Early Residents - C.W. Hughes

By Liz Donaldson

Conducting research on the earliest settlers of the LaVallee Municipality is a gratifying and rewarding yet frustrating endeavour. Other researchers will no doubt agree for no matter how much you find you always wish you could find just a little more.

It is interesting to look back and realize just how versatile, resourceful and adaptable to their new environment these early pioneers were. Charles William Hughes was certainly an example of this versatility. He must have received a good education though very little of his family is known. The Hughes' were from Wales, of United Empire Loyalist stock and settled in Nova Scotia. He was the youngest of family of six.

Charles William Hughes was listed on the 1904 assessment roll but came to the area with his family much sooner than that. In his young days he was reputed to be a medical corpsman gaining experience that stood him in good stead in later years. He had married in Ontario and had a family of five when they came to New Ontario. The family stayed in Rat Portage for two or three years (a child was born and died there in 1891) before travelling by steamship to settle in Big Fork some time in 1892. It was there that his wife Annie died and some of the family were sent back east. At this time he would have been 37 years old.

C.W., as he was often called, was a carpenter by trade so no doubt his services were in demand as building was taking place all over the west. Indeed, it was said that he travelled to different parts of Canada to consult and build. His advice was sought in building schools and churches and he built many bridges for the CNR railway.

The Hughes family took up a homestead in Box Alder and it was here that he used his persuasive powers to win the hand of Mary Strachan hand in a second marriage that produced eight children (two died as infants.)

Much of what we know about C.W. Hughes has been written by two nieces and their writing presents a picture of clever, energetic, capable and articulate man well respected in the surrounding communities. His name was mentioned often in the news columns in the Fort Frances Times. One item tells us; "C.W. Hughes president of the Farmers Institute was in town Monday serving on the grand jury. Later C.W. Hughes shipped three cars of potatoes on Saturday. They go to the States."

He was a carpenter but could turn his hand to many other things. His advertisement as a licensed auctioneer appeared in that paper also. Many auctioneers have the "gift of the gab" and C.W. was no exception. He was often called on to be chairman at concerts and program. He was eloquent as a public speaker, had an endless supply of jokes and stories, was never at a loss for words and could hold the attention of a crowd. As well as being able to speak well, his word was respected and he was called on to settle disputes rather like a lawyer would.

Skills learned when he was a medical corpsman came in handy in a community where medical aid was limited. Aching teeth were pulled with his forceps. Perhaps his way with words kept a patient in a mood receptive for treatment in lieu of anesthetics. He did have simple medicines to dispense in case of illness. Sick horses and farm animals were treated also. Some medicines in those days were advertised as being good for man or beast. Mr. Hughes no doubt had knowledge of these.

C.W. Hughes was dedicated to working for the community and donated the land for the Methodist church to be built in Box Alder. He was one of the founders and a director of the Producer's Co-Operative Creamery in LaVallee. It is safe to say that he was involved in every aspect of community development even to serving as postmaster of Box Alder at two different times.

On the Hughes farm that was called Oak Cluster he built one of the most beautiful and large homes in the three townships with a balcony and insets of stained glass in the front windows. C.W. and wife Mary with their family of young people were hospitable and their home was open to friends and travellers alike.

The life of C. W. Hughes is an interesting one and he like many others contributed so much to the development of the municipality. These pioneers possessed many different skills, talents and trades and most like C.W. Hughes were willing to put those capabilities to the best use. An interesting item in the October 1927 Fort Frances Times tells of the golden wedding anniversary of the eldest brother of C.W. Hughes, the Rev. Dr. S.J. Hughes and his wife. Although they lived in Ottawa the item stated that they were old time residents of the Rainy River District --another story of which we have no knowledge. There is so much that will forever remain untold.