William Salisbury Hughes

                                                              William Salisbury Hughes

                                                                               
                                                                                 

                                                                                 

                                                                                                                                            

                                                                 "William Salisbury Hughes" 

                                                              History of Blue Earth County 

                                                                    Tom Hendricks

  William Salisbury Hughes was born on February 7, 1841 in the valley of Ty Cochyn, Llanrhyddlad, Anglesey, North Wales.  He was born to Owen and Winifred Salisbury Hughes who married on September 29, 1840 at the parish church in Ty Cochyn, Llanrhyddlad, Anglesey, North Wales.  They baptized their first son William Salisbury Hughes on May 11, 1841, three months after his birth.  The order of the children in this family were William S., Ellen, Robert S., John S., Jane, Mary, and Richard.

  At age thirteen, William left home for what family stories say was an incident of two choices.  The first was to stay in North Wales and be prosecuted for shooting game on an overlord's land, and the second was to leave his homeland and seek fame and fortune elsewhere.  He left his homeland and sought his fortune at Saint Castle Street, Liverpool, England, as a commercial merchant, at age thirteen.  He then took a job as a school teacher in a British parish.

  On August 1, 1854, he received his Indenture of Pupil's Teacher's Apprenticeship.  He was engaged in the apprenticeship with John Lewis till December 31, 1859.  This document was signed by William S. Hughes and his father, Owen Williams. Hughes.  Soon after, he had made a long voyage in May 1864 to America.  Here, William made his first stop in Utica, New York, before he came to Butternut Valley Township in the spring about May 1865.  He came to Butternut Valley, Minnesota and attended a Sunday School at the home of Jones (Sadler) the last Sunday in May of that year.  The Mankato Free Press says William's brother Robert Salisbury Hughes, came over in the year 1861.

  Little is known about William Salisbury Hughes' early life, but it is known that he bought land and resided in section four, range 128 in Butternut Township.  He married Catherine Williams, daughter of Hugh R. and Margaret Williams on July 23 1867 in Butternut Valley, Blue Earth, Minnesota.  Five months later, he would receive his State of Minnesota Teaching License.  He was issued a certificate for teaching third grade Orthography, Reading, Writing, Grammar, Arithmetic, Geography, and History on December 5th, 1867.  He also became a prominent member of political affairs in the county which eventually led to his title as Blue Earth County Commissioner in the following years of 1879, 1880, and 1881.  He served for three years as Blue Earth County Commissioner and applied for his United States citizenship papers on the 6th day of January 1897.  In 1910 he was nominated as a candidate for the state legislature on the Republican ticket.  Unfortunately, he lost because the other candidate was a saloon man.

  William Salisbury Hughes was also a member of the Welsh Calvinistic Methodist Church of Butternut Valley and also helped out in church and school affairs as well as teaching Sunday School.  He and his wife joined the Bethel Church of Cambria, January 3, 1908.  He bought two plots of land from the Judson Cemetery Association for himself and his wife November 1, 1900.

  He and his faithful wife attended the yearly 4th of July picnic at Wagner's Grove in Cambria.  He was a poet and usually gave several readings at the picnic.  People often described him as a leader and confident.

  In October of 1903, he submitted his will to the probate court.  Ten years later Hughes died. On Tuesday, July 1, 1913, in the early morning hours of the day.  He had experienced a fatal paralytic stroke.  His death occurred about  about one week before the annual gathering at Wagner's Grove.  The newspapers published a picture and biography of the man who had served Butternut Valley faithfully.

  Surviving him were his wife and twelve children: Richard Salisbury Hughes, who never married; Mary Hughes who married Ernest Hughes with the last same name but not related to us from Lincoln, Nebraska; Catherine Hughes who married Mr. Owens; Margaret or Maggie, who married Gomer W. Jones; Robert S. Hughes who was married-- but I am not sure of her name; William Salisbury Hughes, who married Myrtle Iola Nelson; Winifred married Griffith Roberts; Jane A. Hughes who married Calvin Owens; Susie Hughes who married David Davies; Hugh Salisbury Hughes, who married Clara Heckel; Cesiah who married Owen Jones.  Also surviving him at the time were three sisters, namely Miss Ellen Hughes; Mrs. Jane Parry, and Mrs. Mary Jones, of Anglesey, Wales.  He was also survived by two brothers Robert and J.S. Hughes.

 

Census
1870 US Federal Census, Minnesota, Blue Earth, Butternut Valley
William S Hughes, male, age 29, married to Catherine, farmer, real estate worth  $3300, personal worth $673, born in Wales
Catherine Hughes, age 18, keeping house, born in Wisconsin
Richard Hughes, age 1,born in Minnesota
Mary Hughes, born  3/12,born in Minnesota

1875 Minnesota State Census, Blue Earth, Butternut  FHL 565717 P 210
William S. Hughes,male, age 35, married, born in Wales, parents b in Wales, married to Catherine Hughes,age 23, born in Wisconsin, parents born in Wales
Richard S Hughes, male, age 6, born in Minnesota
Mary Hughes,female, age 5, born in Minnesota
Robert S. Hughes, male, age 3, born in Minnesota
Catheine Hughes,female, age 1, born in Minnesota

1880 US Federal Census, Minnesota,Blue Earth, Butternut Valley
William S. Hughes,  male, age 39, white, married farmer, born in Wales
Catherine Hughes, female, age 28, born in Wisconsin
Richard Hughes, age 11, born in Minnesota
Mary Hughes, age 10,born in Minnesota
Robert Hughes, age 8, born in Minnesota
Catherine Hughes, age 6, born in Minnesota
Margaret Hughes, age 4,born in Minnesota
Ellen Hughes, age 2, born in Minnesota
William Hughes, age 6/12, born in Minnesota

1885 Minnesota State Census,Minnesota,Blue Earth,Butternut Valley FHL 565734
William S. Hughes, male, married, age 43, born in Wales
Catherine Hughes, age  33,born in Wisconsin
Richard Hughes, age 16, born in Minnesota
Mary Hughes, age 15, born in Minnesota
Robert Hughes, age 13,born in Minnesota
Catherine Hughes, age 11,born in Minnesota
Margaret, Hughes age 9, born in Minnesota
Ellen Hughes, age 7, born in Minnesota
William Hughes, age 5, born in Minnesota

1900 US Federal Census,Minnesota,Blue Earth,Butternut Valley  Ed 3 SH 9
William S. Hughes, male, age 59, born  Feb 1841,married 33 years, born in Wales, parents born in  Wales, immigrated in 1864, in US for 36 years,  farmer
Catherine Hughes, age 28, born in Wisconsin
Richard Hughes, age 31,male, age 31, born Apr 1869,single, born in Minnesota, father born in Wales, mother born in Wisconsin
Kate S. Owens, age 26,female, age 26, born Apr 1874, single, born in Minnesota, daughter of William and Catherine, parents  born in Minnesota
Margaret Hughes, age 24, born April 1876 in Minnesota
William Hughes, age 20, single, born Mar 1880 in Minnesota, farm labourer
Winnifred Hughes, age 14,female, born in Minnesota, at school
Jane Alice Hughes, age 11, female, born Dec 1881,single, born in Minnesota, at school
Susie Hughes, age 10, female,single,born June 1890 in Minnesota, at school
Hugh Hughes, male, age 8, born Oct 1891 in Minnesota, single,at school
Cesiah Hughes, female, age 6, single, at school,born in Minnesota
Edward Owen, age 28 born in Wales

1905 Minnesota State Census,Blue Earth,Butternut Valley FHL 28769 P 451
William S. Hughes, male age 64, born in Wales, parents born in Wales
Catherine Huges, age 52, female, born in Wisconsin, parents born in Wales
Margaret Hughes,female, age 29, born in Minnesota, father  born in Wales, mother in Wisconsin
William S. Hughes,male, age 25, born in Minnesota, father born in Wales, mother in Wisconsin
Winnifred Hughes, female, age 20, born in Minnesota, father  born in Wales, mother in Wisconsin
 Jane Alice Hughes, female, age 16, born in Minnesota,father born in Wales, mother born in Wisconsin
Susie Hughes,female, age 14, born in Minnesota, father born in Wales, mother in Wisconsin
Hugh Hughes, male, age 13, born in Minnesota, father born in Wales, mother born in Wisconsins
Cesiah Hughes,female, age 11, born in Minnesota, father born in Wales, mother born in Wisconsin

1910 US Federal Census,Minnesota,Blue Earth,Butternut Valley P242
William S.Hughes, male, age 69, married 43 years born in Wales, parents born in Wales, farmer,  owns farm
Catherine Hughes, age 57, married 43 years, 12 of 13 living children, born in Wisconsin 
Jane A. Hughes, age 21,female,single, born in Minnesota
Susie Hughes, age 19, female, single, born in Minnesota
Hugh Hughes, age 18, male, single,born  in Minnesota,
Cesiah Hughes, age 16, female, single, born in Minnesota

Property
Gov't Lot 2 Section 4, Township 108, N of Range 29 W--60 Acres

Obituary  Lake Crystal Union  July 9, 1913
  It is with great sorrow that we must record the departure of William S. Hughes, Butternut Valley, Minnesota, which took place early Tuesday morning, July 1, 1913, after suffering much pain for nearly a week, culminating in the end in a paralytic stroke which brought him relief, and thrust his family into deep sorrow, and set the whole neighborhood in a state of bewilderment and gloom.
  Mr. Hughes was born in a place called Ty-Cochyn, Llanrhyddlad, Anglesey, North Wales, Feb 7, 1841, (not in 1842 as published in the book called "History of the Welsh in Minnesota," page 207."  As many others in those days, he was obliged to leave home, young and "paddle his own canoe."  More fortunate than many, however, he was given a fair chance to acquire education and this chance was not offered him in vain.  He was taken as "apprentice teacher in the British school of the parish at the age of thirteen, and later found employment with a Commission merchant in Liverpool, England.  From thence he migrated to America in 1864, finding employment, almost at once, as book-keeper for a business firm in Utica, N.Y.  This vocation he followed until the spring of 1865, when he moved father west, settling down in Butternut Valley, Minnesota.  Here he purchased a farm, built a small house, married Miss Catherine Williams. daughter of H.R. Williams. of what is now known as the township of Cambria but then was a part of the township of Butternut Valley.  And it is on this same farm that he spent the remainder of his life on earth, with his large family of 12 children (three having preceded their father to the other world.) enjoying all the comforts that this world can give, the fruit of his untiring labors and leaving all in comfortable circumstances--nine of the children being married and having homes of their own.
  He was a unique person, standing by himself, and different from all others.  He was a talented man, and this talent he built indifferent in times.  He held many offices in this town, and for three succeeding years was County Commissioner.  Three years ago, was nominated at the Primary for Representative in his district, and without a doubt, was the most capable candidate in the field, but was defeated, not because he was inferior to the other man, but because the other man was a saloon keeper, while Mr. Hughes was strictly an anti-saloon man and this dark blot will remain in the annals of the district, increasing its shame, and possibly will remain on the conscience of many a Christian, who preferred to cling to a party, rather than to stand up for principle.
  In his neighborhood, he was the council of all, and when in need of advice, it was to him they went and as a rule they never regretted of [asking] his advice.
  After joining Bethel Church, which he did on January 3, 1908, and even before becoming a member, he was the same--our leader and council.  He was the deacon of the deacons, (tho not elected a deacon) and the Bishop of his pastor.  Bethel will be a strange church for us all now, without Mr. Hughes there, always at his post and taking an active part in the Sunday School and all other services.
  Nor must we neglect to make mention of his rare talent as a poet.  Had he the desire, he could easily be in the first rank, for his compositions were not merely a jingle written in metric form, but thoughts tumbling as if it were into existence in each line, and as if one strove to excel the other.
  He was a self-made man, and an all around man, and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
  The funeral services were held at Bethel Church, Saturday plm. July 5, 1913, conducted by pastor Rev. Jones D. Jones, assisted by the Rev. D. Edwards, Lake Crystal, W.E. Evans, Mankato and Dr. John C. Jones, Chicago,  The burial took place at Jerusalem cemetery.
  He leaves in sorrow his widow, and 12 children, namely, Mary, wife of Ernest Hughes, Norfolk, Nebraska; Nell, wife of L.J. Lewis, Lake Crystal; Kate wife of Edward Owens,California; Maggie, wife of Gomer Jones; Jane, wife of Calvin Owens;Winnie, wife of G.M. Roberts;Sue, wife of David W Davids, Sioux Pass, Montana; Robert Hughes, Lake Crystal; Richard Hughes, Judson; William Hughes, Butternut Valley; and Hugh and Cesiah in the old home; also two brothers, Messrs. John and Robert S. Hughes in this county and three sisters in Wales.  There are also nine grandchildren.  May God in his tender mercy watch over his dear ones all, and make them a blessing.