Surnames: Hughes, Collins, Campbell, Cook, Handke, Murphy, Weber, Counsell, Kuechenmeister, Huckstead, Selves, West, Kurth, Slocomb, Short

----Source: Neillsville Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 3 March 1932

Hughes, Hannah (*31 May 1848 - 23 Feb. 1932) * Done on date calculator

In County Cork, Ireland, at the age of two a little baby girl by the name of Hannah Collins, with three sisters and two brothers became orphans. A brother came to America and one by one the family was sent for. At the age of nine Hannah was put under the captain’s care to cross the ocean to New York to her brother, Tom, who took care of her until she grew old enough to serve as a maid in different homes.

At the age of 18 she came to Pleasant Ridge, Clark County, to make her home with Mr. and Mrs. Archibald Campbell. Shortly after, meeting, Mrs. Joseph Cook, they were married in 1857 and settled on the 80 now farmed by Eugene C. Short, whose wife is a granddaughter to Mrs. Hughes. One son, Samuel Cook was born to this union. Mr. Cook died in 1870.

In 1872 Mrs. Cook was married to Wm. Hughes and six boys and two girls were born to this union. The oldest daughter, Mrs. Louis Handke, died some years ago, and Mr. Hughes in 1908.

Living with her son James until he married, she then went to Montana at the age of 65 and took up a claim and proved up at the age of 70. She lived with her son John up to four years ago when she had a stroke and was brought back to the home of James. E. Hughes, where she had made her home since. Very patiently she waited for the final summons, unable to read much or do any hand work, she spent her time dozing and looking out the window.

She was a real pioneer, going into many homes in cases of sickness and caring for many little new arrivals. Many a lunch was handed out to the waiting farmers who brought their blacksmith work to Mr. Hughes.

She was taken sick with influenza on Friday, passing away Tuesday, Feb. 23 about 11 p.m., aged 83 years, 8 months and 23 days. She leaves to mourn her death one daughter and seven son, 15 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren. The surviving children are Samuel Cook, Pleasant Ridge, James Hughes, Pleasant Ridge, Wm. T. Hughes, Frankfort, S. D., John C. Hughes, Circle, Mont.; Archibald and Michael Hughes, Leighton, Canada; Dan T. Hughes, Menomonie, Wis.; Mrs. M. Murphy, Acada, Valley, Canada.

The funeral was held at St. Mary’s church, Neillsville, Feb. 25, Rev. Peter Weber officiating. The pall bearers were J. E. Counsell, C. H. Kuechenmeister, Arlo Huckstead, Richard Selves, Geo. West and Wm. Kurth.

Those from away attending the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. D. I. Hughes, and son Joseph, Mr. and Mrs. Ira O. Slocomb, and Miss Marion Handke a granddaughter, all from Menomonie, Wis., and John Hughes of Circle, Mont.