The death of Mr. Hughes on the threshold of manhood robbed minstrelsy of one of its most brilliant luminaries.
Ruey Hughes was born in New York City; he died there, November 10, 1871; age 23 years.
Sage Richardson began his professional career as a member of the famous Holman troupe in 1864, at Toronto, Canada. His first minstrel engagement was with Cool Burgess’, later appearing with LaRue’s Minstrels.
Subsequently he joined hands with his brother John, and they played the variety houses until 1880, when he doubled with Charley Young, later playing an engagement with Cal. Wagner’s Minstrels; at the end of the season Mr. Richardson returned to California, and afterward reappeared in variety houses with his brother.
Sage Richardson was born in New York City: he died in San Francisco, March 8, 1883; age about 35 years.
I. W. Baird, who was proprietor and manager of the organization that bore his name for several seasons, commenced his professional career as a trick bicycle rider in 1866. In 1867 he joined Johnson’s Circus at Galesburg, Ill., and in 1872 was part proprietor of Smith and Baird’s Circus; in 1874 he controlled the privileges of the Great Eastern 6 Tent Shows.
In 1875 he organized the Baird-Howell Show, and the following year the first performance of I. W. Baird’s Mammoth Minstrels was given, and continued as an organization until 1889; Mr. Baird subsequently engaging in the real estate business in Portland, Ore.
I. W. Baird was born in Salem, Ohio; he died in Portland, Ore., January 2, 1908.
Jerry Cohan. It will be a surprise to most of the present generation to know that the daddy of the famous George M. Cohan ever appeared in black-face, but he did, and as a general dancer he ranked with the best; Mr. Cohan also could do things with the tambourine.
His first minstrel engagement was with Campbell and Huntley’s Minstrels as late (or early) as May, 1868. He joined Kelly and Leon’s Associated Artists in Baltimore, in the Summer of 1869; other engagements of a “dark” nature were Sam Sharpley’s and LaRue’s.