Patrick Hughes

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The following biographical information, published in 1985, is quoted from the St. Mary's Catholic Church Centennial, Remsen, Iowa, 100 Years, 1885-1985 , page 208.

"Patrick, son of Richard and Esther (O'Brien) Hughes, was born in Clinton County on April 28, 1863. Patrick's parents were natives of Ireland, born in County Kildare. They were married in Pennsylvania and lived in La Salle County, Illinois and Iowa City, Iowa. They settled in Clinton County, Iowa, where they bought a farm. He died there in 1901, she in 1907. Three of their ten children came to Plymouth County: Ellen (Mrs. Michael Kennedy), Anna (Mrs. W.A. Kenney) and Patrick.

"Patrick came to the Remsen area in 1884 and worked for his brother-in-law, Mike Kennedy. He bought a team of horses and worked for other farmers in the area, assisting them in breaking prairie until he was able to buy a farm of his own.

"Leonie Kieffer, second daughter of John P. and Anna (Gloden) Kieffer, was born January 26, 1874 at Preston, Iowa. In 1881 she came with her parents to Plymouth County. In 1899 she attended a business training school in Chicago. She then worked as a stenographer for Trader's Insurance Company and Rumford Chemical Company until 1908 when she came back to work for her father in the Remsen Bell-Enterprise office.

"Patrick and Leonie were married November 29, 1911. They farmed southeast of Remsen until 1925 and for eight years lived in town in the house which is now occupied by Mrs. Mary Moeller. They returned to the farm in 1933 with their two sons, Donald and Richard. On the farm now occupied by Richard was a field of virgin prairie bearing the tracks of the old Spirit Lake-Sioux City stage coach. The field has been plowed and is now under cultivation.

"Patrick and Leonie were the parents of two sons: Donald, born December 12, 1912, married Rosina Ludwig; and Richard, born March 10, 1914, married Marie McAndrew. Patrick died March 26, 1940 and Leonie died April 13, 1941."