Posted by Carolyn Schwab on Saturday, February 14, 2009 at 16:59:19 :
Marin Journal
Thursday, January 14, 1914
page 1
JULIA ANN HUGHES
Mrs. W.S. HUGHES
Early Pioneer
Passed Away
With the death of Mrs. W.S. HUGHES in this city on Tuesday evening, passed away one of San Rafael's oldest pioneers and most prominent church workers.
Mrs. HUGHES, widow of the late Judge W.S. HUGHES, while visiting a neighbor a week ago Tuesday afternoon, suffered a paralytic stroke, losing her speech. A few hours after being taken home she regained speech only to lose it in a short while again. Medical aid failed to relieve the good woman and on Tuesday evening, and on Tuesday evening she passed away at her home on D Street. Today all San Rafael is mourning her death.
At the same time that Mrs. Hughes was passing away, word was received from Novato saying that HERBERT RING, son-in-law of Mrs. HUGHES, was dying at his home in that place. Mrs. RING was asked to come down to San Rafael at once as her mother was dying, but she replied that she was unable to do so because her husband was dying.
Mrs. DAN HUGHES, a relative, had just arrived at the HUGHES home on D Street for the Christmas holidays when word was brought her of Mrs. HUGHES’ stroke. Mrs. HUGHES was the mother of Mrs. H.E. RING of Novato, GEORGE HUGHES, BEN HUGHES, LOUIS HUGHES, JOSEPH HUGHES, ROBERT HUGHES, and BERDINE HUGHES. She was a sister of D.E. ASBURY of Petaluma and of Mrs. LEULA CLENDENON. No arrangements have yet been made for the funeral.
Mrs. HUGHES was a good Christian woman and worked for the benefit of this community at all times. She was very prominent in church affairs and charity work.
Mrs. HUGHES Crossed the Plains in 1853
Mrs. HUGHES was one of San Rafael’s oldest pioneers, and up to a few days ago was a familiar figure on the streets. Her personal history is an interesting one, a story of trials and hardships which she never tired of relating to her anxious hearers. This history she has told many times at the old people’s meetings which were held once a year at the Kentfield Stadium.
In 1853 Mrs. HUGHES left Illinois, crossing the plains with a party numbering a couple of hundred. It was a trip full of dangers, trials and hardships. More than once they saw hunger and thirst staring them in the face and it was only through their unfailing efforts that they succeeding in making the hazardous journey of many months. Several times they were threatened with massacre by the Indians, but fate aided them in reaching Salt Lake where they were restocked with provisions and given clothing and ammunition by the Mormons. It was there that Mrs. HUGHES met and talked with the great Mormon leader BRIGHAM YOUNG.
Mrs. HUGHES arrived at Shasta County in this state toward the end of the year. Here she met WILLIAM SLATER HUGHES and married him in March 1854.
Mrs. HUGHES Arrives in San Rafael in 1855
About July 5th, 1855, a sweet faced little woman carrying a baby in her arms, walked down the gangplank of a steamer at Point San Quentin and looked toward the San Rafael hills. There was no railroad, stage, carriage, or anything else to convey her and her little babe into the valley at the foot of the hills. So she and her husband, WILLIAM SLATER HUGHES, took to the little zig-zag trail and made their way into San Rafael.
San Rafael was a small place then. A Spanish Mission and about 6 houses made up the town. But this fact did not keep the HUGHES away, who immediately built their own home and started a small business along with ranching.
Mr. HUGHES the First Druggist in San Rafael
The first drug store in San Rafael was erected by WILLIAM SLATER HUGHES. The store stood somewhere on Fourth Street, and for many years Mr. HUGHES attended to the wants of the people in this community.
Mr. HUGHES, soon after coming here, was elected Justice of the Peace, which office he held for 30 years. In 1886, Judge HUGHES suffered a paralytic stroke and died soon after.
Mrs. HUGHES a Familiar Figure in This City
Mrs. HUGHES was a familiar figure on the streets in this city. She knew the early history of the making of Marin County, and like others, played her part in the making. In those early days, she knew all of the Spanish nobility living around here and saw their fortunes squandered. She remembered the great bull fights which were held in the marsh down near the B Street station, and recounted them as vividly as though they were but things of an hour or two ago. Likewise she could tell with the same vigor and vividness the stories of famous Marin man hunts and how criminals were brought to justice in those stirring days. Indeed, she was once alluded to as San Rafael’s story and history book, so well could she tell of the early doings of this place.
No one ever tired of listening to the stories of Marin County life as they were told by Mrs. HUGHES.
Mrs. HUGHES was 79 years of age, and was a native of West Virginia.
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