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Mary D. Molson Hughes was born on September 24, 1846 in Williamsport, Lycoming County, Pennsylvania. Her parents were John and Louisa Clark Molson. She had six siblings, James, Ellen, John, Samuel, Josey and Charles. Mary was educated in the graded school in Addison, New York. She also attended Alfred University from 1862 to 1863. Her descendant's attempts to confirm her attendance at Alfred resulted in a letter from the University Archivist/Librarian, on January 15, 2007, which states:

That "the University Archives have a Mary D. Molson listed as matriculating at Alfred University during the 1862-63 school year. Most unfortunately, I'm missing 17 pages from the early registrar ledgers that cover the time span she should have attended. Those pages would have shown me for sure if she was enrolled along with her age and what classes she took."

Mary married Orra L. C. Hughes and the couple had one child, Lulu Missouri (Hughes) Lewis Brown Johnson and four grandchildren, David, Flora B., Anna May and Wesley L. Brown. Her occupation was listed as orator. Mary died on August 26, 1881 and was buried at Collins Center Cemetery, Collins Center, Cattaraugus County, New York.

The following newspaper article, reporting her death was provided by Bonny E. Moore.

From the Addison Advertiser, Thursday, September 1, 1881.

"It becomes our painful duty to record the death of Maud D.M. Hughes, wife of O.L.C. Hughes, Esq., of Collins Center, Erie County, New York. The subject of this brief memoir was born in Williamsport, September 24, 1846 and died August 26, 1881, aged 35 years. Mrs. Hughes was the daughter of John and Louisa Molson, of this place and was a great family favorite from her bright, congenial and affectionate nature.

In very early life she developed an uncommon taste for education, and at great effort and expense her worthy parents furnished her with means to gratify her literary taste. She attended the graded school in Addison until she was about 18 years of age, at the same time taking music of Mr. Rockwell. She then attended the Alfred University while under the very efficient superintency of Prof. Kenyon, for about 1 and one-half years. She learned very fast, and made great proficiency in her studies.

Hundreds who have listened to her oratory in churches and on the platform can attest the very uncommon mental ability of the precious one now passed away. After the acquisition of real ability to address any audience to gratification and profit, she seemed in all her efforts to see first and foremost the necessity of granting(what in her opinion all well-regulated governments will admit) the equality of woman to occupy any field of labor in the literary or professional world, side by side with man, where the ability and tact to fill such a place was equally manifest, and not refuse place and position to woman simply because the request was that of a woman. She was an earnest advocate of temperance; in a word, all the reforms of the day had in her eloquent tongue and logical mind an able and earnest advocate.

Her latest sickness was inflammatory rheumatism, which terminated in pyanemia, which closed her eyes and sealed her eloquent lips in the coldness of death. It was a very severe affliction to Mr. and Mrs. Molson that they could not look upon her face or exchange words with her before her removal from time. But it was a great relief for her stricken parents to be informed that some of the best and most influential men and women in the community where she resided followed her to her last earthly resting place, for which all have the tender and heartfelt thanks of both her parents and brothers.

Maude D. M. Hughes leaves a husband and a very interesting daughter to mourn her loss. It was one of her last requests that her daughter should be furnished with a thorough musical education, for which she has a great taste. And it is hoped that God in his blessed prudence will grant this almost dying request of one of the most devoted and affectionate mothers that ever left a child on this side the River of Death. The grief of fond parents and agonizing children would on occasions like this be insupportable did not the divine voice of the Master whisper sweetly to stricken, bleeding heats, thy child "shall rise again." In the bright and beautiful, in the cloudless and eternal morning of the future we shall meet again, "meet ne'er to sever,"meet where love shall wreathe her chain around us forever."