History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

20 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
is now president of the Lee County Medical Society. He is a
member of the Illinois State Medical Society, the North Central
Medical Society, the American Medical Association and Associa-
tion of Military Surgeons of the United States. In addition to his
private practice he is acting as surgeon for the Northwestern
Railway and his ability iu both medical and surgical practice has
carried him far beyond the point of mediocrity, gaining him a place
in the front rank among Lee coimty 's physicians.
HON. CHARLES H. HUGHES.
No citizen of Lee county has been more faultless in honor, fearless
in conduct and stainless in reputation than Hon. Charles H.
Hughes, who at the time of his death on the 12th of May, 1907,
was serving as state senator from his district. He won distinction
in every relation of his life. He was a successful and progressive
farmer, an enterprising and sagacious banker, an astute, clearheaded
and public-spirited citizen and political leader, a loyal
friend and devoted husband and father. He had a wide acquaint-
ance among the most prominent residents of Illinois and their expressions
of regret at his passing showed how deeply he was
honoi'ed by them and how greatly his worth was appreciated.
His life record had its beginning in Columbia county, Pennsyl-
vania, his birth occurring near Berwick on the 13th of April, 1846.
He was descended from Welsh and German ancestry, his fore-
fathers having crossed the Atlantic to America at an early period
in the development of this country. The family history contains
the names of many who contribiited to the successes of the Revolutionary
war and molded the later history of the republic. His
parents were Elwood and Elizabeth (Hill) Hughes, in whose family
he was the fourth child. His father was born in Columbia
county, Peimsylvania, and made farming his life work. The
motlier was a native of Lycoming comity, Pennsylvania. For
many years they resided in the Keystone state but in 1870 came to
Illinois, where the father made his home until his death which
occurred in 1894. Following her husband's death the mother
made her home vnth her son, Charles H., until his death. She
died in the city of Dixon in August, 1909, at the ripe age of ninetyone
years. Her living children are E. C. Hughes, now a prominent
attorney of Seattle, Washington, and Mrs. James Hill of Los