Orion Nelson Hughson

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

Orion Nelson HUGHSON, the owner and manager of a large undertaking business in Morristown, was born near Dover, Morris county, New Jersey, September 6, 1864. He is the son of William F. HUGHSON, born in Morris county, New Jersey, 1836, and was a carpenter and builder in Morristown and surrounding country all his life. His brother, Albert HUGHSON, enlisted in the service of his country at the outbreak of the Civil War and was killed. The mother of Orion N. HUGHSON was Sarah (TROWBRIDGE) HUGHSON, also a member of an old Morris county family. She died at the age of thirty-eight years when her son, Orion N., was a lad of ten years of age. They had three children, but one,

Frederick C., died at the age of forty-eight years, February 28, 1910.
Orion N. HUGHSON has a sister remaining,
Mary, wife of Theodore VAIL, of Morris county.

After the death of his first wife, William F. HUGHSON married the widow of David T. JARRAD. There were three children born to this marriage:

Archie, of Morris county;
Etta, who now lives in Washington, D. C.;
Solon C., who for seven years up to the time of death, November 14, 1905, was associated with his half-brother, Orion N. HUGHSON, in the undertaking business.

Mr. HUGHSON’s grandfather on his father’s side was Jacob HUGHSON, a farmer who lived at Mount Freedom, Morris county, New Jersey, and died there. His maternal grandparents were David and Anna (YOUNG) TROWBRIDGE, natives of Morris county, the former being a carpenter and farmer by occupation.

Orion N. HUGHSON received his early education in the public schools of his native county, and showed while still a young boy good business ability and undoubted initiative, promise that his later career has amply confirmed. His undertaking establishment is on the most modern lines and is equipped with all that the most fastidious taste would require. A handsome chapel is one of the features of the place, and a large number of fine horses are also on hand. Thousands of dollars have been invested in the hearses, caskets, livery, and equipages of the establishment. Mr. HUGHSON is a man who would have made a success of anything he undertook, and the thoroughness with which he conducts his present business is its proof. He knows it in its every detail, having entered the firm of COE & HUGHSON, of Morristown, in June 1885, and continued in this under his father’s direction for two years when he left it to take advantage of an opening in the grocery business. In this he was interested for seven years, the firm name being POWELSON & HUGHSON. After this time he came back to the undertaking business, it being conducted under the name of O. N. HUGHSON, as at the present. Mr. HUGHSON is a liberal in his politics, voting for the man in his opinion best qualified for the office. He is an Odd Fellow, and a Heptasoph. He is also a member of the K. of P. In his religious views he is a Presbyterian and is affiliated with the First Presbyterian Church.

He married, June 28, 1910, at Boonton, Morris county, New Jersey, Mary, daughter of Lemuel and Mary (WRIGHT) KAYHART, both living at Boonton. Mr. and Mrs. HUGHSON have two children (twins):

Marion and Marjorie, born June 24, 1911.

This biography was transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003).