Early Life
Martha Maria Hughes Cannon was born near Llandudno, Clwyd, Wales on July 1, 1857, the daughter of Peter and Elizabeth Evans Hughes. She was known by the nickname, Mattie.
The Peter Hughes family were converts to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and emigrated to the United States. They embarked from Liverpool, England on March 30, 1860, on the ship Underwriter and arrived in New York City, New York on May 1, 1860. In 1861 with the assistance of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints the family was able to leave New York City in 1861 and travel to Utah. Shortly before the family's arrival in the Salt Lake Valley, on September 3, 1861, Martha's sister Annie Lloyd Hughes died and was buried in an unmarked grave. She was 21 months old. Three days after the remaining family had arrived in Salt Lake City, on September 17, 1861, Peter Hughes died. Elizabeth Hughes was left a widow with two young daughters at the age of 28.
Thirteen months later Elizabeth married James Patten Paul, a widower and had five additional children with him. After Elizabeth's marriage to Paul, Martha, at different times in her life, went by the surnames of both Paul and Hughes. Later in life, Paul encouraged Martha to follow her dream of becoming a medical doctor.
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