CHICAGO FIRE FIGHTER

James Robert Hughes was married to Elizabeth Lucy on May 14, 1893 in Cook County, Illinois.

Family legend has James R. Hughes wanting to become a Chicago Fire Fighter since the age of 4 after witnessing the devastation caused by the Great Chicago Fire of 1871.

The children born to James and Elizabeth include;
1. William Patrick Hughes, born

2. James Robert Hughes, born

3. Walter J. "Walt" Hughes, born August 30, 1896 in Cook County, Illinois. Walter J “Walt” Hughes died on 3 Apr 1982 and his mortal remains were laid in the Holy Sepulchre Cemetery in Alsip, Cook County, Illinois. See his Find A Grave Memorial #87803352.

4. Harry George Hughes, born

5. Mary Hughes, born c. 1902/03 in Cook County, Illinois.

6. Alice Hughes, born c. 1905/06 in Cook County, Illinois.

7. Robert Daniel Hughes, born January 7, 1907 in Cook County, Illinois. Robert Daniel Hughes died on 29 Jul 1966 in Blue Island, Cook County, Illinois. His mortal remains were laid in the Saint Mary Catholic Cemetery in Evergreen Park, Cook County, Illinois. See his Find A Grave Memorial #210259157.

8. John Patrick "Jack" Hughes, born ____________ __, 1910 in Cook County, Illinois.

9. Anna Hughes, born c. 1913/14 in Cook County, Illinois.

By the summer of 1900, James Robert Hughes is a Chicago Firefighter. At the time of the 1900 census, the Hughes family is found residing at what is then identified as 3238 Butler Street in a section of Chicago, Illinois, known as "South town."
James Hughes Head Jun 1867 33 8 Ill Ohio Ohio Fireman
Elizabeth Hughes Wife May 1873 27 8 4 4 Ill Ill Ill
William Hughes Son Apr 1894 6 Ill Ill Ill
James Hughes Son Jul 1895 4 Ill Ill Ill
Walter Hughes Son Aug 1896 3 Ill Ill Ill
Harry Hughes Son Dec 1898 1 Ill Ill Ill

At the time of the 1920 census, the Hughes family is found residing at what is then identified as 6141 Hermitage in Ward 31 of the city of Chicago, Cook County, Illinois;
James R. Hughes 50 Ill Ire Ire
Elizabeth Hughes 45 Ill Eng Eng
James Jr. Hughes 25 Ill Ill Ill
Harry Hughes 21 Ill Ill Ill
Mary Hughes 17 Ill Ill Ill
Alice Hughes 14 Ill Ill Ill
Robert Hughes 13 Ill Ill Ill
John Hughes 10 Ill Ill Ill
Anna Hughes 6 Ill Ill Ill

"Hughes Family Remembers 128 Years Of Fighting Chicago Fires
Some families produce lawyers. Others doctors and nurses.
But for the Hughes clan of Chicago, putting out fires is the family business. They're a family that has had a member on the Chicago Fire Department for 128 years.
"It's the family profession and it was…kinda handed down," said firefighter Jerry Hughes.
"There's a lot of tradition here. A lot of hard work and a lot of camaraderie," said firefighter Dave Walsh.
FOX 32 sat down at the Chicago Fire Academy with nine members of the firefighting family, which is just the start.
Since 1891, there has always been a Hughes family member on the Chicago Fire Department -- 50 in all, five generations -- starting with the grandfather of family patriarch 93-year-old Jack Hughes.
"He was a great, big presence. He commanded the room when he walked in. He was always jovial, good natured as I remember him," Jack said.
Family legend says James Hughes was inspired to become a firefighter after watching Chicago burn to the ground as a kid in 1871.
"They grew up down the street from here and saw the--lived the Great Chicago Fire. And that affected them," Jerry Hughes said.
When asked what is it about firefighting that's in the Hughes' family DNA, Jack Hughes said, "Grandpa started it all and his sons were firemen. So it just trickled down."
Jack fought on Iwo Jima during the war, and then started fighting fires in 1950 -- putting in 39 years.
"It's a tough act to follow. Guys like my Uncle Jack and his brother Uncle Jim, Walter and the rest. They kinda set the ground rules," Dave Walsh said.
A Hughes has fought every major Chicago fire since the Iroquois Theater burned down in 1903, killing 600 people.
There's Captain Jim Hughes at the Chicago stockyards fire in 1934, another Hughes was one of the first to arrive at the Our Lady of the Angels fire in 1958, and Jack Hughes battled the fire that destroyed the first McCormick Place in 1967.
"Them are the fires that are out of hand before you get there," Jack Hughes said.
There has been tragedy, too.
In 1955, James Hughes was in line to become Chicago Fire Commissioner when he rushed into the burning Mill Green Hotel to help save a buried firefighter. He died of a heart attack and was given a hero's burial. His badge is now among those of the fallen at the academy.
"We have the wall of badges to remind us. We learn the hard way," Jerry Hughes said.
As the latest class of recruits trains at the academy, the Hughes family hopes their tradition of service continues.
"What we're here for is to make a difference, protecting life and property. It's more than just a job, collecting a check," Jerry said. "It's a story that the people in Chicago should know. Maybe some kid will become a firefighter watching this. Hopefully he's a Hughes."

James R Hughes

Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998
birth:
11 February 1867
Chicago, , Illinois
death:
19 February 1946
Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States
burial:
22 February 1946
Evanston, , Illinois
residence:
Cook, Illinois, 7244 South Park Ave, Chicago
father:
Patrick Hughes
mother:
Bridget Mclaughlin
spouse:
Elizabeth A Hughes
other:
Harry G Hughes