Felix Moner Hughes (1837-1926)

He was born and grew up in a log cabin on an impoverished 40-acre farm in Scotland County, Missouri, granted to his father for his services fighting Indians in Illinois. They were descended from Jesse Hughes who settled in Powhattan County, Virginia, in the early 17th century. He became a teacher and after serving in the Union Army during the Civil War, he returned home to read law and settled in Lancaster, Missouri, where he established a small legal practice. In time, he became Lancaster's Superintendent of Schools and coupled with his legal work for various railroads in the region in 1880 he was appointed President of the Keokuck & Western Railway. Moving the family to Keokuk, Iowa, he became a respected member of the community and was appointed both Judge and Mayor, allowing him to indulge his children with the best educations. He married Jean Summerlin who'd also grown up on a small farm in Scotland County, Missouri, and they had 4-children. Their eldest son founded the Hughes Tool Company and his only son, Howard Hughes, was the legendary aviation pioneer etc. who from 1960 to 1976 was generally considered to be the richest man in the United States.