James B. Hughes

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For other persons named James Hughes, see James Hughes (disambiguation).

James B Hughes (son of Simon Hughes and Betsy Coleman Bigger) was born October 12, 1805 in Prince Edward County, Virginia, and died August 11, 1873 in New Richmond, Wisconsin. He married Elizabeth Mather on September 4, 1838 in Jackson County, Ohio, daughter of Eleazar Mather and Fanny Williams.

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He married Elizabeth Mather in Jackson County, Ohio, September 4, 1838. Elizabeth was born in Brooklyn, Connecticut April 27, 1816. She was the daughter of Eleazer Mather and L. Williams. Col. James Hughes was born in Prince Edward County, Virginia, October 12, 1805. He received a classical education at Hampdon-Sydney College, Virginia, studied law, and was admitted to practice in Virginia. He came to Ohio in 1835, and was elected to the legislature in 1838 and 1839. He was married in 1839 to Elizabeth Mather, in Jackson County. James served in the military in Mexican-American War, 1846. James received a military promotion to Colonel in 1849. He remained in Ohio until 1849, publishing successively the Jackson Standard and the Meigs County Telegram, both Whig papers. In 1849 he came to St. Paul, Minnesota and brought with him the first printing press and outfit in that city, and established the Minnesota Chronicle, which subsequently united with the Register.

The first number bears the date June 1, 1849. In November of the same year he sold his interest in the Chronicle and Register and removed to Hudson, where he established the St. Croix Banner the first paper printed and issued in the St. Croix valley. Elizabeth Hughes was associated with him in its management. James died at Hudson in 1873, leaving a widow and eleven children, seven sons and four daughters. Of the sons, Eleazer is a farmer in St. Croix County; George R. is engaged in the real estate business in St. Paul, Minnesota; Edward P. is a lawyer in Anoka; James S. is a surveyor; Charles is manager of the Western Telegraph Company; and Lucius A. is a telegraph operator in St. Paul. (Source ; Fifty Years in the NORTHWEST, Wisconsin, Minnesota, W.H.C. Folsom , Pioneer Press, 1889)