Hughes, Frances Woodruff died 1926

HUGHES, FRITCH, STRAUCH, PLAMBECK, BOYD

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 11/28/2013 at 13:18:27

Postville Herald, Thur., 8 July 1926. (condensed).

Frances Woodruff Hughes was born at Union Grove, Illinois, August 24, 18__, the only son of William and Margaret (Fritch) Hughes, and died Monday, July 5, 1926, in Postville, Iowa.

Shortly after his birth he moved with his parents to Chicago, Illinois. There he resided until the night of the great Chicago fire when they left for Mt. Carroll, Illinois, where his father had secured employment with the Carroll County Mirror, a newspaper he later purchased and in which office the son learned the printers trade and grew to manhood.

On April 30, 1898, he was united in marriage to Joanna Strauch at Cassville, Wisconsin.

In 1899 He associated himself with Mr. Hurless and started the Carroll County Republican, later purchasing the Carroll County Mirror, which his father had owned and published for many years. This partnership dissolved in 1901 and Mr. and Mrs. Hughes then moved to Sabula, Iowa, where he was employed for two years by the Sabula Gazette.

In 1903 Mr. Hughes purchased the Elgin Echo and during the near 21 years he was its editor and publisher transformed it into one of the newsiest and most successful smaller newspapers in the state. He served as mayor of Elgin for 3 terms and during the World War he served as a member of the Council of Defense, being born a patriot, as his father before him had served during the Civil War as a member of the 5th New York regiment "Duryea's Zouaves" and later with the _46th New York Infantry. At Chancellorsville receiving wounds from which he never fully recovered and hastened him to an early grave.

Fraternally Mr. Hughes was affiliated with Silver Leaf Lodge No. 518 A.F. & A.M., of Elgin, and Elgin Camp M._.A., being an honored member of those fraternities. In Postville he was a member of the Commercial Club and the Isaac Walton chapter.

He was a member of the M.E. church of Elgin and a staunch supporter of it, taking an active part in the work which lead to the beautiful edifice erected there in 1916. He was at one time a member of the churches Board of Trustees.

In 1922 Mr. Hughes was stricken with a severe attack of influenza, the effects of which he never fully recovered, and which occasioned his selling the Elgin Echo in 1923 to his brother-in-law, R. P. Strauch. Mr. Hughes sought to regain his health by hospital treatment, rest and recreation, and for a time seemed to have returned to his former vigorous self. This lead to his purchase of the Postville Herald in October of 1924. For a time all seemed well, when of a sudden his old afflictions returned and his decline over the past two months was very marked.

"Dick", as he was familiarly known, was a skilled craftsman in the printer's art, a good citizen, neighbor and friend. He was honorable, upright and true, and his passing brings a pang of sorrow to the many who knew and appreciated him.

He is survived by his wife, a sister, Mrs. A. F. Plambeck of Freemont, Nebraska, and a niece, Jeanne Boyd of Chicago.

The funeral was held this (Thursday) morning from the home. All Elgin and Postville business houses closed during the funeral hour as a mark of respect to his memory. The flowers were profuse and beautiful. Following the service the body was shipped to his old home in Mt. Carroll, Illinois, to be interred in the beautiful Oak Hill cemetery beside those of his father.

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NOTE: Union Grove is a township in Whiteside Co., Illinois. The Great Chicago Fire occurred on Oct. 8-10, 1871. See also the obit of Mrs. Francis (Joanna Kathryn Strauch) Hughes 1876 - 1965 on this obit board.

Submitter is not related.

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