William John Hughes was born in Wales, United Kingdom in 1884. At the age of 9, He immigrated with his grandmother to the Welsh Church settlement area southwest of Iowa City, Iowa. After an 8th grade education and two years at a private business school, he found work at the Williamsburg Nursery in Williamsburg, Iowa. After two years of nursery experience, he moved to Cedar Rapids and Established Cedar Rapids Nursery Company at the age of 24 in 1908 on 10 acres.

 

William John Became a successful nurseryman and raised two sons, Dwight Sr. and Ralph. Both boys grew up in the business and studied horticulture at Iowa State University. They Purchased the business as second generation owners in 1947. 

 

Dwight Jr. grew up as a third generation nurseryman and studied horticulture at Iowa State University. He continued the landscape nursery business as Dwight Hughes Nursery on 100 acres southwest of the original site. Tom and John were raised in the business as fourth generation nurseryman. Both Graduated from Iowa State University. 

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