Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/Hughes, John

by John Edward Lloyd

HUGHES, JOHN (1842–1902), Wesleyan methodist divine and editor, son of John Hughes and Jane his wife, was born on 15 April 1842, at Cwm Magwr Isaf, in the parish of Llanfihangel y Creukyln, Cardiganshire. Left an orphan at an early age, he had little schooling, and found employment first as a farm lad and afterwards as a lead miner. In 1863 he became a slate quarryman at Blaenau Festiniog; here his interest in literary and theological questions made him a leader among his fellow-workers, and he was designated a Wesleyan lay preacher. Resolving to enter the ministry, he passed a brief period of preparation at Jasper House, Aberystwyth, and was accepted by his connexion in 1867. He travelled until 1878 in the South Wales district; he was then transferred to the North Wales district, a sphere of labour in which he took a more and more important place, until in 1897 he was appointed Welsh connexional editor and superintendent of the bookroom at Bangor. He took an active part in the affairs of his connexion, and to Ilia advocacy was largely due the establishment of an annual general assembly for North and South Wales. In 1901 he received the degree of D.D. from the South Western University, Georgetown, Texas. He died at Bangor on 24 Feb. 1902. In March 1873 he married Emily, daughter of Rev. Henry Wilcox, by whom he had four sons and two daughters. One of the sons, Henry Maldwyn Hughes, B.A., D.D., is a Wesleyan methodist minister.

Hughes, best known by his bardic name of 'Glanystwyth,' was of versatile gifts, holding a high place as a preacher and as a writer of Welsh prose and verse. He edited the 'Winllan' from 1874 to 1876, the 'Gwyliedydd' newspaper in 1890, and the 'Eurgrawn Wesleyaidd' from 1897 to 1902. He published:

1. 'John Penri,' a poem, Macliynlleth, 1888.
2. A Welsh Life of Christ, Holywell, 1891.
3. 'Oesau Bore y Byd' (The World's Infancy), Holywell, 1892.
4. A Life of Rev. Isaac Jones, Liverpool, 1898.
5. 'Delw y Nefol,' a volume of sermons, Holywell, 1900.
6. A Commentary on Colossians, Bangor, 1901.

[Memoir by D. Gwynfryn Jones and II. Maldwyn Hughes, Bangor, 1904.]

J. E. L.