HUGH MCLAUGHLIN. Among the men who are conducting the farming interests of this county are many old soldiers who helped to save the Union in the late war. Our subject occupies an honorable place as one of this class, and his farm on section 7, Island Grove Township, compares favorably with others in its vicinity.

Mr. McLaughlin was born March 4, 1828, in Holmes County, Ohio. He is a son of Andrew and Jane McLaughlin, natives respectively of Ireland and Scotland. They were married near Alleghany, Pa., and the father died in the State of Ohio in 1860. The mother of our subject is living at a venerable age and makes her home in Missouri.

Hugh McLaughlin was in the opening years of a vigorous, manly manhood when the war broke out, and on the 16th of July, 1861, he offered his services to his country, enlisting on that day in Company B, Sixteenth Ohio Infantry. He was in many hard fought battles, and his coolness, courage and fidelity to duty won him honor as a soldier. He faced the enemy at Vicksburg and at Champion Hill, and was present at many other engagements. He was honorably discharged in 1864, after three years' experience of the hardships and sacrifices of a soldier's life.

After leaving the army our subject returned to his home, which was then at Akron, Ohio. He had come to this county in 1852, and had here met, wooed and won Miss Kate Yates, who was reared and educated in this part of the State. She is a member of the Christian Church at Old Berlin, and is a woman of excellent character, who is devoted to the interests of her husband and family and is greatly esteemed by her neighbors. Her happy wedded life with out subject has brought to them eight children, named as follows: Thomas Y., Anna, Henry, Kata B., Carley and Dick (twins); John and Pheba J.

Mr. McLaughlin is a hard working, industrious man, and is meeting with unqualified success in his business as a farmer. His farm is very pleasantly located one and one half miles from Old Berlin, and he has greatly increased its value since it came into his possession by the improvements he has placed upon it, and by tilling its fields after the best methods.

Our subject received his education in Ohio, where his early youth was passed, and is a well-informed man. He is sensible and practical in his views of life, and is independent in his political sentiments, believing that party should be sacrificed for the man.