For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 46
WILLIAM H. HUGHES. William H. Hughes has been a resident of Muscatine for forty-seven years and is well known in business circles of the city although he is now living retired. He also proved a capable official in public office for several years and in fact in every relation of life has commanded the good will and confidence of his fellowmen. He was born in St. Louis county, Missouri, September 9, 1848, and is the elder of two sons in a family which numbered four children but the two daughters died in infancy.The parents were Thomas R. and Sarah E. (Lowry) Hughes, the former a native of the city of Galway, Ireland, and the latter of Louisville, Kentucky. Thomas R. Hughes was a son of Reuben Hughes, a native of Wales, who on establishing his home in Galway, engaged in the manufacture of paper, conducting one of the important productive industries of that city, in which he made his home until he was called to his final rest at an advanced age. Unto him and his wife were born nineteen children, including Thomas R. Hughes, who was reared in his native city but completed his education in Trinity College, of Dublin, Ireland, with a view of entering professional circles. However, he began traveling for his father as representative of the paper manufacturing house in England and Scotland. He afterward became connected with another manufacturing concern and was thus in business in the old world until he determined to try his fortune in America. Crossing the Atlantic, he settled in St. Louis, where he resided for several years, his time and energies being there devoted to general merchandising. In the meantime he had wedded Sarah E. Lowry, a daughter of David Lowry, who was a native of Ohio. Archibald Lowry, the great-grandfather of William H. Hughes, was at one time the owner of the principal part of the residence portion of Springfield, Ohio. He was a son of David Lowry, Sr., who came from Edinburg, Scotland, in 1763, and settled in Pennsylvania, becoming the founder of the family in the new world. His grandson, David Lowry, Jr., was the owner of an interest in some steamboats that plied between Cincinnati and New Orleans. He was also connected with other business enterprises and was meeting with prosperity when he fell a victim to cholera, passing away in Cincinnati in 1832, when a young man. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Catherine M. O'Rourke, reached the age of sixty-five years. Their family numbered three children, who grew to adult age: Sarah E., who became Mrs. Hughes; William E.; and Samuel H. Following their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Hughes lived in St. Louis for several years and in 1856 removed to Iowa, settling in Sweetland township, Muscatine county, where Mr. Hughes passed away in 1860, at the age of forty-five years. His widow still survives him, never marrying again. She lives with her son William and they have resided in Muscatine since 1863. She is now eighty-six years of age, having been born on the 5th of February, 1825.
In taking up the personal history of William H. Hughes we present to our readers the life record of one who is widely and favorably known in Muscatine and this part of the state. His early education was acquired in St. Louis and following the removal of the family to Iowa he continued his studies in the schools of Muscatine and afterward in the college of Christian Brothers in St. Louis. Subsequently he became bookkeeper for his uncle, William Hughes, in Evansville, Indiana, occupying that position for three years but about 1869 returned to Muscatine, where he secured a situation in a general dry-goods store. Subsequently he joined an engineering corps that was engaged in surveying a road in Illinois. Afterward he spent a short time in the Silverman & Cook Bank in Muscatine. Then again he engaged in the dry-goods business and for several terms was clerk of the courts, he being elected first in 1886, and occupying that position until the 5th of January, 1895, when, after a service of four terms, he retired.
Mr. Hughes and his mother occupy a pleasant home at No. 715 West Third street, where they have resided continuously since taking up their abode in this city. His political allegiance has long been given to the democratic party and he is unfaltering in his support of its principles.
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