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The following biographical sketch of O.L.C. Hughes was put together based on a series of newspaper articles, which describe the development of Mr. Hughes' varied and interesting career. Given the early advent of these newspaper items, it's apparent that Mr. Hughes was considered an exceptional "colored citizen".

According to the African Americans in New York History (http://www.math.buffalo.edu/~sww/0history/hwny.html), Orra L. C. Hughes was born near York, Pennsylvania in 1836. He worked as a farm laborer, school teacher and printer before entering the law profession, detailed in the following newspaper articles.

A newspaper item, published January 15, 1873, stated that "John Molson's old established Barber Shop on the corner has been re-fitted, newly furnished and has a new proprietor. O.L.C. Hughes is his name and he is running a first class establishment. Call and see As noted below, Mr. Molson was the father-in-law of Mr. Hughes. Hughes was married to Mary Maud Molson, who went to school in Addison, New York in the Southern Tier and to Alfred University in 1870. She spoke at the Convention of Colored Men in Binghamton, in 1869.

In 1875, Professor O.L.C. Hughes purchased the Painted Post Times and will be its editor and proprietor. Professor Hughes was for a short time in resident of this village. He is a son-in-law of John Molson. In June 1877, it was reported that O.L.C. Hughes was admitted to the practice of law. The Addison Advertiser, November 15, 1877, reported the following:

"O.L.C. Hughes, Esq., of Painted Post, was admitted to the bar, at the general term of the Supreme Court at Buffalo, last June. Mr. Hughes is energetic, persevering, and intelligent; a fine speaker and effective as an advocate. Before a jury, a justice or a judge that appreciates an eloquent statement of a case, Professor Hughes will be quite likely to get a verdict in favor of his client. As a colored man who is determined to push his way upward, and a worthy citizen, we wish him marked success."

The following year, February 21, 1878, the Addison Advertiser printed another article on Mr. Hughes; "Orra L.C. Hughes, of Painted Post, the editor of the Painted Post Gazette, while it was published, has been appointed by the president consul or commercial agent at St. Marc, Hayti. Prof. Hughes is a gentleman of superior ability as a writer and speaker. He has done much service as a Republican. He was the editor of one or two newspapers in the interest of the colored race, before he became a resident of this county, and was lately admitted to practice law. His intelligence, gentlemanly address, and energy, warrant the belief that he will be a popular and efficient representative of the commercial interests of the United States."

The following excerpt provides a follow-up of this appointment, which Mr. Hughes apparently declined to accept.

"Early in April (Corning Journal, 1878), Orra L. C. Hughes, colored, of Painted Post, left for New York, expecting to sail thence to St. Marc, Hayti, to which port he had been appointed consular agent. It was a position for which he had sought earnestly, and was qualified to discharge its duties with marked credit. We received a letter from him written in NY City, stating that he had learned from a Frenchman who had been in the office of the recent U.S. Resident Minister, of Hayti, that the compensation was inadequate, that the fees would not exceed thirty dollars per month, while the ordinary expenses of living would be forty dollars monthly; that the office was usually held by some one who wished to engage in commercial pursuits, and was thus an advantage in distinction and opportunity.

Therefore as it would not support a man who had no other resources, Mr. Hughes wrote that he was greatly disappointed, but would go if on further enquiry it seemed desirable. A week later he was seen in Buffalo, by a young man from Painted Post. Some weeks after, it was said that his wife had a letter from him at Hamilton, Canada. This seemed very singular and improbable, but time elapsed and as no letters came from Hayti, the report was believed. It now appears to have been true. Doubtless chagrin at his great disappointment led Prof. Hughes to resign his appointment and leave for Canada, to escape the criticism or censure of his acquaintances here or in Pennsylvania.

We have just seen a copy of the Toronto Daily Globe, of Aug. 2, a leading newspaper of that city, which devotes two-thirds of a column from its regular correspondent at Hamilton, giving an account of the celebration of the forty-fourth anniversary of West India Emancipation, by the colored people of Hamilton, with large delegations from St. Catharine's and Toronto. The principal speaker was Mr. Hughes, and a half column is given to the leading thoughts of his speech, which the reporter described as eloquent, and received with cheers. Thus it seems that Mr. Hughes is 'flourishing' in his new location. We think he made a great mistake that he did not go to St. Marc, and live on the cheapest plan, rather than surrender a position which he could have won reputation which would have been a single service on his return to the United States, or have enabled him to reach distinction and success had he become a citizen of Hayti."

From this point, the http://www.math.buffalo.edu/~sww/0history/hwny.html site reports that Mr. Hughes moved to Tacoma, Washington in the early 1890s, where he was involved in a number of high profile legal cases. According to Mrs. Scott, on his return to Western New York, Mr. Hughes lived with his daughter, Lula Brown in Olean, New York before his death in February 1901 and that he is buried in Collins, New York, next to his wife, Mary.

New information to add to this biography, just received: July 21, 2013 thanks to Mrs. Scott:

O. L. C. Hughes, Esq. (colored) late editor of the Freedman's Appeal, a monthly sheet published at Harrisburg, and devoted to the interests of the freedmen, announces in a prospectus before us that he has commenced the publication of a weekly newspaper, called the "Progress of Liberty." It is Republican in principles and is devoted to "Politics, Literature, Education, Art and general intelligence, and whatever tends to elevate the mind, advance the National progress of the community at large, and afford to the masses ample protection in the enjoyment of their rights." Mr. Hughes is said to be a man of ability and capable of making a good paper. We wish our colored knight of the quill and his hebdomadal all the success it deserves.

Source: The Globe, Huntingdon, Pa., Vol. XXIV, No. 37, Wednesday morning, March 31, 1869, p. 2, c. 2