Prominent Merchant Succumbs to Crash Injuries

William Bowen Hughes, 73, former commissioner o£ Salt Lake and Utah counties and a prominent produce merchant, died at his home, 2490 Third East street, Tuesday at 4:20 a. m., of complications following an automobile collision last October, in which he was the driver of one of the cars in the accident. He became seriously ill two weeks ago.

Mr. Hughes was born in Spanish Fork February 27, 1859. He became superintendent of the Young Men's Co-Op and served as councilman of Spanish Fork and was Utah county commissioner from 1898 to 1900. In 1902 he moved to Ogden, where he became secretary and treasurer of the C. A. Smurthwaite Produce company.

He moved in 1908 to Salt Lake, where he founded the William Hughes Produce company and remained in that business until 1918 when he was appointed by Governor Bamberger to fill an unexpircd term as commissioner of Salt Lake county,

Mr. Hughes was appointed inspector for the state road commission in 1827 and worked in that capacity until he was hurt last October. He was a member of the L. D. S. church and of the B. P. O. E. lodge No. 85.

Surviving are his widow, Mrs. Alice E. Payzant Hughes, five sons, William McKell Hughes of Los Angeles, George D. Hughes of Glendale, Cal., Delbert Bowen Hughes, Ronald E. Hughes and Albert C. Hughes of Salt Lake; five daughters, Mrs. Gladys Anderson of Los Angeles, Mrs. A. O. Williams of Milford, Mrs. Albert G. Brockbank, Mrs. Leslie H. White anti Mrs. Theodore H. Maack of Salt Lake; six brothers, Dr. E. G. Hughes of Long Beach, Cal., Morgan Hughes, Dr. Joseph Hughes, David F. Hughes, John B. Hughes and Harry Hughes of Spanish Fork, and 21 grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at the Rose room of the Deseret mortuary Thursday at 12:30 p. m., after which the body will be taken to Spanish Fork, where short services will be conducted in the Second L. D. S. ward chapel at 4 p. m. Burial will take place in the family plot in the Spanish Fork cemetery.

Salt Lake Tribune, July 13, 1932, Page 20

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William Bowen Hughes, of Salt Lake, who served as county commissioner, was born at Spanish Fork, Utah February 27, 1859.

His father, Morgan Hughes, was a native of Wales and in 1850 came to the new world, making his way to St. Louis, Missouri, from which point he crossed the plains in 1851. Settling at Spanish Fork, he afterward engaged in farming and there remained until his death, which occurred January 11, 1890.

The mother of William B. Hughes, Mrs. Anna (David) Hughes, was also born in Wales and in 1852 made the trip across the plains. She lived to a venerable age, for her birth occurred March 3, 1837.

In the family were thirteen children, eleven sons and two daughters.

In his boyhood days William Bowen Hughes enjoyed such educational advantages as could be secured in pioneer times. Later he had the benefit of instruction under Professor George H. Brimhall and eventually became a student in the Brigham Young University, where he remained for twenty-three weeks.

After putting aside his textbooks he took up railroad contracting and a little later was made secretary of the Malcolm & Thomas Construction Company, building the Denver & Rio Grande Railroad. This position he retained for a short period, after which he withdrew to enter business at Spanish Fork, becoming manager of a large mercantile establishment in 1883 and thus continuing until 1890. He was associated with D. T. Malcolm in the establishment of a business on their own account, in which they continued successfully for five years. Mr. Hughes later purchased the business, and during this time was one of the commissioners of Utah County, filling that position from 1898 until 1900.

In the latter year he went to Ogden, where he was connected with the C. A. Smurthwaite Produce Company, and in 1906 came to Salt Lake City and entered the wholesale grain business, in which he has since continued under the name of the W. B. Hughes Grain Company. He had built up a trade of gratifying proportions, for he was watchful of every indication pointing to success and had always made obstacles and difficulties in his path an impetus for renewed effort on his part.

On the 18th of December 1879, Mr. Hughes was married to Miss Louisa S. McKell, of Spanish Fork, who there passed away August 30, 1889. She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert McKell. Five children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Hughes: William McKell, Hannah Elizabeth, Delbert Bowen, Jennie May and Robert Edward Hughes.

William B. Hughes wedded Mrs. Margaret (Muir) Black, of Spanish Fork, Utah. She was a daughter of John and Margaret Muir of Catron, Scotland. Mrs. Hughes passed away May 3, 1896, at Spanish Fork. She became the mother of two children: Janet Louisa and Morgan John Hughes

On the 4th of August 1897, Mr. Hughes wedded Miss Alice E. Payzant, of Spanish Fork, a daughter of John and Mary Emma (Bucher) Payzant. Seven children were born of this marriage: born of the third marriage: George Dewey, Mary Estelle, David (stillborn birth), Gladys, Myrtle Alice, Ronald Earl and Albert Charles Hughes.

William Bowen and his family were members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He belonged also to the Commercial Club and to the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks, associations that indicate the nature of his interests and the rules that govern his conduct. His political endorsement is given to the democratic party and in February, 1918, he was appointed one of the county commissioners of Salt Lake county, which position he is now most acceptably and efficiently filling, acting as chairman of the committees on finance, public grounds and buildings. His endorsement of any measure is proof of his firm belief in its worth and in all matters of citizenship he stands for progress and improvement.

His life had indeed been an active and useful one, resulting in public benefit as well as in the advancement of his own fortunes, and his aid and influence can always be counted upon to further material, intellectual, social, political and moral progress in the communities in which he had lived.


Compiled from Utah Since State: Historical and Biographical, Volume III, Pages 765-766