Individual Details
Charles Edward Hughes
(19 Jul 1821 - 10 Jun 1888)
Charles Edward Hughes was born in South Carolina, the oldest child of James and Martha (Stevenson) Hughes. Shortly after his birth his parents and maternal grandfather moved to Alabama, settling in Perry County near Marion. Six more brothers and sisters were added here to the growing family while his father taught school to support them. When his father received money from his father's estate he used it to buy land in Lauderdale Co. Mississippi, moving the family there around January 1837 when Charles was fifteen. Now with their own land Charles' family settled permanently, joining the nearby Daleville community currently called Lizelia. His father continued to teach school and two more siblings joined the family in Mississippi.
Charles Hughes is listed in 1843 Lauderdale Co, Miss. tax rolls. Here, wrote Craig Hughes Sheely, "Charles Hughes met and married Pauline Craig, who was teaching school in Kemper County, Miss. They were married December 13, 1846, at the church in Old Dalesville by Rev. Walton Reeves." Pauline Craig Hughes wrote that she and "Charles Edward Hughes were married at the Methodist Church at "Old Daleville," now Lizelia, on December 13, 1846."
They lived the first year of their marriage with his parents. James F. Hughes gave to his son, Charles Edward, eighty acres of land lying in Section 5 and in 1848 they moved to their own farm. Later Charles Edward and Pauline Hughes bought his father's 24 acre homestead, the part thereof lying on the east side of the Jackson and Livingston road, that James F. had kept for himself after selling off other parcels.. So only the 104 acres owned by Charles Edward Hughes was left of the original purchase of the Hughes family. In "The History of Daleville, Mississippi" by Patricia Lightsey Davis, she also mentions that C. E. (Charles Edward) Hughes had received eighty acres of land from his father.
Their first child (Mary) was born at the James Fisher Hughes home. "By January 1848, Charles E., with the help of his brothers and other relatives, had build a large one-room cabin in the woods on the land given him by his father. There, eight more children were born". In this home they reared seven of the nine children born to them. A daughter Everett died in infancy, and Florence died at the age of six from diphtheria.
Charles Edward Hughes made his living as a farmer. In Lauderdale Co., the main crops grown by farmers at that time were cotton, corn, sugar-cane, oats, peas, potatoes, vegetables and fruits of all kinds, the last two items being extensively raised for market, and the raising of live stock. No James Fisher Hughes or Charles Edward Hughes were listed as slave holders in the 1850 or 1860 census records, Charles most likely grew crops managable by himself and his family. In fact, his granddaughter once said something about her family being anti-slavery.
Charles was in his early forties when he left his family to enlist in the Confederate State Army. Life was rough for him during his service. His daughter Betty wrote: "Father was away, in the then besieged city of Vicksburg that summer of 1863 when I was born. There was no possibility of any sort of communication of those within the city to those without for many weeks, so neither of my parents knew from sometime in May, until sometime after Vicksburg surrendered to the Union army, commanded by Gen. Grant on July 4th, whether or not the other still lived. Father had been quite ill during those weeks of the siege, and was in poor shape for travel when General Grant issued paroles to all to the Confederate soldiers and permitted them to return to their respective homes. Vicksburg, as you know, is some hundred and forty odd miles from Meridian. A man as weakened as father was by sickness and starvation (for rations had been meager and inadequate during those weeks) was unequal to so many miles of travel. Accompanied by one of his brothers, they together reached the home of the latter in Smith County after tortuous days of travel in summer heat. There, father rested for some days before he arrived at home, and saw for the first time the baby daughter, myself, who had arrived two months before."
His service was also mentioned in a letter by Craig Hughes Sheely: "Charles E. Hughes was a private in the Cavalry, Company G, 6th Regiment, CSA. He joined at Dekalb, Miss. He was in the battle of Vicksburg when it surrendered. He and his brother Joel Hughes who also fought in this battle walked to Smith County, where Joel lived. Charles rested a few days then continued on foot to Daleville and home, seeing for the first time his three month old baby girl Elizabeth (Betty). This was in Sept. 1863. He had walked one hundred and fifty miles."
Charles E. Hughes became postmaster of Daleville on May 24, 1867. He served to about 1880. He died on June 10, 1888, at his home in Lauderdale County, Miss., and is buried in the Hughes Family Cemetery.
Pauline Hughes, her son Charles 18, daughter Matty and and Matty's two little girls, Linnie and Lida were left in the home after the death of her husband. Mattie continued to live with Pauline and Charlie until her own daughter Linnie married Will Hopkins in 1897. In October of 1902, Pauline went to Sally's (Prouty) house. Sally Hughes had married James William Prouty, a widowed Yankee who had stayed and married in Mississippi after the war. "... Mr. Charles E. Hughes (Sally's father) was of course a confederate, he was at Vicksburg, Miss. when it fell, but he never knew Mr. Prouty as he died in 1888 and Mr. Prouty and Sally married in 1891." Interestingly, Mr. Prouty's father, Austin, was also at Vicksburg, but with the Union Army.
Charles Hughes is listed in 1843 Lauderdale Co, Miss. tax rolls. Here, wrote Craig Hughes Sheely, "Charles Hughes met and married Pauline Craig, who was teaching school in Kemper County, Miss. They were married December 13, 1846, at the church in Old Dalesville by Rev. Walton Reeves." Pauline Craig Hughes wrote that she and "Charles Edward Hughes were married at the Methodist Church at "Old Daleville," now Lizelia, on December 13, 1846."
They lived the first year of their marriage with his parents. James F. Hughes gave to his son, Charles Edward, eighty acres of land lying in Section 5 and in 1848 they moved to their own farm. Later Charles Edward and Pauline Hughes bought his father's 24 acre homestead, the part thereof lying on the east side of the Jackson and Livingston road, that James F. had kept for himself after selling off other parcels.. So only the 104 acres owned by Charles Edward Hughes was left of the original purchase of the Hughes family. In "The History of Daleville, Mississippi" by Patricia Lightsey Davis, she also mentions that C. E. (Charles Edward) Hughes had received eighty acres of land from his father.
Their first child (Mary) was born at the James Fisher Hughes home. "By January 1848, Charles E., with the help of his brothers and other relatives, had build a large one-room cabin in the woods on the land given him by his father. There, eight more children were born". In this home they reared seven of the nine children born to them. A daughter Everett died in infancy, and Florence died at the age of six from diphtheria.
Charles Edward Hughes made his living as a farmer. In Lauderdale Co., the main crops grown by farmers at that time were cotton, corn, sugar-cane, oats, peas, potatoes, vegetables and fruits of all kinds, the last two items being extensively raised for market, and the raising of live stock. No James Fisher Hughes or Charles Edward Hughes were listed as slave holders in the 1850 or 1860 census records, Charles most likely grew crops managable by himself and his family. In fact, his granddaughter once said something about her family being anti-slavery.
Charles was in his early forties when he left his family to enlist in the Confederate State Army. Life was rough for him during his service. His daughter Betty wrote: "Father was away, in the then besieged city of Vicksburg that summer of 1863 when I was born. There was no possibility of any sort of communication of those within the city to those without for many weeks, so neither of my parents knew from sometime in May, until sometime after Vicksburg surrendered to the Union army, commanded by Gen. Grant on July 4th, whether or not the other still lived. Father had been quite ill during those weeks of the siege, and was in poor shape for travel when General Grant issued paroles to all to the Confederate soldiers and permitted them to return to their respective homes. Vicksburg, as you know, is some hundred and forty odd miles from Meridian. A man as weakened as father was by sickness and starvation (for rations had been meager and inadequate during those weeks) was unequal to so many miles of travel. Accompanied by one of his brothers, they together reached the home of the latter in Smith County after tortuous days of travel in summer heat. There, father rested for some days before he arrived at home, and saw for the first time the baby daughter, myself, who had arrived two months before."
His service was also mentioned in a letter by Craig Hughes Sheely: "Charles E. Hughes was a private in the Cavalry, Company G, 6th Regiment, CSA. He joined at Dekalb, Miss. He was in the battle of Vicksburg when it surrendered. He and his brother Joel Hughes who also fought in this battle walked to Smith County, where Joel lived. Charles rested a few days then continued on foot to Daleville and home, seeing for the first time his three month old baby girl Elizabeth (Betty). This was in Sept. 1863. He had walked one hundred and fifty miles."
Charles E. Hughes became postmaster of Daleville on May 24, 1867. He served to about 1880. He died on June 10, 1888, at his home in Lauderdale County, Miss., and is buried in the Hughes Family Cemetery.
Pauline Hughes, her son Charles 18, daughter Matty and and Matty's two little girls, Linnie and Lida were left in the home after the death of her husband. Mattie continued to live with Pauline and Charlie until her own daughter Linnie married Will Hopkins in 1897. In October of 1902, Pauline went to Sally's (Prouty) house. Sally Hughes had married James William Prouty, a widowed Yankee who had stayed and married in Mississippi after the war. "... Mr. Charles E. Hughes (Sally's father) was of course a confederate, he was at Vicksburg, Miss. when it fell, but he never knew Mr. Prouty as he died in 1888 and Mr. Prouty and Sally married in 1891." Interestingly, Mr. Prouty's father, Austin, was also at Vicksburg, but with the Union Army.
Events
| Birth | 19 Jul 1821 | Summerville, Charleston, South Carolina, United States |  | ||
| Marriage | 13 Dec 1846 | Daleville, Lauderdale, Mississippi, United States - Pauline Craig | |||
| Census (family) | 30 Aug 1850 | Southern District, Lauderdale, Mississippi, United States - Pauline Craig |  | | |
| Census (family) | 1853 | Lauderdale, Mississippi, United States - Pauline Craig | | ||
| Census (family) | 1860 | Lauderdale, Mississippi, United States - Pauline Craig | | ||
| Military | 1863 | American Civil War, Confederacy | | | |
| Census (family) | 1870 | Lauderdale, Mississippi, United States - Pauline Craig | | | |
| Census (family) | 1880 | Daleville, Lauderdale, Mississippi, United States - Pauline Craig | | | |
| Death | 10 Jun 1888 | at his home, Daleville, Lauderdale, Mississippi, United States | | ||
| Burial | Hughes Family Cemetery, Daleville, Lauderdale, Mississippi, United States |
Families
| Spouse | Pauline Craig (1826 - 1910) |
| Child | Mary Jane Hughes (1847 - 1929) |
| Child | Martha M. "Mattie" Hughes (1850 - 1937) |
| Child | William James "Will" Hughes (1852 - 1905) |
| Child | John Craig Hughes (1855 - 1878) |
| Child | Sarah Matilda "Sallie" Hughes (1858 - 1940) |
| Child | Everette "Evie" Hughes (1861 - 1862) |
| Child | Elizabeth Louise "Miss Betty" Hughes (1863 - 1949) |
| Child | Emma Florence Hughes (1866 - 1872) |
| Child | Charles Edward Hughes Jr. (1870 - 1954) |
| Father | James Fisher Hughes (1798 - 1853) |
| Mother | Martha Stevenson (1799 - 1860) |
| Sibling | George Mathews Hughes (1823 - 1908) |
| Sibling | Josiah Powel Hughes (1824 - ) |
| Sibling | Louisa Maria Hughes (1828 - 1900) |
| Sibling | Sgt Joel Wesley "Jack" Hughes (1830 - 1900) |
| Sibling | Martha Lavinia Hughes (1831 - 1899) |
| Sibling | Daniel Friday Salley Hughes (1835 - ) |
| Sibling | John Optimus Hughes (1837 - 1875) |
| Sibling | Sarah Jane Hughes (1839 - 1926) |
Notes
Census (family)
1850 MS Lauderdale Co.,Southern District dwelling 36, family 37:Charles Hughs, 29, M, Farmer, $160 real estate, born in SC
Paulina Hughs, 21, F, AL
Mary J. Hughs, 2, F, MS
Martha Hughs, 3 months, F, MS
P. H. Partin, 32, M, Clerk, $300 real estate, born in SC
No James Fisher Hughes or Charles Edward Hughes listed as slave holders in 1850 or 1860. There was a John and a William Hughes listed in 1850, not sure if they are related or not. The census records are only a snapshot taken every 10 years, so it is possible that our Hughes family owned slaves during other than census years. But I don't think so. Not with their backgrounds, and I never heard any mention of it. To the contrary, my mother once said something about her family being anti-slavery.
(John Hurst, after checking the census slave schedules to see if slaves ever lived on the Hughes' Daleville property.)
Census (family)
Lauderdale County, Mississippi, 1853 State Census" is listedC. E. Hughes, 1 male, 2 females, for a total of 3.
Census (family)
1860 MS Lauderdale Co., Beat 3 Daleville, pg 116, dwelling 805, family 783(all with surname Hughs, and all children born in MS):
-- C. E. Hughs, 39, M, Farmer, $700 / $350, born in SC
-- Pruline, 24, F, Domestic Business, born in AL (my note: her age is in
error, could be an error in this transcribed version of the census, or could
be an error on the actual census sheet)
-- Mary J., 13, F
-- Martha M., 10, F
-- William J., 8, M
-- John C., 5, M
-- Sarah M., 2, F
No James Fisher Hughes or Charles Edward Hughes listed as slave
holders in 1850 or 1860.
Military
C. E. Hughes (First_Last)Regiment Name 6 Mississippi Cavalry.
Side Confederate
Company G
Soldier's Rank_In Private
Soldier's Rank_Out Private
Alternate Name
Notes
Film Number M232 roll 20
He enlisted as a Private in Co G, 6th Mississippi Cavalry Regiment on 28 Nov 1863 at De Kalb, Miss. His record shows his last known service date as 30 June 1864 on a muster roll.
His Compiled Military Service Record can be found on M 269 R 31 and consists of 3 cards.
Census (family)
1870 MS Lauderdale Co., Beat 3 Marion Station, pg 132, dwelling 26, family 26(all members had surname Hughes, and all the children were born in Miss.):
-- Charlie E. Hughes, 48, M, SC
-- Pauline 42, F, AL
-- Martha, 18, F
-- William, 17, M
-- John, 15, M
-- Sarah, 12, F
-- Elizabeth, 7, F
-- Florence, 3, F
-- Charles, 2 months, M
Census (family)
Charles E. HUGHES Self M Male W 58 SC Farmer SC SCPauline HUGHES Wife M Female W 54 AL Housekeeping SC SC
William J. HUGHES Son Male W 27 MS Mail Contractor SC AL
Sarahell HUGHES Dau S Female W 21 MS At Home SC AL
Louisa E. HUGHES Dau S Female W 16 MS At Home SC AL
Charles E. HUGHES Son S Male W 10 MS Works On Farm SC AL
Mattie M. BURT Dau W
Cora L. BURT GDau
Lida P. BURT GDau
Death
obituary-HUGHES---Mr Charles Edward Hughes was born in South Carolina, July 9, 1821, and died at his home in Lauderdale county, Miss., June 10, 1888. Mr. Hughes embraced religion and joined the Methodist Church in early life and remained faithful until death. He was a cheerful, contented, happy man and made his home bright and attractive. His presence was like a sunbeam, dispelling darkness, and cheering his associates. He was poor in this world's goods, but rich in faith, and an heir of the kingdom of God. He was married December 13, 1846, in Lauderdale county, Miss., to Miss Pauline Craig. They had nine children born to them -- three of whom have died. One of the surviving six, Miss Bettie Hughes, is a missionary in China. It was a severe trial to him to give his daughter up for that work, but he yielded the point, and bade here go in the name of Jesus. In his last moments he said to a visiting minister, "Tell her (Bettie) I am very sick, but my way is clear." He suffered much in his last illness, but was visited by several ministers of the gospel whose ministrations he greatly enjoyed. His end was peace. May God comfort the bereaved ones!
H. P. Lewis
Endnotes
1. Hughes, Pauline Craig (1826-1910), Family History on Barfield, Craig, Hughes, Mathews, McCulloh, Steveson, Taylor, written in 1908 (copy held by Jeff Prouty, CA, prouty@sonic.net).
2. US Federal Government, Census - Mississippi, 1850 Lauderdale Co. (read 26 May, 2001, Nancy Prouty.).
3. U.S. Census images. Heritage Quest Online. Subscription database through the Sonoma County Public Library. (ProQuest LLC, 2009.), 1850 > MISSISSIPPI > LAUDERDALE > S DIST Series: M432 Roll: 375 Page: 327.
4. Sheely, Craig Hughes., Hughes family history from letters sent to Chuck and Marjorie Prouty. (Meridian, MS: Jan 27, 1993.).
5. National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System Web Page (http://165.83.221.5/cwss/ Aug 2002).
6. U.S. Federal Census - 1870, Lauderdale Co. , MS (read 6/2001 Nancy Prouty).
7. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints., Transcription of the United States Federal Population Census - 1880 (http://www.familysearch.org/ Oct. 2002), Daleville, Lauderdale, Mississippi Family History Library Film 1254653, NA Film Number T9-0653, Page Number 135C.