His father was William Madora Hughes (February 14, 1809 - March 12, 1876) and his mother was Sarah S. Abrams.

At age 18 he began work in a flour mill and continued as a miller and in the grocery business for the next 27 years.

Their children were Herbert Franklyn, Earl Everett, Ray Albert, Faye Emma and Isaac Lester.

[2] He moved to Los Angeles in 1906 and was proprietor for fourteen years of a grocery at Washington and Arlington Streets.

Known as a defender of Mayor George E. Cryer and political figure Kent Kane Parrot, Hughes was defeated in the 1927 election by Ernest L.