Mathias Hugg
Mathias Hugg is a native of Alsace, France, which used to be known as the Garden of France, but since 1871 it has belonged to Germany.
He was born March 5, 1850, a son of Mathias and Marie Salome (Oberlin) Hugg, both of whom were also natives of France. The father was of Swiss extraction, while the mother was of German descent. Mathias Hugg, Sr., was a weaver by trade and came to the United States in 1865, sailing from Havre to America and locating in Lake county, Illinois, where he resided for thirteen years. In 1878 he came to Crawford county, Iowa, making his residence at Coon Grove, in Washington township. There he bought land and resided until his death in 1891 at the age of seventy-four years. In politics he was a republican, and in his religion was a member of the Evangelical church. Two children were born to him. of whom one is the subject of this sketch, and the other is George, at present a farmer living near Platt, South Dakota.
Mr. Hugg of this review obtained his early education in both the French and German public schools, which he supplemented by a course in the schools of this country. He remained at home until thirty-one years old, when he rented a part of his father's farm, upon which he resided until 1869. In the meantime he had become owner of that farm, which he subsequently rented, while he removed to his present location, where he had previously bought one hundred and twenty acres. In November, 1910, he sold forty acres of his property and at present engages in general farming and stock-raising on the remainder.
In 1882 Mr. Hugg was united in marriage to Miss Anna Marie Schwartz, who was born in the same locality as her husband. Her parents were Jacob and Anna Marie (Hild) Schwartz. Her father died in Alsace, where her mother is still living. Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Schwartz, as follows: Anna Marie, the wife of our subject; Catherine, who held a position as a school teacher in Ostheim, Alsace, for thirty-two years, being subsequently retired on a pension; and Madelaine, who is now residing in Minnesota.
Mr. and Mrs. Hugg are the parents of five children, namely: Emil M. is a clerk in the Crawford County Bank. George Walter is a farmer and stockraiser in Oacoma, Lyman county, South Dakota. He married Miss Lillie Paulsen and they have one child, Fernetta Marie. Martha Marie is living at home. Esther Salome and Susana C. are both deceased.
In politics Mr. Hugg is a republican and is serving as one of the township trustees, to which office he was elected for a third term. He has been school director in Washington township and has held the same office for two terms in Denison township. Both Mr. and Mrs. Hugg are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Source: History of Crawford County, Iowa. Vol. II. Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1911.