For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 596
SAMUEL M. HUGHES. Honored and respected by all, there is no man in Muscatine who occupies a more enviable position in financial circles than Samuel M. Hughes, whose success has been achieved by an honorable, straightforward business policy. He was born in St. Louis, Missouri, July 31, 1851, his parents being Thomas R. and Sarah E. (Lowry) Hughes, natives of Dublin, Ireland, and Louisville, Kentucky, respectively. The father of Mrs. Hughes was a native of Ohio and was engaged in steamboating on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, running from Cincinnati to New Orleans, but was stricken with cholera soon after launching a new boat to make her first trip. He passed away when a comparatively young man. Unto him and his wife were born three children: Sarah E., William E. and Samuel H. After the death of her first husband Mrs. Lowry married again, becoming the wife of Dr. Samuel Merry, who was a practicing physician of St. Louis and was also receiver in the public land office there in an early day.Thomas R. Hughes, the father of Samuel M. Hughes, of this review, spent the period of his minority on the Emerald isle but when a young man crossed the Atlantic to the new world and established his home in St. Louis, where he met and married Miss Sarah E. Lowry. They began their domestic life in that city, where they remained until 1858, when they came to Muscatine county, Mr. Hughes establishing and successfully conducting a general store at Fairport for two or three years. He died in 1860, when about forty-six years of age, and is still survived by his widow, who is now in her eighty-sixth year. His religious faith was that of the Catholic church and Mrs. Hughes is also a believer in that religion which has its seat in the vatican at Rome. They were the parents of four children, of whom two are now living, William H. and Samuel M.
The latter spent the first seven years of his life in St. Louis and then accompanied his parents to Muscatine county, while in 1862 he became a resident of the city of Muscatine, where he has since made his home. He pursued his education in the Greenwood Academy and in the College of the Christian Brothers at St. Louis, attending the latter institution from 1864 until 1866. He then matriculated in the State University at Iowa City, Iowa, and was graduated from the academic and law departments with the class of 1874. The same year he was admitted to the bar and for about nine years engaged in the practice of law. He was then appointed clerk of the district court, which position he filled from January, 1883, until May, 1884, when he resigned to become cashier of the Muscatine Savings Bank. Ten years later or in 1894, he was chosen cashier of the First National Bank and has since contributed in large measure to the success and growth of this institution.
On the 25th of October, 1888, Mr. Hughes was married to Miss Clara A. Brown, a native of this city and a daughter of Thomas and Mary J. Brown, who were natives of Ohio. They came to Muscatine about 1862 and still reside here. Mr. and Mrs. Hughes occupy an attractive home at No. 806 West Third street, which he built in 1888. It has been blessed with the presence of four children: Edward T., Robert W., Louis S. and Florence M. Mrs. Hughes is a member of the Episcopal church and takes deep interest in its work and is well known also in the social circles of the city.
In politics Mr. Hughes is independent, preferring to cast his ballot for men and measures rather than for party. He has lived continuously in this county for fifty-two years and there is no resident of Muscatine more loyal to its interests or more devoted to its welfare. His business record is one which any man might be proud to possess. Starting at the bottom round of the ladder, he has advanced steadily step by step until he is now occupying a position of prominence and trust. Through his entire business career he has been looked upon as a model of integrity and honor, never making an engagement that he has not filled nor incurring obligations that he has not met. He stands today an example of what determination and force, combined with the highest degree of business integrity, can accomplish for a man of natural ability and strength of character.
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