WM. DAVID HUGHES DIES IN OMAHA

William David Hughes was born on August 4th, 1867, at Santa Fe, Miami County, Indiana. He migrated with his parents at a very early age to Stanton county, Nebraska and became one of Nebraska’s early pioneers.

He was married to Rosella Ann Bottorff at Fremont, Nebraska on January 29th, 1896. This couple observed their Golden Wedding Anniversary at their home in Omaha last week, and Mr. Hughes passed away the following day.

The family moved to a farm about three miles southeast of Blair, now known as the Caldwell place, in 1902. Except for ten years, from 1916 to 1926, they have lived in or near Blair until 1939 when they went to Omaha to live.

Mr. Hughes was a devout Christian, baptized at an early age, and has adhered to the Methodist Church all his life. He brought up his family in the Christian faith. He was a member of the Modern Wooden of America since 1900. He was one of the organizers and on the board of directors of Blair’s first telephone system. He had been in declining health for a number of years.

Services were conducted at the Blair Methodist Church last Saturday, February 2nd, Rev. Walter H. Jackson, former pastor at Blair officiating, assisted by Rev. McCaig of Blair. Burial was in the Blair cemetery.

He is survived by his wife, three daughters, Mrs. Flonnie Siedelman of Omaha, Mrs. Elsie Charles of Jefferson, Iowa and Mrs. Esther Flynn of Norfolk, Nebraska; two sons, Lloyd and Hillard, both of Omaha. There are also seven grandchildren and one great grandchild.

#2 Thursday, February 7, 1946 Pilot-Tribune, p. 10

Mr. Hughes is Buried

RITES HELD FOR EX-BLAIRITE WHO CAME HERE IN COVERED WAGON IN ‘71

Funeral services were held at First Methodist Church here Saturday afternoon for William D. Hughes, 78, former Blairite who had come to Nebraska in 1871 in a covered wagon. Mr. Hughes died last Wednesday at his home in Omaha, just a day after he and his wife had observed their 50th wedding anniversary.

The Rev. Sidney L. McCaig conducted the services, and interment followed in Blair cemetery. The Janda mortuary of Omaha was in charge, assisted by the Campbell mortuary of Blair.

William David Hughes was born at Santa Fe, Indiana, August 4, 1867. When four years old, he came with his parents to Stanton county, Nebraska in a covered wagon. The family settled as pioneers, living in dugouts, sod houses and log cabins, and frequently fighting off hostile Indians. The country was wild then, and many times, without venturing far from home, he was able to swell the family larder with wild game such as deer, elk and prairie chickens.

ATTENDED COLLEGE

Despite the difficulties of securing an education under pioneer conditions, Mr. Hughes attended and graduated from Midland college, Fremont, as a young man.

Mr. Hughes and Rosella Anne Bottorff were married at Fremont January 29, 1896, and farmed near Stanton until moving to the former Caldwell farm southeast of Blair in 1902. From 1916 to 1926, the family lived on a farm near Menlo, Iowa, later moving back to Blair. In 1939, Mr. and Mrs. Hughes moved to Omaha.

Surviving Mr. Hughes are his wife, three daughters, Mrs. Flonnie Siedelman of Omaha, Mrs. Elsie Charles of Jefferson, Iowa, and Mrs. Esther Flynn of Norfolk; two sons, Lloyd and Hillard Hughes, both of Omaha; two brothers, James Hughes of Ames, Nebraska and John Hughes of San Fernando, California; and four sisters, Mrs. Frances Van Ness of Fillmore, California, Mrs. Mary Burtz of Canyon, Texas, and Mrs. Ethel Foust of Fremont. A brother and sister preceded him in death. Mr. Hughes has seven grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

Find a Grave Memorial #115538525