1925 Biography - T. Jeff McHugh

T. Jeff McHugh, M. D., who is one of the prominent physicians and surgeons of the younger generation in the City of Baton Rouge, is a representative of a sterling family whose name has been identified with the history of this part of Louisiana for nearly a century and a half. The original representatives of the family in America came from Ireland and settled in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and 142 years ago the family was founded in East Baton Rouge Parish, Louisiana.

Doctor McHugh was born at Zachary, East Baton Rouge Parish, October 16, 1890, and is a son of Thomas F. and Nettie (Brown) McHugh, both likewise natives of this parish, and now residents of the City of Baton Rouge.

Thomas B. McHugh was born at Zachary, this parish, in the year 1863, was there reared and educated and there he became a leading merchant and influential citizen. He there continued in the mercantile business until 1893, and for seven years thereafter was engaged in farm enterprise near Baker, this parish. He then, in 1900, removed with his family to Baton Rouge, where he and his wife have since maintained their home. Mr. McHugh Served sixteen years as clerk of the District Court of East Baton Rouge Parish, and at the time of this writing, in the spring of 1924, he holds the office of deputy sheriff of this parish. He has been active in the ranks in the democratic party, and served for a time as mayor of Zachary. He is affiliated with the Masonic fraternity. Mrs. McHugh was born at Baker, this parish, in 1869. Of the two children Dr. T. Jeff, of this review, is the elder, and Doris A. is the wife of Dr. Arthur T. Prescott, professor of government in the University of Louisiana, and the subject of individual mention on other pages of this work.

Dr. McHugh attended a private school in Baton Rouge, and in 1908 he was here graduated from St. Vincent Academy. Thereafter he was for one year a student in the University of Louisiana, and he then entered the medical department of Tulane University. In this latter institution, at New Orleans, he was graduated as a member of the class of 1914 and with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. As a collegiate the Doctor is affiliated with the Kappa Alpha academic fraternity and the Kappa Psi medical fraternity.

After his graduation from the medical college Dr. McHugh further fortified himself by the experience he gained in two years of service as an interne in the Charity Hospital of New Orleans, and since 1916 he has been successfully established in the general Practice of his profession in the capital city of Baton Rouge, where his well-appointed offices are in the New Reymond Building. He is giving effective service also as health officer of the city. The Doctor is actively identified with the East Baton Rouge Parish Medical Society, the Louisiana State Medical Society and the American Medical Association. He is a member of the Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce, is a loyal advocate of the principles of the democratic party, and he and his wife are communicants of St. James Church, Protestant Episcopal. In the Masonic fraternity he has received the thirty-second degree of the Scottish Rite, in the Consistory at Shreveport, where also he is a Noble of El Karubah Temple of the Mystic Shrine. His basic York Rite affiliation is with St. James Lodge, A. F. and A. M.. in his home city, when also he holds membership in Baton Rouge Lodge No. 490, B. P. 0. E.

Enduring honor shall attach to the name of Doctor McHugh by reason of the loyal and effective service of patriotism which he rendered in the World war. On the 28th of March, 1917, he volunteered for service in the Medical Corps of the United States Army, and at Camp Nicholls, in New Orleans, he received on the same date his commission as lieutenant in the Medical Corps. He was transferred to Camp Beauregard, at Alexandria, this state, there in March, 1918, he was commissioned captain the following August, with the One Hundred and Forty-first Field Artillery. He sailed for overseas service, and he remained in France, in active and valuable service, until March, 1919, as regiment surgeon of the command mentioned above. At Shelby, Mississippi, the Doctor-Captain received his honorable discharge in May. 1919. He is a member of Nicholson Post, American Legion, of Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

On the 8th of June, 1920, was solemnized the marriage of Doctor McHugh and Miss Ruth Puckett, daughter of Henry L. and Addie Puckett, who reside in Baton Rouge, where Mr. Puckett is a prominent representative of the cotton brokerage business. Mrs. McHugh was graduated from the Baton Rouge High School and thereafter continued her studies in the University of Louisiana with her graduation with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. Doctor and Mrs. McHugh have a winsome little daughter, Ruth, who was born August 24, 1922.

Contributed 2021 Nov 04 by Mike Miller, from A History of Louisiana, by Henry E. Chambers, published in 1925, volume 2, pages 78-79.