Gaston, Joseph.  "The Centennial History of Oregon, 1811-1912."  Vol. 2. 
Chicago, Clarke Publishing Co., 1912. p. 44.
 
MILTON S. HUGHES

     is a member of the firm of Hughes & Waterman, conducting a real-estate,
loan and insurance agency in Baker. He is the oldest representative of
real-estate interests here, having continued business along that line for
fourteen years. His birth occurred in Wilkesville, Vinton county, Ohio. November
18, 1858, his parents being Milton and Eunice Hughes. The mother died when their
son Milton was but eight years of age and the family was then broken up, the boy
going to live with a sister. He was the youngest of a family of ten children and
his youth was passed in different places but at length fortune dealt kindly with
him inasmuch as he became an inmate of the home of Thomas Fletcher, who was not
only a wealthy but a very good man. The spirit of religion permeated his home
and the years there passed Mr. Hughes always said were the making of him. He
secured his education while there for two maiden school teachers lived in the
family and instructed Mr. Hughes, who attributed all of his intellectual
training and his success to the Fletcher home and the impetus which he there
received toward the better things of life. In 1876, when eighteen years of age,
he left Ohio and made his way westward to Axtell, Kansas. For a time he was
employed at farm labor in that locality and afterward worked on the railroad.
Subsequently he went to New Mexico, spending a year in that district, and in
1882 he arrived in Baker county, Oregon, where he has since resided. Going back
into the mountains he was employed in making rails for three or four years,
during which period he carefully saved his earnings until he was able to
purchase a small farm in the valley. In this undertaking he was successful and
at length he sold his farm of eighty acres for twenty-one hundred dollars. He
also disposed of his stock, clearing twelve hundred dollars on his hogs. At that
time he purchased two hundred acres of land in Union county for which be paid
three thousand dollars down, and upon that place in the first year of his
occupancy he raised fourteen thousand, nine hundred and sixty bushels of grain.
Again he engaged extensively in the raising of Poland China hogs, having on hand
two hundred and fifty head. Thus for a time he prospered but in the year of 1893
he lost ten thousand dollars as the result of the hard times which everywhere
spread over the country, reducing prices to such an extent that he could hardly
give his produce away much less sell it at a profit. Wheat brought only eleven
cents per bushel in Portland and other products were equally low in value.
     At that time Mr. Hughes removed to Baker and entered the grocery business
which he continued on a small scale for a year. He then began dealing in real
estate in which he has now continued for fourteen years, and is the oldest
real-estate agent of Baker. He was alone for a number of years but has since had
three partners and is now the senior member of the firm of Hughes & Waterman,
conducting a successful real-estate, loan and insurance agency. In addition to
this Mr. Hughes is the owner of a farm adjoining the city limits for which he
has been offered thirty-two thousand dollars. It is a square tract containing
one hundred and sixty acres and the soil is alluvial so that good harvests are
annually gathered as the result of the labors bestowed upon the place. There are
two good sets of buildings upon the farm and in addition to this property he
owns two hundred acres in the Pine valley, constituting a fine ranch which is
now operated by his younger son. He also has a half interest in eighty acres in
Eagle valley and likewise owns property in connection with his partner.
     In 1888 occurred the marriage of Mr. Hughes and Miss Minnie Favorite, a
native of Missouri, who in her childhood days was brought to the northwest by
her parents. Three children have been born unto Mr. and Mrs. Hughes: Sylvester
E., who occupies his father's ranch near Baker; Alice M., the wife of Harry O.
Gorman, publicity agent for the Commercial Club of Baker; and Dayton L., who is
living on his father's ranch in Pine valley. The two eldest were born in Baker
county and the youngest in Union county. Mr. Hughes is a member of the
Commercial Club and is interested in all the projects and plans for the
upbuilding, and development of this section of the state. His cooperation, too,
can be counted upon in support of many movements for the general good and his
labors are of a most practical and resultant character.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in November 2007 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.