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The Hughes Family Still Lives Elder James Henry Hughes, a Country Preacher and his wife Emily left Kentucky in 1854, before the Civil War, most likely as Freedman, to start a new life. Arriving in Charlestown, Indiana, a small town located in the southern most part of Indiana, life began anew and from their vision a new generation was born.

Elder James Henry preached the gospel and his beloved wife Emily was a homemaker. She bore children with two expiring in infancy. The surviving siblings lived full lives with the boys leaving home early to make their own way in life. One son James Nathaniel (father of Langston Hughes) became a lawyer, another son John S. P. (Sanford Perry) worked on the railroad and amassed a fortune along the way.

Two of their girls left home as well. Sallie pursued higher education and became an educator. Myrtle migrated to Guthrie, Oklahoma, married and bore children of her own. Margaret stayed close to home and after presenting her "Calling Card" to a dashing, young William Henry Miller began her family. The family of William Henry and Margaret MIller relocated to Columbus, Indiana in the 1880's and lived there for a few years. The Millers relocated one last time to Joliet, Illinois and settled at 156 South DeKalb Street, where their first family home still stands today.

// Source: Langston Hughes Family Museum // []