Albert Hughes was born in Coven, near Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England on June 1, 1850. Prior to sailing to Canada, he practised pharmacy in England, Brussels, Belguim and Hong Kong. His destination in Canada was Winnipeg, however, Dr. Brett who operated a well known Banff sanitorium, convinced him to set up a practise with him. The partnership was dissolved in 1889. For a few months, Albert worked in a Calgary drugstore, and in 1890, he purchased a drug business in Medicine Hat, the first for the fledgling town. Albert's hobby involved the raising and training of race ponies and his reputation for success was well earned. He also served as Secretary of the Men's Institute of St. Barnabas (Anglican) Church. Albert Hughes married Annie Wallace, from Birmingham, England, in 1896. They had 5 children, all born in Medicine Hat: Dorothy Wallace (born June 8, 1898), Minto (born September 25, 1899), Marie (born March 25, 1901), Alberta (born March 1, 1903), and Hildra (born July 29, 1904). In 1901, he sold his drugstore to B.F. Souch and E.M. Cawker, and moved his family to the Race Course Ranch near the present day airport where he spent his time raising and training race horses. In 1906, the family moved into town and occupied a home opposite Riverside Park at 605 1st Street SE. From 1908 to 1918, he returned to England, but during or after the war, spent his remaining years in Alberta. Albert Hughes died June 8, 1943. Son Minto Hughes served with the British Army during World War I and returned to Canada in 1919. He began working for Ogilvie Flour Mills in 1922, and stayed with the company until his retirement in 1964.