garnet, born March 29, 1891. Mr. Hughes is an eager reader of agricultural papers and current news. He votes the Democratic ticket on State issues, but in local politics he casts his ballot for the best man. He was auditor of the township from 1878 to 1881, and from 1887 to 1889, and is now committee-man from Amwell township, having also held other town offices.

Text taken from page 648 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).

Transcribed May 1997 by Linda Carroll of So. Chicago Heights, IL 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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