DAVID B HUGHES
Among
the Welsh-American citizens who have done good, stalwart work to the
cultivation and development of Sharon Township, Johnson County, Iowa,
we may well mention the name just given, for he came to this region
when it was in its primitive condition, labored faithfully early and
late to provide a home for himself and family, and is now possessed of
a competence gained by energetic and well-directed efforts. He is
well known to the citizens of his section, and his correct mode of
living has gained him a popularity which is merited in every
respect. On the 18th of June 1814, he first saw the light of day
in the North of Wales, and after receiving some educational advantages
he came to America in 1829 and first set foot on American soil five
weeks after embarking on what then seemed a voyage fraught with many
dangers and uncertainties. The first three years were spent in
Oneida County, N.Y. after which he resided in Cambria County, Pa.,
until he attained his majority. Fifteen years were then spent in
Pittsburgh, where he followed the trade of a plasterer. He then
decided to come farther west and for three years followed his trade in
the city of Chicago.
Mr. Hughes arrived in Johnson County, Iowa,
in 1853, and the same year entered the land on which he is now
residing, but did not settle on it until 1856, renting it for the first
three years. Even at that time there were not many settlers in
the region, but after the Civil War settlers began to pour in and the
country was soon thickly peopled. His home place comprised two
hundred and sixty acres of the land, well tilled and well improved, but
he has another tract of land amounting to one hundred thirty seven
acres, which is also valuable and well-improved property and the result
of his own shrewd management and business acumen. The improvement
on his place have been made by himself and consist of good buildings of
all descriptions, excellent fences and well-tilled fields. Not
only is Mr. Hughes energetic and industrious, but he is also very
public-spirited and the good of his section is of paramount importance
with him. He has been extremely liberal in the use of his means
and is prominent in agricultural and social circles, his many noble
traits of mind and character winning him numerous friends wherever he
is known.
In 1843 he married Miss Margaret Reed, who died at the
age of twenty-seven years, leaving him with a family of four children
to care for: Joseph, Harriet, Mary and Margaret. On the 13th of
August, 1853, he took for his second wife Miss Casana Reed, a native of
the State of Maryland, and their union resulted in the birth of an
interesting family of five children: Benjamin, Albert, Clara, Luke and
Sarah. The mother of these children was intelligent and amiable lady,
an earnest member of the Presbyterian Church and at the age of
seventy-two years was called from the scene of her earthly labors,
since which time Mr. Hughes has remained a widower. He has seen a
great deal of the improvements of the county and has aided largely in
developing the resources of the same. The Republican party
embodies in its declaration the political views which Mr. Hughes
considers most sound and he is an intelligent student of national
movements.
Source: Portrait & Biographical Record of Johnson, Poweshiek and Iowa Counties, Chicago Chapman Bros 1893
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