Rev. Jeremiah T. HUGHES was born Sept. 20, 1834 in West Virginia and died at his home in Conway, Iowa, March 26, 1920. He was married to Amy NEWTON of Platteville, Iowa, April 30, 1861 [in Taylor County, Iowa]. To this union ten children were born, five having died in infancy and to the five they raised -- William, Isaac and Inza lived in Taylor County. Ellis H. and Eva McGHEE lived in Oklahoma. Several descendants still live in Taylor County: Mrs. Al "Doris" O'DELL and her family and most of the Glen HUGHES' family.

He was ordained deacon on September 7, 1862 and elder on September 4, 1864. He was appointed, in the fall of 1872 to what was called Harmony [present-day Conway]. In those days there was no moving by railroad, so his goods were moved in wagons 40 miles from Hopeville, Clarke County by members of his former charge. The parsonage was at Lexington and Conway was a new town started by the railroad, having at that time only about ten houses, no schoolhouse, and only a store or two. His circuit consisted of an appointment north of Gravity, Holt schoolhouse, a schoolhouse north of Sharpsburg, Grant Center, Wright schoolhouse, Lexington, and Conway. He preached twice a month and some of the appointments were during the week. He preached the first sermon ever preached in Conway, on the platform of the Burlington depot. He traveled over the country in his buggy and many times forded the rivers, as there were no bridges in those days. His salary was $500. However, the people were congenial and the work a great comfort. He built the first parsonage in Conway for $500. He was pastor at Conway for two years after which he moved to Afton and later came back to Conway and made it his home.

Father HUGHES organized and helped to organize the church at Red Oak, Conway, Mount Ayr, Clarinda, Glenwood, Diagonal, Afton, Arispe, Hopeville, Hillsdale, Blockton and Bedford. He was also a member of MO-Ark Conference. Besides his preaching he spent some time as a school teacher. He told the folks in his day he was a circuit walker, not the circuit rider. He preached his last sermon in Conway, in an old Methodist church which was wrecked.

Mrs. HUGHES was born at Waterloo, New Jersey, January 30, 1837 and died at her home in Conway, on October 28, 1920. Her parents, the Isaac NEWTONS, lived on a farm near the junction Highway #2 and #25. Here, many people traveling through the country would stop to water their oxen team and camp overnight. Also, the pony express riders would leave mail. She was the granddaughter of a Revolutionary soldier and an early settler of southwestern Iowa.

In the winter of '60 and '61 Rev. Jerry HUGHES also commenced preaching, while assistant on the Mount Ayr circuit. Rev. HUGHES was a young man, fresh from Virginia. This country was very thinly settled in those days, and in making his way from one appointment to another, he endured many hardships. On February 22, 1861 he got lost in a snow storm, and was out all night and until the next day before he found a house. His feet were frozen, and it was a miracle that he did not perish. The preachers of those days did not drive to their appointments in top buggies nor ride in varnished cars. Even had the cars been here their salaries were so small they would have had to steal a ride on the blind Bagge or ride on the bumpers. Mr. HUGHES married Amy NEWTON, daughter of Isaac NEWTON, and organized an M. E. Church here in 1865, while on the Bedford circuit. There being no record of this early church in existence.

Submitted by Juanita Fields, February of 2009

Rev. Jeremiah T. HUGHES was born Sept. 20, 1834 in West Virginia and died at his home in Conway, Iowa, March 26, 1980. He was married to Amy NEWTON of Platteville, Iowa, April 30, 1961. To this union ten children were born, five having died in infancy and to the five they raised -- William, Isaac and Inza lived in Taylor County. Ellis H. and Eva McGEE lived in Oklahoma. Several descendants still live in Taylor County: Mrs. Al "Doris" O'DELL and her family and most of the Glen HUGHES's family.

He was ordained deacon on Sept. 7, 1862 and elder on Sept. 4, 1964. He was appointed, in the fall of 1872 to what was called Harmony (now Conway). In those days there was no moving by railroad, so his goods were moved in wagons 40 miles from Hopeville, Clark County by members of his former charge. The parsonage was at Lexington and Conway was a new town started by the railroad, having at that time only about ten houses, no schoolhouse, and only a store or two. His circuit consisted of an appointment north of Gravity, Holt schoolhouse, a schoolhouse north of Sharpsburg, Grant Center, Wright schoolhouse, Lexington, and Conway. He preached twice a month and some of the appointments were during the week. He preached the first sermon ever preached in Conway, on the platform of the Burlington depot. He traveled over the country in his buggy and many times forded the rivers, as there were no bridges in those days. His salary was $500. However, the people were congenial and the work a great comfort. He built the first parsonage in Conway for $500. He was pastor at Conway for two years after which he moved to Afton and later came back to Conway and made it his home. 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. He was also a member of MO-Ark Conference. Besides his preaching he spent some time as a school teacher. He told the folks in his day he was a circuit walker, not the circuit rider. He preached his last sermon in Conway, in an old Methodist church which was wrecked.

Mrs. HUGHES was born at Waterloo, New Jersey, Jan 30, 1837 and died at her home in Conway, on Oct. 28, 1920. Her parents, the Isaac NEWTONS, lived on a farm near the junction Highway #2 and #25. Here, many people traveling through the country would stop to water their oxen team and camp overnight. Also, the pony express riders would leave mail. She was the granddaughter of a Revolutionary soldier and an early settler of southwestern Iowa.

By Dorothy Kirby and Darline Ernest
Submitted by Juanita Fields, February of 2009

The First Methodist minster appointments were within Montgomery County. Rev. J. T. HUGHES was assigned to the field by the conference held at Muscatine Iowa in 1859. He was a circuit rider without a horse. Walking all the way from that city and arriving in due time at the home of Mr. W. T. REED, who lived in a cabin near the present town of Grant.

The only circuit reliance for support of this Minster was a missionary society in New York, which engaged to send him $40.00 a year to be paid quarterly.

On the strength of this credit, he tried to negotiate with Joe BEAN for a pair of boots. Mr. BEAN said to him, "I presume you are telling the truth, but New York is a long way off and as you are a stranger, I will keep the boots."

Upon arriving at Frankfort nearly barefooted, he meets Mr. Solmon STOUT and explained to him his mission and his lack of footgear.

Mr. STOUT said, "I am not the most exemplary man in the world, but my mother away back in Kentucky was a good Methodist; I will trust you for a pair of boots." A Mr. John MURRAY learning of the incident took up a collection among officers at the courthouse and the boots were not only bought but paid for that same day in answer to prayer as Mr. HUGHES afterwards declared.

In 1860, Oliver WILLIAMS succeeded Rev. J. T. HUGHES, being allowed $125.00.

Rev. J. T. HUGHES was back again in 1864 and 1865.

The following pastors have served the Red Oak Church at Red Oak, Iowa:
Rev. J. S. SAND’s 1861 circuit
Rev. W. T. THORNBURG 1861-1862 circuit
Rev. B. W. ROE 1863-1864 circuit
Rev. J. T. HUGHES 1864-1865 circuit
NOTE: They had this printed in a booklet for their anniversary in 1951.

Submitted by Juanita Fields, February of 2009