Hughes, Martin

HUGHES

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/22/2019 at 23:51:16

Martin Hughes

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.459)
MARTIN HUGHES is a native of County Mayo, Ireland. He was born October 15, 1836, son of John and Mary (WELCH) HUGHES. When a lad he was sent to England, and in 1854 he crossed the Atlantic to America, locating in Upper Canada, where he remained eight months. Then he came to Iowa, and, after spending two years in Des Moines, in the fall of 1856 he took up his abode in Council Bluffs, where he has since continued to reside. He began to learn his trade, that of a mason, while in England, which he completed in every detail after coming to this country. In 1868 he formed a partnership with the WICKHAM BROS., with whom he was associated a number of years. He also turned his attention to agricultural pursuits, as he owned a farm of 500 acres in Lewis Township, the most of which he has disposed of.

Mr. HUGHES owns a brick-yard on North Eighth street, the output being about 3,500,000 brick annually and the average number of men employed being sixty-five. Some of the principal buildings erected by him are the Merriam block, Sapp building, Episcopal Church, Brown building, the Third street and Pierce street school buildings, besides many fine structures in Omaha. He is one of the oldest contractors and builders in the city, and has been one of the most successful. He has an elegant brick residence, No. 903 Third Street, which was erected in 1888, at a cost of some $25,000, and is one of the finest homes in the city. He owns a valuable block on the corner of Broadway and Park avenue, also a block on Main street, in which his son is engaged in business, gents' furnishing goods. Besides the buildings already mentioned Mr. HUGHES owns thirteen resident properties. All this property is the result of his own industry and skillful management. He is eminently a self-made man, as he had comparatively nothing when he came to this city.

Mr. HUGHES was married in 1858, to Miss Mary WICKHAM, who was born County Leitrim, Ireland, March 23, 1837, daughter of Patrick and Celia (PRIOR) WICKHAM. The eleven children born to them are as follows: Ida, wife of Charles FOX, a resident of Council Bluffs; George, a member of the firm of HUGHES & SON, Council Bluffs; Thomas, engaged in the mercantile business, above referred to; John J., the third son, is now junior member of the firm of MARTIN HUGHES & SONS, and is a late graduate of St. Benedict's College, Atchison, Kansas, and Celia, Mamie and Martin, at home. All the above mentioned have had a thorough collegiate education, all having graduated except the youngest. Four of their children are deceased: James, John, Mary and James. The family are members of the Catholic Church, and in his political views Mr. HUGHES is a Democrat.

The firm of MARTIN HUGHES & SON was formed in 1881. They do an annual business of some $300,000, and their average monthly pay roll is about $6,000. George F. HUGHES is a practical mechanic, having learned his trade under his father. He now assumes the management of the business. The son follows his father in political views as well as in trade. He is a member of the Catholic Mutual Benefit Association and carries $5,000 insurance. His father has an insurance of $20,000.