Hughes, Jehial, Melvina, Clarissa

Clarissa Hughes, wife of Jehiel Hughs, mother of Jehial A. Hughs
Oakwood Cemetery
(Source:  Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Copyright October 2011)

Jehial A. Hughes
Oakwood Cemetery
(Source:  Photo by Jacqueline Klapproth Nelson.  Copyright October 2011)



Jehial A. Hughes

Jehiel A. Hughes is one of the successful and enterprising farmers living in the Town of Somers, Kenosha County.  His land lies on Sections 18 and 19, and is a very valuable tract, well improved.  Mr. Hughes was born in Monroe County, N.Y., October 23, 1838, and is one of eight children.  His grandfather, Samuel Hughes, was a native of the Green Mountain State whence he removed to New Hampshire and subsequently to Monroe County, N.Y.  He served as a soldier in the War of 1812.  The Hugh family is of Scotch descent and was founded in America by the great-grandfather of our subject, a native of Scotland who became one of the early settlers of Vermont, and with the Colonies aided in the struggle for American Independence.

Jehiel Hughes, father of our subject, was born in Vermont in 1804, and accompanied his father to Monroe County, N.Y., where he acquired an excellent education and became a successful teacher.  In that county he married Clarissa Buckland, who was born in Barre, N.Y., and was a daughter of a carpenter and joiner, Mr. Hughes followed that vocation for some time and also carried on a farm.  In 1840, he came to Wisconsin and purchased a farm in the Town of Somers, Kenosha County, upon which the family located the following year.  The journey was accomplished with a four-horse team, and after long and wearisome travel they reached their destination on the 21^st of July, 1841.  Mr. Hughes built a substantial residence and then began the development of his farm.  The family experienced many of the hardships and trails of pioneer life but the united labors overcame all obstacles and as the years passed their financial resources were greatly improved.  The death of Mr. Hughes occurred April 1887, several years after his wife had been called to her final rest.

In politics Mr. Hughes was a Republican and took quite an active part in political affairs.  He served as a member of the Town Board of Supervisors and was also an efficient Supervisor of the County.  To the cause of education he was a friend and to the public schools gave hearty support.  An enterprising and progressive citizen he helped to make Kenosha County what it is today and well deserves mention in her history.

Of the five sons and five daughters of the family, William H. died when about thirty years old; John S. is a carpenter and joiner residing with his family in Norwood Park, Ill., Jehiel is the next younger; George T. is married and makes his home in Downer’s Grove, Ill., Jesse M. is married and resides in Clarinda, Iowa; Dorcas died in infancy, Julia Ann died at the age of twenty years; and Martha F. is the deceased wife of Warren E. Baker, of Kenosha.

By education our subject was well fitted for the duties of life.  After attending the district schools he pursued his studies in the Kenosha High School.  In 1863 he made an overland trip to Nevada and spent about seven years in the West engaged in the lumber business and also mining in California for a time.  In the fall of 1869 he returned to his home and the following year embarked in farming upon the old Hughes farm.  In connection with his brother he later operated a jay press at Somers Station for a few years and at the same carried on a farm in the Town of Somers.  He is now living on a part of the old homestead where he owns one hundred and twenty acres of arable land, the greater part of which is under a high state of cultivation.  Among the improvements there seen may he mentioned a good orchard, a neat and substantial residence and other accessories of a model farm.

A marriage ceremony performed in Racine, October 24, 1877, united the destinies of Mr. Hughes and Miss Melvina Neff, daughter of Russell Neff, one of the pioneer settlers and substantial farmers of the Town of Somers, now deceased.  Their entire married life has been passed upon the farm where they still reside and their home has been brightened by the presence of one son, Marvin Albert, who is now attending school.  In the social world they rank high and their friends throughout the community are many.

Mr. Hughes cast his first Presidential vote for John C. Fremont, and on all questions of State and national importance has since supported the Republican party.  At local elections he votes independently, supporting the man best qualified to fill the office.  He has served as a member of the School Board and his efforts have done much to advance the interests of education in this community.  Mr. Hughes is a faithful citizen, true to every trust reposed in him and by an upright life has won the confidence and regard of those with whom he has come in contact.

 (Source:  The History of Racine and Kenosha Counties, Wisconsin, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879). 

About George T. Hughes
 George T. Hughes was a farmer in 1879 in Section 24 in Somers Township.  Born in New York in 1840, his father, Jahiel Hughes, came to Kenosha County in 1840, returned for his family, an with them located in Somers and engaged n farming, also as carpenter and joiner.  In 1861 George T. Hughes, enlisted in the 1^st Wisconsin Cav going into active service.  He was mustered out of service on account of sickness, October 1862, going to California.  He returned to Kenosha County in 1867 and engaged in carpenter and joiner work up to 1875.  He then, with his two brothers, engaged in business in a hay and feed mill, dealing in feed and in pressing hay.  He married in Illinois in 1877, Hattie Messig, a native of New York State.  George and Hattie have a daughter, Laura E., born 1880.  He is the owner of 111 acres of farm, and he and his brothers own one and one half acres building at Somers Station.

"The sad news reached here last Tuesday morning of the death of Howard Hughes, the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. George Hughes, formerly of Somers, now of Downer's Grove, Ill.)
(Source:  Racine Daily May 15, 1901)


More About Marvin Albert Hughes

Marvin Albert Hughes, who is engaged in farming one hundred and twenty acres of land on Section 17, Somers Township, has a well developed property on which he has made many improvements, and there he is engaged in raising stock as well as grain and garden products.  He was born in Somers Township, on the Section where he still makes his home, July 25, 1878, a son of Jehiel Albert and Melvina (Neff) Hughes.  The father was a native of New York and was a son of Jehiel Hughes, Sr., who in 1841 removed from the Empire state to the middle west, settling in Somers Township, Kenosha County, where he purchased two hundred and eighty acres of land upon which he resided to the time of his death.  His son and namesake attended the common schools and continued his education in the high school of Kenosha.  He worked upon the home farm through the period of his boyhood and youth and afterward went to Nevada, where he remained for seven years, being there engaged in teaming and also at work in quartz mills.  When twenty-nine years of age he returned to this county and here remained until his death, which occurred on the 18^th of October, 1904, his remains being interred in the Oakwood Cemetery.  It was on the 21^st of October, 187, that he wedded Melvina Neff, a native of this County and a daughter of Russell Neff.  They became the parents of two children, Marvin and Ida La Villa, but the latter died in infancy.  Mr. Hughes was a Republican in his political views and during his residence in this County served as a member of the school board.  Following his demise his widow became the wife of Charles Gentz and is now living in Somers.

Marvin Hughes is indebted to the common school system for the educational privileges which he enjoyed.  He continued his studies to the age of seventeen and then worked with his father upon the home farm, upon which he has since remained, bending his energies to the further development and improvement of the property.  Within the boundaries of his farm is a tract of one hundred and twenty acres of rich and arable land, the productiveness of which he has greatly enhanced by judicious drainage.  He has made most of the improvements on the place, which is an attractive farm property, the land being divided into fields of convenient size by well kept fences, while the latest improved machinery is used to facilitative the plowing, planting and harvesting.  He raises grain, hay, cabbage. Beets and other crops and also pays considerable attention to cattle raising.

On the 11^th of March, 1905, Mr. Hughes was united in marriage to Miss Lillian Seery, a daughter of Benjamin Seery, of Milwaukee, and they have become parents of three children:  La Villa, now in school; and Floyd and Florence, twins, who are also attending school.  Mr. Hughes is serving for the third year as school director and does everything in his power to make the educational facilities of the district adequate to the demands of the present age in training the young for life’s practical and responsible duties.  His political allegiance is given to the Republican party and his religious belief is that of the Presbyterian Church.  He is upright and honorable in all his dealings and he has the confidence and hood will of those with whom he has been associated.[1]

( Source:  City and County of Kenosha, Wisconsin, A Record of Settlement, Vol. II, Frank H. Lyman, Chicago, The S.J. Clark Publishing Co. 1916.)