Hughes, Edward A.

HUGHES, HILL, CHAMPLIN

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 2/14/2003 at 21:10:30

Source: "The 1901 Biographical Record of Clinton Co., Iowa, Illustrated" published: Chicago : S. J. Clarke Pub. Co., 1901.

EDWARD A. HUGHES

Edward A. Hughes, ex-mayor and a prominent liveryman of Clinton, is a man of excellent business ability and broad resources, who has become a recognized leader in public affairs. A native of Pennsylvania, he was born in Columbia county March 26, 1857, and is a son of Elwood and Elizabeth (Hill) Hughes. His father was born in the same county, and in 1870 removed with his family to Lee county, Illinois, where he spent the remainder of his days as a successful farmer, dying there at the age of seventy-six yrs. His wife is still living.

The subject of this review grew to manhood upon the home farm, and received a good practical education in the common schools, and in the spring of 1868 he entered the preparatory department of the Pennsylvania College, at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, where he took a two years’ course. At the end of that period his parents removed to Lee county, Illinois, and for about two years he was a student in the Dixon high school, which was supplemented by a course in the Dixon Seminary. He remained under the parental roof, assisting in the work of the farm until 1883, when he came to Clinton, Iowa, and purchased the livery business of D. R. Toll, whose barn was located where Mr. Hughes still carries on business. It then had a frontage of only fifty feet, but he has bought lots on both sides and has enlarged the barn until it is now one hundred by one hundred and forty feet in dimensions, including a blacksmith shop carried on by H. W. Lee, who is associated with our subject in business. To begin with, he had only about eight horses, but now keeps from thirty to thirty-five fine single and double driving horses, including some very high-bred steeds. He has bought and sold many fine animals, selling one pair for a thousand dollars, and has some valuable trotting stock, which have taken part in the various races in the circuit. He now owns one of the most promising two-year-old stallions of the state. – (sic) Ed H., a Hambletonian of high pedigree. Mr. Hughes is a through horseman and takes great pleasure in training his horses. He was one of the organizers of the Clinton District Fair Association, and is one of the directors of the association, and may be seen daily exercising his fine horses on the tracks. He has a first-class bus line, which requires ten horses to run, and has an elegant line of single and double carriages, cabs, etc., being the only man in Clinton who owns and runs a brougham, the cost of which was twelve hundred dollars.

Mr. Hughes was married in 1878 to Miss Vernia Champlin, daughter of Alonzo Champlin, of Whiteside county, Illinois, and she presides with gracious dignity over their beautiful home. Socially, Mr. Hughes is an honored member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, and the Knights of the Golden Precept. Since his introduction in Clinton he has become very popular in business, social and political circles, and has taken quite an active part in public affairs. In 1892 he was elected mayor on the Republican ticket by a large majority, and discharged the duties of that responsible position in a most creditable and satisfactory manner for four years, during which time many improvements were made in the city. He has always taken an active interest in the welfare and prosperity of that place, and has done all in his power to advance her interests.