MR. HUGH G. HUGHES. PAULTNEY, RUTLAND COUNTY, VERMONT.
HUGHES, HUGH G., late of Poultney, in the county of Rutland, was killed in his slate quarry at Poultney, March 6th, 1884, by an accident, which will more fully appear hereafter.He was born in the town of Llanllyfni, Carnarvonshire, North Wales, on August 29th, 1843. His father died when he was about four years old. His mother and eight small children were left with little more than a small, unpretending homestead, to make their way in the world as best they could. Hugh, at the tender age of nine years, evinced his native pluck and spirit, and went out to seek employment. He found it in a chance to drive a mule team, and in this he proved so faithful to his employer, that after a short period thus engaged he returned home with a new suit of clothes and nine pounds of money in his pocket, which he put into the hands of his mother to aid her in the support of her numerous family.
From this he went from one thing to another as he could tind employment, saving his earnings and contributing as he could to the support of his mother's family, until he was about sixteen years old, when he began working as a slate contractor in his native Wales. This he followed until he was twenty-one years old, when by this time he had succeeded in laying up some money, besides his contributions in behalf of his mother's family. He resolved in 1864 (the year in which he became twenty-one) to go to Queensland, Australia, and bought a ticket for a passage to that place; but on hearing more about the Vermont slate he changed his mind, sold his ticket to Australia for what he could get for it, and purchased one for America.
After landing upon the American shores, he made his way at once to the Vermont slate region, and at first found employment by the day with Evan J. Evans, on the Farnam quarry, in the northern part of Poultney, near where the Evergreen quarry is now located. He worked there about six months, went to school in the winter, for he had only attended school two terms in Wales after the death of his father. He soon became acquainted with what was then known as the "Hooker quarry," situated about four miles north of Poultney village, the same quarry formerly owned by Daniel Hooker and son. It was opened in 1852 by John M. Jones and John Humphrey, but owned by William F. Barnes, of Rutland, who had leased the quarry for several years. It was now in a very bad condition, and had yielded but little profit to Mr. Barnes. Mr. Hughes's practiced eye discovered that there was an abundance of stock there of the best quality, and that the small income was from the inexperience and want of good management on the part of those who worked it. He decided to propose a lease of the same to Mr. Barnes. This was effected, and the lease bearing the date March 23rd 1866, was executed. He took possession at once and commenced work at once with his usual vigor and energy.
After this he had a little left of his earnings in Wales, as a contractor ; but the condition of the quarry required such a large outlay to put it in order, that his small capital was soon exhausted; his workmen became uneasy, and many refused to work longer unless they could be assured of their pay. But no such word as fail was ever entertained by Mr. Hughes. He drove his way through this embarrassment, which would have discouraged any other man under like circumstances. In much less time than was expected by any one familiar with the facts, his quarry was in good condition, yielding a good profit, his credit restored, and his workmen, no longer in doubt about their pay. Mr. Barnes found himself receiving a fair profit on his investment, in the way of rents, or royalty, as it is called. Mr. Hughes was accumulating a handsome per cent, over and above the expenses of running the quarry.
In 1869 Mr. Hughes had the misfortune to get badly hurt, so as to disable him from hard work for several months' time; as soon as he was able to travel he went to England, and there succeeded in opening a market for Vermont slate. He subsequently made large sales of slate in England, as have other producers in this region ; which trade was opened by Hugh G. Hughes.
A short time before his death he opened a slate trade with Australia — beginning by sending a car load there — of which the Vermont and New York slate producers are now getting the benefit in their trade with those countries. Mr. Barnes, the lessor of the quarry, died some years after the lease was executed between him and Mr. Hughes. After Mr. Barnes's death Mr. Hughes dealt with the administrators, one of which told the writer several times that the Pouitney quarry paid the estate the best under Mr. Hughes's management of any property in the estate, which contained a large amount of other property. Mr. Hughes bought the entire leased property of the Barnes estate in 1876, including the quarry interest and the farm connected with it. After this purchase he increased his business in the quarrying and manufacture of slate; and while he was lessee he did a very large business, seldom having less than fifty men in his employ, and sometimes he had as many as seventy-five. After leasing the quarry, Mr. Hughes gave it the name of "Eureka," which name it has since borne.
Quite a settlement has grown up in the locality. A post-office has been established which also bears the name "Eureka." In December, 1878, Mr. Hughes made a sale of one-fourth interest in this property to R. Wynne Roberts, a gentleman from England; the deed bears date December 10th, 1875. Mr. Roberts entered into partnership with Mr. Hughes, and that partnership existed while Mr. Hughes lived. The business continued to prosper and thrive until the time of Mr. Hughes's death, which occurred on March 6th, 1884, by an accident which created a terrible sensation in his family and among his friends and throughout the community.
He was standing at the bottom of his deep quarry and near him was his book-keeper, Owen Carvay, and Griffith Hughes, a workman. At the same time there was being hoisted by the derrick a stone weighing perhaps three or four hundred pounds, and when near the top broke in fragments; pieces falling on the head of Mr. Hughes killed him instantly. Mr. Griffith Hughes was severely injured, and lingered about two weeks when he died. Thus passed away a prompt, energetic, thorough and successful business man, at the age of forty-one years. There are other men who have had success at the slate business, but few, however, could have secured Mr. Hughes's success in the "Eureka." The slate in the "Eureka" is of the unfading green variety, and is not excelled, if equalled, anywhere. What has created a demand for the Vermont and New York slate is its variety of colors, and the unfading green variety, the most beautiful slate in the world, is produced from the "Eureka" in its highest excellence. The expense of working the "Eureka" is greater than that of most other quarries; and it is probable that nothing short of the indomitable will of Mr. Hughes, combined with his knowledge and skill in the working of slate, could have made a success of the "Eureka."
Mr. Hughes was a hard worker himself and with the large number of men in his employ, he knew what they were all about and efficiently directed them. Mr. Hughes was married in 1872 to Katy E. Jones, of Fairhaven. She survives with two children, a boy and a girl, to mourn the loss of a kind and indulgent husband and father. The town has lost an intensely loyal citizen to his adopted country, who seldom failed to go the polls, and always urged his workmen as a duty to attend all elections.
The loss to the slate interest in this region can hardly be repaired in this generation.