Butler County Genealogy Trails Kansas George Arthur Hughes Bio

BUTLER COUNTY'S EIGHTY YEARS BIOS

GEORGE ARTHUR HUGHES

(Transcribed by Peggy Luce)

George Arthur Hughes, a successful, well-liked and leading citizen of this community, lumberman, former sheriff of Butler County and present chairman of the board of Butler County Commissioners, was born April 12, 1870, at Faifield, Indiana.

Commissioner Hughes grew into boyhood and manhood on a Butler County farm, his parents having removed here in October 1871, when he was one year old. He secured his education at the old Stone Chapel school house in Milton township, but quit at seventeen and devoted all his time to assisting with the farm work at home. In 1893, when he was twenty-three years of age, he came to El Dorado and learned photography in the Sandifer Studio, a pioneer establishment of the town. He engaged in business for himself a short time later, at Howard, Elk County, purchasing the Robert Snodgrass gallery. Eight years in photography and doctors advised him to seek a new line. In consequence, he obtained employment with the Benson Lumber Company. In 1905 Mr. Hughes was manager of the Missouri Lumber and Supply Company at Greensburg, Kansas. In 1910 he went to Sterling, Rice County, where he entered the general office of the D. J. Fair Lumber Company. In 1912, he returned to Potwin, near his old home, and began general merchandising under the firm name of Grove & Hughes. In 1915 he became under sheriff, removing to El Dorado. After serving as deputy sheriff, he was, during 1917-18 with the Frazier Lumber Company office. In 1918 he was elected sheriff. In 1922, he was appointed superintendent of the Odd Fellows Home, Manhattan, serving three years when he resigned because of the ill health of Mrs. Hughes. The next year was devoted to efforts seeking her recovery and in 1926, he again became associated with the Seth Frazier Lumber Company, where he is now employed.

Always active in public affairs, Mr. Hughes, shortly after his removal to Howard, was elected to the city council and was a member of the park commission of that city. His services as under sheriff were of sufficient thoroughness to cause his election as sheriff and during his tenure as sheriff, his record was notably efficient. As county commissioner from the Second (El Dorado) district, his acts have been distinguished for careful economy and maintenance of roads and bridges. He is a member of various lodges, including the Odd Fellows, Rebekahs, Knights of Pythias and Modern Woodman of America and has held high offices in each. At present he is on the finance committee of the Grand Lodge I.O.O.F. he is a communicant of the First Methodist church and a steward of the congregation. He also affiliates with the local Chamber of Commerce and is otherwise prominent. He is a Republican in politics.

The Hughes family is of Welsh origin and came to America prior to the Revolutionary War, in which struggle they participated. Commissioner Hughes is the son of James Thomas Hughes and Margaret Jane (Hoss) Hughes. The father was born in Kentucky in 1832, later removing to Indiana and thence, in 1871, to Butler County. He was a farmer and widely known citizen. His father was Jacob Hughes, a Kentucky planter and prior to the Civil War, owned scores of slaves. Jacob’s father (Commissioner Hughes’ great-grandfather) was a native of Virgina, as also was his father. On the maternal side, Commissioner Hughes’ mother was born in Ohio and was the daughter of Jacob Hoss, native of Pennsylvania, and Jane (Kinney) Hoss, also a native of Pennsylvania. Jacob Hoss was born in 1802. Both he and his wife died in Indiana. George W. Hoss, son of Jacob and brother of Margaret Jane (Hoss) Hughes, was one of the best known educators of his period, serving for a time as superintendent of the schools in Indiana, later as a member of the faculties of both the College of Emporia and Baker University, at Baldwin, and finally conducting a school of oratory and expression at Wichita where he died. He was one of the earliest temperance advocates in Kansas.

On January 26, 1898, Commissioner Hughes was united in marriage, to Miss Maude Hamar, of Howard. Mrs. Hughes was born in Boone County, Indiana, February 16, 1872, and died November 28, 1926. She was the daughter of D. L. and Ellen (Fertig) Hamar, both natives of Indiana. D. L. Hamar and family came to Kansas in the early 1880’s and settled at Burlingame, later removing to Howard where he was engaged in the abstract business. Mrs. Hughes was an active member of the Methodist church and especially active in Sunday School and Epworth League work. She was a Pythian Sister and a member of the Rebekah Lodge occupying many high positions in both organizations, particularly the latter for which lodge she acted as matron of the Rebekah Odd Fellows Home, Manhattan. Mrs. Hughes also was treasurer of the Rebekah State Assembly at the time of her death.