HUGHES, ROBERT OWEN (Elfyn ; 1858-1919), journalist and poet;
b. 8 Oct. 1858 in Plough Street, Llanrwst, son of Charles and Elizabeth Hughes. After attending the British School at Llanrwst he was apprenticed to the banking firm of Pugh Jones and Co. Afterwards he began to prepare for the Calvinistic Methodist ministry; later, however, he went to London to work for Kirby and Endean, publishers. In 1883 he m. Elizabeth, daughter of Edward Roberts, member of the publishing firm of Hughes and Son, Wrexham; seven children were born of the marriage. In 1885 he was appointed sub-editor of Gwalia, a newspaper; in 1888 he went to Blaenau Ffestiniog to edit another newspaper, Y Rhedegydd; in 1899 he became editor of Y Glorian, another local newspaper; he also served, for a time, as librarian of the local public library. He edited the prize compositions of an eisteddfod held at Blaenau Ffestiniog in 1891 and, in 1898, those of the national eisteddfod held in that town. He won several prizes at eisteddfodau, including the chair at the national eisteddfod held at Blaenau Ffestiniog in 1898. A monthly periodical called Cyfaill y Plant edited by him and started in Jan. 1890, proved to be short-lived. He was a frequent contributor to Y Geninen and Cymru (O.M.E.); Sir Owen M. Edwards, editor of the latter, included Hanes Bywyd Capelulo, written by Elfyn, in ‘Cyfres y Fil.’ A selection of his poems was issued under the title of Caniadau Elfyn (n.d.). He d. 14 June 1919 and was buried in Llan Ffestiniog churchyard.
Bibliography:
- Gen., 1919;
- Y Rhedegydd, 1919.
Author:
John William Jones, (1884-1954), Blaenau Ffestiniog
