James Hughes

As printed in 1881

JAMES HUGHES.

James Hughes was born March 30, 1814, in Jessamine county, Kentucky. He was the tilth son, sixth child, of John and Elizabeth Hughes. His mother was a daughter of Samuel Berry, who served as a soldier in the war of 1812. His father was born in the old Red Stone Fort, (now Brownsville) in Pennsylvania, in the year 1777, whence he was taken with the family to Bryant's station, Kentucky, where they lived for several years. Afterwards, for many years, his father resided in Jessamine county, Kentucky. In 1822, when James was eight years old, his father removed with his family to Missouri, and settled in Boone county, where he was a pioneer farmer. James Hughes' father was a soldier in the war of 1812, and served under General Harrison. His maternal grandfather served under the same distinguished officer. His grandfather, Joseph Hughes, was a soldier in the revolutionary war. James Hughes spent his boyhood days in working with his father on the farm, and received his education at a country school, which was subsequently known as Bonne Fcmme Academy. When he was sixteen years old, he came, in 1830, to Richmond, Ray county, Missouri, and engaged as clerk and salesman in a dry goods store, continuing as clerk and salesman for different leading mercantile firms in Richmond until 1837, when he engaged in merchandising on his own account, in partnership with his brother, Willis Hughes. The firm continued to do an extensive, profitable business, till 1845, when, closing his career as a merchant, our subject removed to the country, and engaged in farming and dealing in live stock, which pursuit he followed steadily, energetically and successful for more than thirty years. During all that period he occupied the front rank among the best farmers' in the state. He was even more successful as a farmer than as a merchant. In January, 1877, he returned to Richmond and entered into the banking business in partnership with his brother, Joseph S. Hughes and his son, Burnett Hughes. His two sons, Ami and Allen Hughes, are farming and dealing in live stock on the old homestead in the country. This is a model farm of eight hundred and eighty-two acres, improved on the most modern plan, and well stocked with the finest breeds of stock of all kinds. Mr. Hughes is also largely interested in other real estate in different parts of the county.

James Hughes was married in 1842, to Miss Elvira Smith, of Ray county, Missouri, formerly of Pittsylvania county, Virginia. His wife died on the 16th day of January, 1877. They raised a family of eight children, six sons and two daughters. Their oldest child, Elizabeth V., is the wife of William H. Mansur, cashier of the Bank of Salisbury. Their son, Newton Hughes, is a clerk in the same bank. Henry Clay Hughes, their oldest son, is a successful farmer, in Carroll county. Berry Hughes, another son, is a farmer, and resides near Richmond, Ray county. Their youngest child, a daughter, Louisa R. Hughes, is living with her father, in Richmond. In politics, James Hughes was a Henry Clay whig, but since the death of the great Kentuckian, and the dissolution of the whig party, he has been, and continues to be a firm, but consistent, democrat. He feels, as he has ever felt, a deep interest in the welfare, prosperity, and future greatness of his county, state, and country. Such men are the bulwarks of free government. James Hughes, in all the avocations of life in which he has been engaged, has displayed energy, integrity, and a just regard for the rights of his fellow-man. He, therefore, enjoys the confidence of all who know him. He is spending even his declining years in active business, as a banker, and in promoting the comfort, competence, and happiness of his children. Estimating James Hughes by the good he has done, he deserves to be more highly eulogized than many whose names have been emblazoned in history- The same honorable career our subject has pursued is open to thousands of young men everywhere. The name of James Hughes will be a rich heritage for his children, when he shall have ceased from his earthly labors, and his good deeds shall be embalmed in their memories.

As printed in History of Ray County, Mo. (1881). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.