Jeptha Hughes

JEPTHA HUGHES, Pioneer to Tioga, Co. Pennsylvania


Born 1791 in Danville PA. Died 12 Jan 1866 in Mitchells Creek, Tioga Twp. TiogaPA. Buried in Evergreen Cem., Tioga, PA.

Jeptha Hughes was born in 1791 at Danville, PA. He was the son of Thomas and Mary Stevens Hughes, pioneers to the area of Northumberland Co. PA, at Catawissa, near where the East Branch of the Susquehanna River joins the West Branch. (See report of Thomas Hughes.)  PA. 

His father died when he was still a minor in 1807. At age 18 the estate was settled in court after which he and his       brothers Isaac, Jesse and Jonathon moved further north to the   area of present day Hughesville PA. He pioneered in the Hughesville area and eventually migrated to Tioga, Co. where he was a farmer. In the History of Tioga Co. PA45 it is noted that he purchased a track of land in Lycoming Co. on March 26, 1816 when he was 25 years old from John Harrold and laid out the village of Hughesville. 


Four years later, in July, 1820, he sold his interests and moved Tioga Co. He located first in a place called Beecher's Island where he stayed until April 12, 1838, after which he settled at Mitchell's Creek where he remained the rest of his life. Daisy Miller Hughes (reference #42) gives this account.

"Jeptha set out on foot with his father's brother George (who is this George?) to seek a new territory. They came to a small village on a mountain called Blossburg. They learned of the coal available there and contined to travel until they came to a deep valley called Beechers Island, and found shelter with a family who told them it was a dwelling place for Indians who called the river Cowanesque, and at the upper end a settlement called Nelson.
A winding river and road along the mountain side led north to a village called Painted Post. This section was traveled by paths made by Indians. Jeptha liked what he saw of this land and soon bought a portion and sent for his wife and family. They settled and soon a small community was formed at a place called Beaman, and later Tioga Junction, when the Eire Railroad was built in 1863 from Elmira to the coal mines in Blossburg."

Jeptha was married to Elizabeth Hill, a daughter of Frederick Hill of Lock Haven, in 1816. She was born in 1796. Also known as Betsy, Elizabeth died March 17,1881 when she was 85 years old. They were the parents of six daughters and two sons. Frederick was the only son to marry and carry on the Hughes name.

Jeptha Hughes is recorded on the 1820 census in Lycoming Co., Muncy township, this being prior to his relocating in Tioga county.   On the 1830 census the family is found in Tioga Co., Elkland township.  He and wife Betsey had three children by the time they migrated to Tioga.  Five more were born in Tioga Co.  The 1850 census records locates him in Tioga Co., Lawrence township at which time Elizabeth, Rebecca, George and Catherine are still living at home.  Jeptha is listed as having a property value of $200.00. His neighbor is son, Frederick, whose property value is listed as $1500.00.  Another neighbor is John Hughes, age 25, perhaps a nephew.  Jeptha lived to be 75 years old.  Both Jeptha and Betsey  died at Mitchels Creek, Tioga twp. PA and are buried in Evergreen cemetery in Tioga, Pennsylvania.


The children of Jeptha Hughes and Elizabeth Hill Hughes 

(the probable order of their birth determined from 1820, 1830 and 1850 Federal Census Records 
		and as recorded in  History of Tioga Co.) 


1.  Rachael        b. circa 1816-1820, Hughesville    married   Charles Button 
2.  Sarah          b. circa  1816-1820, Hughesville   married James Dewey                                                       
3.  Frederick*     b.  Nov. 13, 1820, Hughesville  d.April 26, 1906.
	married  June 17,1847, Harriet Van Wey     b.Oct.18,1822   d.Sept.17,1904
4. Polly	   b. 1823 (Pheobe Button record ) d. 1919 married  John Van Wey 
5.  Elizabeth	   b. 1826  (1850 Census) 	married  Charles Gray 
6.  Rebeccab. 1828  (1850 Census)  married  David Cunningham 
7.  George 	   b. 1831  (1850 Census)  	unmarried
8.  Catherine      b. 1835  (1850 Census)  	unmarried 
 
Links to other sites on the Web
Updated Photo page with four generations of the Hughes Family 
of Tioga PA.  
Please see the Thomas Hughes Descendants - 5 Generations from 1750 to 1900 for more information about the children of Thomas and Mary Stevens Hughes. 

More about Frederick Hughes, son of Jeptha. 

More about Thomas Hughes, father of Jeptha. 

Cynthia's Family Lines 

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Reference Note 4. Jeptha Hughes Tombstone, Evergreen Cemetery, Tioga, PA

Reference Note 42. Miller, Daisy Hughes, Beginning of the Hughes' Family in America. June, 1983. A copy is in my files.

Reference Note 45. Biographical sketches, Jeptha and Frederick Hughes. History of Tioga Co. PA, Vol. II, p. 1013, 1897

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