William T. Hughes. This gentleman was born in Franklin county, Kentucky, November 25, 1850, and six years later accompanied his parents in their removal to this County, where they settled upon a farm near the spot where the town of Winston is now located. His father was a native of Virginia, and died in this county, February 7, 1879; his mother was born in Kentucky; and is still living. When they came here in 1856, land was then subject to entry at from $1.25 to $1.50 per acre, wild game was plentiful, while wild-cats, wolves, bears, etc., roamed the woods at will.
In 1871, Mr. Hughes went to Dakota and Utah on a prospecting tour, remaining two years, visiting many places of picturesque and romantic interest, among which was the summit of Mt. Uenta, the highest peak in Utah, and also made a trip into Wyoming Territory, returning to Daviess county in 1873. While on this tour he and his companion, Joseph J. Smith, had a fearful encounter with three large grizzly bears, in which Smith was badly lacerated before they succeeded in putting an end to the fierce inhabitants of the mountains.
Mr. Hughes and Miss Josephine Mallory were joined in marriage by Elder ‘T. S. M. Kenney, on December 29th, 1879. They have two children; namely, Edson W., born September 30, 1880; and Judson J., born October 13, 1881. Mr. H. is a member of the Baptist Church, while Mrs. Hughes belongs to the Seventh Day Adventists.
Mr. Hughes has lived in this county twenty-six years, but upon his present farm, which consists of eighty acres of fine land two and a half miles northwest of Winston, only six months.