William Hughes

William Hughes (April 3, 1872January 30, 1918) was an American politician of Irish origin. A member of the Democratic Party, he served in both houses of the United States Congress as the U.S. representative for New Jersey's 6th congressional district from 1903 to 1905 and again from 1907 to 1912 and a United States senator from New Jersey from 1913 to 1918. Biography William was born on April 3, 1872 in Drogheda, County Louth, Ireland. His family immigrated to the United States when he was eight years old, briefly residing in New York City before permanently settling in Paterson, New Jersey. He soon found work as a bobbin boy in one of Paterson’s many mills. He was exposed to labor politics at a young age, and by 1897 was serving as president of the city’s Eastside Workingmen’s Association. He studied stenography and eventually became well established in the courtrooms of Passaic and Bergen counties. Following his voluntary service during the Spanish–American War of 1898, Hughes returned to Paterson and pursued legal studies. After admittance to the bar in 1900 he earned local renown for defending local silk workers who were prosecuted after striking for better pay in 1901. He married Margaret Hughes (no relation) in 1898 and fathered two daughters, Phyllis (born 1901) and Ruth (born 1901).