The Mankato free press., 1923-10-12
DEATH OF BYRON HUGHES
Passed Away Just After Giving Eu
logy To President Harding

aSoSe away Suob StkCT
logy To President Harding
Wells, Mimi, October 5.-The
Wells Mirror contains the following
story OF the death OF Attorney By
ron Hughes: Attorney Byron
Hughes, age sixty three, we'll known
member of the Minnesota bar. sud
denly died here from a stroke Of
apoplexy last Monday evening while
attending meeting Of the knight of
Pythias, Of which order he was for
years an active member. Death
came short time after he had taken
the floor and put motion before the
lodge to drape the charter in mem
ory of Warren G. Harding.
Monday he appeared as well as
usual and ate a hearty supper An
hour later he came to the business
section to attend the Knights OF Py-
thias meeting and before going to
the lodge chamber complained OF
being hungry. He entered a cafe
and Nagain ate substantial lunch. 4
-Four candidates were received
for work in the rank of knight. Mr..
Hughes displayed his usual keen in
terest in the ritualistic work. How.
ever, shortly after lodge convened
at p. m, he complained of it being
warm In the room and suggested
that windows be opened. Chancellor
Commander c.. Hawkins acted up
on the suggestion.
"About 8 p. m. Mr.. Hughes went
into the hall and again complained
Of feeling warm, but few minutes
later he entered the lodge cham
ber.
During the business session,
communication was read from the
grand lodge suggesting that the local
charter be draped In memory of the
nations dead president. Warren @.
Harding. who was for many years
a. faithful member of the knights
Of Pythias order. Mr. Hughes took
the floor and, In words feelingly Sc
lected moved that the communication
be acted upon and that the charter
be draped. None thought at the time
that before the session ended anoth-
er motion would be passed by that.
body, ,draping the lodges charter In
memory Of both Warren G.. Harding
and Byron Hughes.
AT the end of the first half of the
last lecture, given by NJ. w. Brews-
ter, city attorney and former part
ner of Mr.. Hughes, Mr.. Brewster ac-
cidently knocked one of the jewels
to the floor Mr.. Hughes. who SAT-
near the station, left, his seat, picked
up the jewel and, with smile hand
ed 1t to Mr.. Brewster, who smiled In
return and thanked his former part
ner for the courtesy. r.
A minute later those who were
InnE{n0 In cow Az
Hughes straighten out in his chair.
saw his head fall back as though in
slumber, and Knight Hughes had
passed without struggle to answer
to the call Of the Supreme Chancel-
lor Commander. 80
"A physician was Immediately
summoned, but there was no assist
ance he could render. He pronounced
death due to apoplexy. The body, at
the request Of the widow, was re.
move to the Fred Hansen, undertak-
ing parlor, as the decedent and Mr..
Hansen were old friends.
Byron Hughes was born in Aug
ust, 1860, at Cambria, Wis, and was
the son of Robert and Hannah
Hughes. He came to Minnesota with
his parents when he was but a child
Of four years. The family settled up
Ou q idA III IA I1AuO G<0I III SONnSyB
where his early years were spent.
Upon reaching young manhood's
estate, Mr.. Hughes took up the
study of law in Mankato under
Judge Pau and Attorney. Freeman.
He was admitted to the bar in
March, 1885.
"In December, 1886. Mr.. Hughes
married Miss Anna James of Kings,
Ill. They lived in Tracy, Mimi,
where he practiced law one and one |
half years and then moved to Man
kato, whare he followed his profes-
sion for ten years, during two years
of which time he was county attor
ney. While in Mankato, he as asso-
ciated for a time with Judge Com
stock and later formed q partner
snip with HIS brother, William r.
Hughes, who still resides IN that
city.
Wells in the spring of 1897. For the
past fifteen years he has been just
ice of the peace here.
The decedent was a member OF
the Knights Of Pythias, Woodman
and Redmen orders.
Besides the widow, Mrs. Anna
Hughes the following relatives sur
vive:
Children: Mrs. Henry Elmer. four
miles west Of Wells; son, Emery
Hughes, Minneapolis.
Sisters: Mrs. Mary A. Jones, Gar
vim, Mimi, Mrs. q. L. Harris. Cam
bria. Wis, Mrs. Alfred Sanberg,
Morristown, N Y.
Brothers: III. r. Hughes, Garvin,
MINI: william F. Hughes, Mania
TO: Ernest Hughes. Norfolk. ". D.;
Robert HUGHES, Sleepy Eye. Minn.i
LIeweiyn Hughes, Quincy, Calf.
Funeral services. In charge Of the
knights Of Pythias order. were from
the house at 40 n. m, Thursday and
from the Methodist Episcopal
church at p. m.