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File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Fulton County
Munsell Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908

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The Biography of George W. HUGHES 

[Surnames: BADER, BISSELL, COOK, DEMOSS, ELLIOTT, EWALL, HUGHES, MATTESON, PRATHER, SALESBURY, SAULSBERRY, SHIELDS] 

HUGHES, GEORGE W. 

    
The active career of George W. Hughes is a part of the yesterday of Fulton Co., but his substantial agricultural and political efforts are constantly brought to mind by his familiar presence in Astoria, to which he retired in May, 1882. Of French maternal ancestry, Mr. Hughes was born in Wooster, Wayne Co., OH, Jan 12, 1822, and is the second oldest of five son of Colonel Taylor and Mary (DEMOSS) Hughes, natives of Maryland. 
    
Col. Taylor Hughes was born near Baltimore, MD and was a soldier in the War of 1812, being present at the battle of Baltimore. During this critical struggle, his wife anxiously awaiting in her home near the city of Baltimore, listened to the booming of musketry and cannon. After the war he came to OH and settled in Wooster. In the fall of 1840--the year of General William Henry Harrison's election to the presidency--he brought his family to Fulton County, settling in Woodland Twp., where all his sons remained until the establishment of homes of their own. While residing in Ohio he served as Colonel of the State Militia, and served as office of a Light Horse Company. With the exception of a short time spent in Kansas, he continued to make his home in Woodland Twp. where until his death in 1874, at the age of eighty-four years, his wife surviving him six years and dying at the age of eighty-six years. Of their descendants:
John D., the oldest son, born in MD, died in Summum, Fulton Co.
William T., born in OH, died in Woodland Twp. and buried near Summum
Joshua, born in OH, died in Summum
Neil, the youngest found his last resting place in the same peaceful town. 
    
Colonel Hughes was prominent as a farmer and politician in Maryland, Ohio, and Illinois, in MD as a Whig, and as a Republican in the two latter states. In religion he was a Baptist, while his wife attended the Methodist Episcopal. 
    
In the acquirement of an education George W. Hughes was confronted with many serious obstacles, chief among which was the necessity for assisting with the family maintainences. He was consumed with a hunger for knowledge while still very young, and at odd times devoured every book that came within reach of the humble household. At night, when the weary members had gone to their rest, he tarried in the glow of the fireplace, studying arithmetic, geography and reading the records of the men whose deeds have enlivened the march of the ages. He readily recalls reading in the last rays of the daylight, when his arms were swolled from swinging the cradle for eighteen consecutive days. 
    
After his marriage in 1843, to Susan ELLIOTT, he rented a farm in Woodland Twp. and then bought a small tract of land, adding thereto until he owned 280 acres in one body. Possessed of shrewd business ability his investments always have resulted in gain, and his energy has converted a comparatively unimproved tract into one of more than average fertility. For the greater part Mr. Hughes has either sold or divided his property among his children, but still retains an income sufficient for all reasonable needs, and in addition assists many less fortunate than himself. 
    
The first wife of Mr. Hughes died Oct. 9, 1881, leaving nine of her eleven children, two having died in infancy. Of those who attained maturity: Hannah Maria is the wife of Ellis SHIELDS, of the vicinity of Summum Myron A., who married Miranda SALESBURY, and died in Nebraska Ariel Josephine, is the wife of John J. SHIELDS of Canton Emma, deceased, was the wife of George SAULSBERRY of Woodland Twp. Helen A., is the wife of Preston PRATHER, a farmer of Astoria Julius is mentioned elsewhere in this work Taylor, who is deceased. 
    
On Oct. 18, 1883, Mr. Hughes was united in marriage with Mrs. Addie L. COOK, nee BADER, as his second wife, who by her former marriage had four children:
Alva B. of Council Bluffs, Iowa
Park H., of Ogden, Utah, General Agent of the Oregon Short Line Railroad.
Raymond, proprietor of the Ogden Steam Dye Works, of Council Bluffs, IA
Essie, wife of Orlando EWALL, a grocer in Council Bluffs. 
    
Mr. Hughes is a Republican in politics and has held several local offices of importance, being a Justice of the Peace during the administration of Governors MATTESON, and BISSELL. He is noted for his generous support of education and other agencies. In his religion, he is a Free Thinker.