Iowa
Old Press
Times-Republican
Bedford, Taylor co. Iowa
Thursday, April 1, 1920
Obituary
Rev. Jeremiah T Hughes was born September 20, 1834, in
West Virginia and died at his home in Conway, Iowa, March 26,
1920, aged 84 years, 6 months and 6 days.
He was married to Miss Amy Newton of Platteville, Iowa, April 30,
1861. To this union 10 children were born, five having died in
infancy and of the five living - William, Isaac and Inza, live in
Taylor county, Iowa, and Ellis H. and Eva McKee live in Oklahoma.
Father Hughes was very extensively known in southwestern Iowa and
was the oldest member of the Des Moines annual conference. He did
the pioneer work and helped to lay the foundation for Methodism
as we see it now. He was ordained deacon on the 7th day of
September 1862, at Chariton, Iowa, by Bishop Baker and was
ordained Elder on the 4th day of September, in 1864 at Clarinda
by Bishop Janes. Father Hughes organized and helped to organize
the church at Red Oak, Conway, Mt. Ayr, Clarinda, Glenwood,
Diagonal, Afton, Arispe, Hopeville, Hillsdale, Blockton, and
Bedford. His first circuit in southwestern Iowa extended over six
counties. Hundreds of souls were saved during his ministry and
brought into the church. Seven of our ministers were converted
and came into the church under his leadership, later entering the
ministry.
He was also a member of the Missouri-Arkansas Conference. For two
years he was pastor of McKindree Chapel near Cape Girardeau. This
was the first Methodist church west of the Mississippi river, a
little log building, which is still standing protected today.
Father Hughes told the folks in his day that he was the Circuit
walker—not the circuit rider. He no doubt endured hardships
in those pioneer days that we today cannot comprehend. After his
health failed him and it became necessary for him to retire from
active work in the ministry he continued his Christian work by
selling bibles and spent several summers in southwestern Kansas
in this work. Everyone who knew Father Hughes found him to be
more than just a preacher of the gospel. He was an organizer; a
Christian leader; a man among men, and besides his preaching he
spent some time as a school teacher, thus he proved to be of
great value to the communities in which he lived and labored.
A good man has been taken away from us, but his good works will
follow after him. His was a great life, a great life of service.
One has said: "The life of a good man is like the shadow of
a great hock in a weary land."
Funeral services were conducted at the church in Conway Sunday,
March 28th, by Rev, Redinger, assisted by Rev. J. A. Moorman,
pastor of the Methodist church at Barnes City, Iowa. The sermon
was preached from the text: "Our Father Jacob gave us the
Well." John 4:12. A large audience filled the church and
because of his extensive acquaintance, if the day and roads had
been suitable, the building would not have accommodated the
gathering.
Father Hughes preached his last sermon in Conway, it being the
last service that was held in the old Methodist church before the
building was wrecked. He also preached the first sermon that was
ever preached in Conway. His church then was the Burlington
depot.
Interment was made in the Conway cemetery. Mr. Ralph Crew of
Clearfield was funeral director.
Besides his companion and five children and relatives, Father
Hughes leaves a host of friends to mourn his loss.
Servant of God well done,
Thy glorious warfare's past
The battle's fought, the race is won,
And thou art crowned at last.
[contributed by J.F., May 2017]