William A. Hughes, well-known attorney and financier, of Greenfield, this county, was born in Greenfield on April 19, 1869, son of John A. and Margaret A. (Wray) Hughes, the former a native of Kentucky and the latter of Pennsylvania, who came to Indiana in the days of their youth, settling at Greenfield, where they married.

Mr. Hughes was reared in Greenfield, the city of his birth, and upon completing the course in the city schools entered the Hughes Bank, then being conducted in Greenfield by his father, and thoroughly familiarized himself with that business. Though little more than a boy when his father died, in 1885, William A. Hughes continued to conduct the business, and was thus successfully engaged for a period of twenty-three years, at the end of which time, in January, 1908, he liquidated the business and discontinued the bank. On March 1, following, Mr. Hughes took offices in the Masonic Temple, and has since then been engaged in the general practice of law, with particular reference to probate business, and in the general loan and insurance business, and has been very successful. Mr. Hughes is an active, progressive and enterprising citizen and has done much to advance the general interests of his home city and county at large. He is a Republican, though not much given to active participation in political affairs, and his action while serving as acting mayor of Greenfield some years ago, during which time, as judge of the mayor's court, he effected some very much-needed "house-cleaning" in the city, is not likely soon to be forgotten. For three years he was a member of the city school board, and while thus connected introduced the study of chemistry, physics and German into the high school and completed the organization of the city library, buying the first books for the library, an initial equipment of two thousand and five hundred volumes. Mr. Hughes is a charter member of the influential Temple Club, of Greenfield, and of the state-wide Columbia Club, at Indianapolis. He lives in his own home at No. 610 West Main Street, in Greenfield.

On October 15, 1891, William A. Hughes was united in marriage to Nellie H. Millikan, of Greenfield, who was born at Raleigh, Rush county, this state, November 17, 1868, daughter of Dr. Samuel R. and Isabelle (Hall) Millikan, both natives of Rush county, but for many years residents of Greenfield.

To William A. and Nellie H. (Millikan) Hughes three daughters have been born, Lucy M., who married James L. Murray, a lawyer, of Indianapolis; Mary Isabel, a student at Butler College, and Marjorie H., a graduate of the Greenfield high school. Mr. and Mrs. Hughes are members of the Presbyterian church, the congregation of which Mr. Hughes has served in every capacity from that of janitor to moderator of the session, being at present treasurer of the board of trustees, and both have ever taken a warm interest in the general welfare of the city, being held in high esteem by their friends hereabout. Mr. Hughes is a member of Hancock Lodge No. 101, Free and Accepted Masons, at Greenfield; Greenfield Chapter No. 96, Royal Arch Masons; McCordsville Council No. 52, Royal and Select Masters; Greenfield Commandery No. 39, Knights Templar; Indianapolis Consistory (thirty-second degree), Ancient Accepted Scottish Rite Masons; Murat Temple, Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine, at Indianapolis, and of the Order of the Eastern Star at Greenfield; with the latter Mrs. Hughes also is affiliated. Mr. Hughes is also a member of Eureka Lodge No. 20, Knights of Pythias, at Greenfield, of which order he is a past representative, and is a member of Greenfield Lodge No. 135, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, in the affairs of all of which organizations he takes a warm interest.

Transcribed from History of Hancock County, Indiana, Its People, Industries and Institutions by George J. Richman, B. L., Federal Publishing Co., Indianapolis, Indiana, 1916. Pages 1152-1153.

Submitted by Sylvia (Rose) Duda, Laingsburg, MI November 28, 2001.

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