Born at Lindsay, Ontario, Canada, on the 23rd of December 1842, his birthplace being on the farm his mother had been reared and also his father spent his boyhood days. John McHugh experienced farm life on the frontier, with handling the plow, swinging the axe, in cradling grain, and caring for livestock. In July, 1863, he married Miss Margaret Falvey and the following fall left the farm to accept position of governor of the county jail. In June 1867, he rented the Canadian farm and headed west to Dubuque, Iowa and a few months later entered the employ of W. and J. Fleming Company, well known agent in the lumber trade at McGregor, Iowa. After a year of training at the extensive yard as a foreman, John McHugh was sent to Lawler, Chickasaw County, Iowa as manager of its interests in that place. He took up his new duties and also became a recognized leader in local affairs. He acted as township trustee, as school director, as recorder, and was also major of the town of Lawler. In the fall of 1875, he was nominated by the Republican Party and elected to the office of State Representative for Chickasaw County. In the same fall, he established the Bank of Lawler in company with D. R. Kirby and in November, 1877 he opened the Howard County Bank at Cresco. He extended his efforts in various fields and opened the Kendallville Roller Mills and raised livestock with a fine herd of shorthorn cattle. For eight years he filled the office of National Bank Examiner for the state of Iowa.