THE HUGHES FAMILY
Philip A. Hughes and Frank P. Hughes left Pennsylvania (their birthplace) in the late 1850's and went to Southern Mississippi. Philip was a carriage maker and trimmer and Franklin was a Blacksmith. They followed these occupations until the Civil War broke out, when their skills were conscripted and they were caused to work in gun and ammunition plants to supply the confederate Army.
At the end of the war, their personal possessions were confiscated and they moved north by covered wagon bringing only the very limited amount of clothing and essential things left them by the Northern Armies. They had never owned slaves nor been southern sympathizers.
Frank P. Hughes and family, three children, went to Pennsylvania to leave his wife's sister who was with them, with other relatives. He planned to meet Philip and his family at St. Louis and procede north by boat. He was delayed in Pennsylvania and did not rejoin his brother until a year later.
After waiting a short time for Frank and family, the Philip Hughes family was obliged to move on because their limited funds were running low. Mrs. Hughes' sister, Mrs. Tom Dress (whose husband was killed in the war) and her five children were with them. They came to Omaha by boat where they disembarked and Philip obtained employment. Stories were told of homesteading opportunities out farther in the state, so Mr. Hughes got transportation with a group of Columbus and walked across the state from there, investigating possible homesteads. He selected a site on the Elkhorn River north of what is now Battle Creek and walked on to the land office of Sioux City where he filed for title to the land.
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