Individual Details
John Optimus Hughes
(1837 - 1875)
Linda (Hughes) Caviness believes this John is her ancestor. he is John Optimus and our grandfather - his son - Optimus John. All this goes with the Optimus in your line of Hughes - James Fisher Hughes' brother Optimas E. Hughes, which we believe James F. named his son after him etc. Our grandfather was born 3 months after the death of his father June 24, 1875 and his mother remarried and since his birth and her remarriage occurred between ! census records we have had a tough time tracking this down. There was a story that we have grown up with as to how our grt.grandfather died - that he died from a fall off a horse. Now we see that Patricia Lightsey Davis has written that same story about John Hughes. But we still can't connect them positively."
John Hughes and Martha Jane (Patty) Wilson probably married around the first of the year 1873, in Falls County, Texas. A daughter, Minnie Edna was born December 8, 1873.
John Hughes died from a fall off of a horse in Falls County, around the first part of 1875, before his son Optimus John was born June 24, 1875. We could find no records of his death, and there is no John Hughes (or any Hughes) listed as a member 1868 to 1875 of the E. M. Wilder Chapter of Masonic Lodge of which his father-in-law John R. Wilson belonged.
It is believed that John was possibly a brother to a Daniel S. Hughes (who lived in the area of Powers Chapel, Falls County, Texas, according to the 1880 census records). Daniel S. Hughes was from Mississippi; and according to census records (1880 Falls County, Dist 40, page 221,) the father of 4 year-old Optimus John Hughes and his sister Minnie Edna, was born in Mississippi.
According to reliable information, Daniel S. Hughes was the son of James Fisher Hughes(1799) of Charleston, SC and Lauderdale Co Miss. James Fisher Hughes(1799) was the son of Edward Hughes and James had a younger brother, Optimus born circa 1818, who was married in the early 1840's and had his own Optimus Jr in 1852. Since the name Optimus is very unusual, our John Hughes, father of Optimus John Hughes(1875), probably came from this Edward Hughes family.
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In the 1867-1869 Voter Registration List of Falls County, Texas( on microfilm in the Fort Worth Library,) on page 494 are listed D. S. Hughes, and O. J. Hughes (one below the other), date of registry was Nov 25, 1869, and it indicated they had both been in the state 12 months and in the county 20 days. (However, the registrar was a little bit lazy and used ditto marks quite a lot.)
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In 1868 Falls Co tax rolls, John Hughes - 1 horse - $40 , also a Danl Hughs, 1 horse 40.
In 1869 Falls Co tax rolls, C.J. (O.J.?) Hughes, 2 horses $80, also D. S. Hughes listed, l horse.
In 1870 Falls Co tax rolls, couldn't find an O.J. or John Hughes listed; however, records were dim.
In 1870 Falls Co tax rolls, D. S. Hughs, abst 27, J. Morgan land, 100 acres, 1 horse.
In 1871 Falls Co tax rolls, couldn't find an O.J. or John Hughes listed; however, records were dim.
In 1871 Falls Co tax rolls, Dan. Hughes agt. 50 cattle $300
also Dan Hughes - J. Hogan land, 1 horse
In 1872 Falls Co tax rolls, John Hughes - 1 horse - $76,
In 1872 Falls Co tax rolls, D. S. Hughes - S. Peckridge land 100 acres, 2 horses
" " G. Morgan land 100 acres, 2 horses
In 1873 Falls Co tax rolls, O. J. Hughes - 1 horse - $72,
In 1873 Falls Co tax rolls, D. S. Hughes - abst 274 Elam Stockbridge land, 200 acres, 1 horse, 8 cattle
Around the first of 1873, John Hughes married Martha Jane (Patty) Wilson. We can find no record of marriage in Falls County or surrounding counties.
In 1874 Falls Co tax rolls, couldn't find an O.J. or John Hughes listed; however, records were dim.
In 1874 Falls Co tax rolls, D. S. Hughes, abst 264, E Stockbridge land, 200 acres, 1 horse, 15 cattle
.
.
.
In 1875 Falls Co tax rolls, O. J. Hughes - 2 horses, 5 cows, l00 acres abst #264 Elam Lockridge land (between Lott and Travis) (This is confusing that the Elam Stockbridge land 100 acres is now listed under O.J. Hughes. Could have been an error, or maybe O.J. Hughes acquired 100 acres of the Stockbridge land from D. S. Hughes?)
John Hughes was killed from a fall off a horse around the first part of 1875.
In 1876 Falls Co tax rolls, Mrs. M.J. Hughes - no land, 2 horses, 18 cows; could find no other Hughes.
In 1876 Falls Co tax rolls, B.D. Usseltin - 1 horse
In 1877 Falls Co tax rolls, B.D. Uselton - 1 horse - (no land)
In 1877, could find no Hughes, but the records were unreadable.
Martha Jane Wilson Hughes married Benjamin D. Useltin December 5, 1877.
In 1878 Falls Co tax rolls, B.D. Usselton - no land, 1 buggy, 1 horse, 7 cows, 1 hog
In 1879 Falls Co tax rolls, B.D. Usselton - no land, 2 horses, 10 cows, 2 hogs
In 1882 Falls Co tax rolls, B. D. Usselton - no land, 1 carriage, 2 horses, 10 cattle
Mary Hughes Spann stated in 2004, that Martha Jane Patty Hughes Usselton had had a disagreement with the Hugheses, something about she thought she had been cheated out of some land. Maybe it was the 100 acres of Stockbridge land?
We have the record in Falls County, TX, probate book Vol 3, page 329, where on August 23, 1879, Benjamin D. Usselton filed guardianship of the Hughes children, John and Edna.
Then in deed records of Falls County, TX, Vol 6, page 24, on August 2, 1882, B. D. Usselton purchased land from W. A. Wooley and wife, 50 acres of the Wm. Caldwell survey. Then in deed book Vol 4, page 143, on April 8, 1891, B. D. Uselton and M.J. Uselton wife, sold to V. T. Asbury, Jr., the land in the Caldwell survey. The family might have left Falls County in 1891.
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In the Powers Chapel Cemetery near Rosebud, Texas, there is a a marker that says "John Hughes, Co. K, 19 Texas Cav, Confederate States Army." This is in a line of headstones and a plaque that says "Powers Chapel Cemetery, In memory of The Confederate Veterans buried in Powers Chapel Cemetery, whose graves have been marked by the David B. Lowe Chap. No. 2461, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Pasadena, TX, 25 May 1986." Powers Chapel Cemetery was started in 1850.
Mary Ann Perry talked to a Mark at the Rosebud Funeral Home on Oct 25, 2004, and the only record he could find of a John Hughes being buried there was the one where the marker is, for the Civil War Vaterans.
Mary Ann Perry has copies of records from Texas State Archives of a file for Pvt. John Hughes, Co. K, 19th Reg, Texas Cavalry, Confederate States Army. According to "Units of the Confederate States Army" by Joseph Crute, Jr., the 19th Cavalry Regiment was attached to Trans-Mississippi Department. The unit ended the war at Marshall, Texas and was disbanded in May, 1865.
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compiled by Mary A. Perry
updated Oct 2004
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Concerning John Optimus Hughes(1837), son of James Fisher Hughes(circ 1798)
According to a book "The History of Daleville, Mississippi" by Patricia Lightsey Davis, John Optimus Hughes was born about 1837 (in Alabama or Lauderdale Co, Miss) to James Fisher Hughes and Martha Stevenson Hughes.
John's parents moved from Alabama to near Daleville, Lauderdale County, Mississippi in January of 1837, therefore, the question of whether John was born in Alabama or Mississippi. In the Daleville History it states that John Optimus was born in 1837 or 1838 in Lauderdale County, Mississippi.
In the 1840 Lauderdale County, Miss Census, Jas. F. Hughes is listed with his family, including 2 boys to 5 years old, 1 boy 5-10, 2 boys 10-15, 1 boy 15-20, one girl to 5 yrs, and 2 girls 5-10. John Optimus was probably a boy about 3 years old.
In th 1850 Lauderdale County, Miss Census, James Hughs, wife Martha and family are living there, and John is 13 years old, indicating that he was born in Alabama. James Fisher Hughes died Feb 1, 1853, Lauderdale County, Miss, and is buried in Hughes Family Cemetery, near Daleville.
In the 1860 Smith County, Mississippi census, John Hughs 22 b. Miss , is listed with Martha Hughs 60, b. S.C. Also in the same household are Toliver Phipps 26 b. Ga., Sarah Phipps 20 b. Miss, a John A. Phipps 23 b. Ga., Amanda Phipps 18, b. Ga., and a John D. Florence 20, farm laborer.
We don't know whether this John Optimus Hughes, son of James Fisher Hughes, fought in the civil war (1861-1865) for Miss. as he would have been of age. His brother Daniel apparently served in the Texas Cavalry. In a book "History of Falls County, Texas" by Roy Eddings, Chapter "Under the Confederacy", is listed on page 143, Hughes, D.S., private, Company F, 41st Inf. Greens Brigade, Hardiman's Div., Trans-Miss Enlisted in Texas, Marlin, Texas.
Also, in "The History of Smith County, Mississippi," History 976.2582, on page 358 - War Between The States, Harpa's Reserves, Company "C" 36th Inf, is listed: Dobbs, T.N. Pvt; Hughes, George, Pvt; Hughes, Joel W. Sgt; and Kelly, John Pvt. There was no John Hughes listed as serving from Smith County, Miss.
So far, we have not been able to locate John Hughes (about 32 years old) in the 1870 census, either in Mississippi or Texas. We believe this John Hughes may have come to Falls County, Texas around 1868, and that he is probably the John Hughes, father of our Optimus John Hughes born in Falls County, Texas, June 24, 1875.)
John's brother, Daniel Friday Hughes apparently came to Falls County, Texas before April 1869, as the marriage records of Falls County, Texas list D. S. Hughes married E. H. Rouse Apr 15, 1869.
The tax records of Falls County 1868, lists Hughs, Danl, 1 horse $40, and also Hughs, John, 1 horse $40.
In the 1867-1869 Voter Registration List of Falls County, Texas( on microfilm in the Fort Worth Library,) on page 494 are listed D. S. Hughes, and O. J. Hughes (one below the other), date of registry was Nov 25, 1869, and it indicated they had both been in the state 12 months and in the county 20 days. (However, the registrar was a little bit lazy and used ditto marks quite a lot.)
1870 Census records, Falls County, Texas, list Daniel Hughes 34 b Miss, and wife Harriet 25 b Ga., and son Irvin l yr old.
Also, according to "Families of Falls County" (Texas) in the Ft. Worth Public Library, John's sister, Sara Jane Hughes Phipps (wife of Toliver Phipps), came to Texas around 1867. And according to "The History of Daleville, Mississippi", John's brother, Josiah Powell Hughes died in Texas, as did his sister, Louisa Maria who married Daniel Price.
Pauline Craig Hughes of Lauderdale County, Miss. wrote to her children circ 1908 (copy of letter in possession of Mary A. Perry,) that John Hughes (son of James Fisher Hughes) was thrown from a horse and killed. So was the father of our Pa Hughes, Optimus John Hughes(1875).
updated October, 2004
by Mary A. Perry
John Hughes and Martha Jane (Patty) Wilson probably married around the first of the year 1873, in Falls County, Texas. A daughter, Minnie Edna was born December 8, 1873.
John Hughes died from a fall off of a horse in Falls County, around the first part of 1875, before his son Optimus John was born June 24, 1875. We could find no records of his death, and there is no John Hughes (or any Hughes) listed as a member 1868 to 1875 of the E. M. Wilder Chapter of Masonic Lodge of which his father-in-law John R. Wilson belonged.
It is believed that John was possibly a brother to a Daniel S. Hughes (who lived in the area of Powers Chapel, Falls County, Texas, according to the 1880 census records). Daniel S. Hughes was from Mississippi; and according to census records (1880 Falls County, Dist 40, page 221,) the father of 4 year-old Optimus John Hughes and his sister Minnie Edna, was born in Mississippi.
According to reliable information, Daniel S. Hughes was the son of James Fisher Hughes(1799) of Charleston, SC and Lauderdale Co Miss. James Fisher Hughes(1799) was the son of Edward Hughes and James had a younger brother, Optimus born circa 1818, who was married in the early 1840's and had his own Optimus Jr in 1852. Since the name Optimus is very unusual, our John Hughes, father of Optimus John Hughes(1875), probably came from this Edward Hughes family.
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In the 1867-1869 Voter Registration List of Falls County, Texas( on microfilm in the Fort Worth Library,) on page 494 are listed D. S. Hughes, and O. J. Hughes (one below the other), date of registry was Nov 25, 1869, and it indicated they had both been in the state 12 months and in the county 20 days. (However, the registrar was a little bit lazy and used ditto marks quite a lot.)
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In 1868 Falls Co tax rolls, John Hughes - 1 horse - $40 , also a Danl Hughs, 1 horse 40.
In 1869 Falls Co tax rolls, C.J. (O.J.?) Hughes, 2 horses $80, also D. S. Hughes listed, l horse.
In 1870 Falls Co tax rolls, couldn't find an O.J. or John Hughes listed; however, records were dim.
In 1870 Falls Co tax rolls, D. S. Hughs, abst 27, J. Morgan land, 100 acres, 1 horse.
In 1871 Falls Co tax rolls, couldn't find an O.J. or John Hughes listed; however, records were dim.
In 1871 Falls Co tax rolls, Dan. Hughes agt. 50 cattle $300
also Dan Hughes - J. Hogan land, 1 horse
In 1872 Falls Co tax rolls, John Hughes - 1 horse - $76,
In 1872 Falls Co tax rolls, D. S. Hughes - S. Peckridge land 100 acres, 2 horses
" " G. Morgan land 100 acres, 2 horses
In 1873 Falls Co tax rolls, O. J. Hughes - 1 horse - $72,
In 1873 Falls Co tax rolls, D. S. Hughes - abst 274 Elam Stockbridge land, 200 acres, 1 horse, 8 cattle
Around the first of 1873, John Hughes married Martha Jane (Patty) Wilson. We can find no record of marriage in Falls County or surrounding counties.
In 1874 Falls Co tax rolls, couldn't find an O.J. or John Hughes listed; however, records were dim.
In 1874 Falls Co tax rolls, D. S. Hughes, abst 264, E Stockbridge land, 200 acres, 1 horse, 15 cattle
.
.
.
In 1875 Falls Co tax rolls, O. J. Hughes - 2 horses, 5 cows, l00 acres abst #264 Elam Lockridge land (between Lott and Travis) (This is confusing that the Elam Stockbridge land 100 acres is now listed under O.J. Hughes. Could have been an error, or maybe O.J. Hughes acquired 100 acres of the Stockbridge land from D. S. Hughes?)
John Hughes was killed from a fall off a horse around the first part of 1875.
In 1876 Falls Co tax rolls, Mrs. M.J. Hughes - no land, 2 horses, 18 cows; could find no other Hughes.
In 1876 Falls Co tax rolls, B.D. Usseltin - 1 horse
In 1877 Falls Co tax rolls, B.D. Uselton - 1 horse - (no land)
In 1877, could find no Hughes, but the records were unreadable.
Martha Jane Wilson Hughes married Benjamin D. Useltin December 5, 1877.
In 1878 Falls Co tax rolls, B.D. Usselton - no land, 1 buggy, 1 horse, 7 cows, 1 hog
In 1879 Falls Co tax rolls, B.D. Usselton - no land, 2 horses, 10 cows, 2 hogs
In 1882 Falls Co tax rolls, B. D. Usselton - no land, 1 carriage, 2 horses, 10 cattle
Mary Hughes Spann stated in 2004, that Martha Jane Patty Hughes Usselton had had a disagreement with the Hugheses, something about she thought she had been cheated out of some land. Maybe it was the 100 acres of Stockbridge land?
We have the record in Falls County, TX, probate book Vol 3, page 329, where on August 23, 1879, Benjamin D. Usselton filed guardianship of the Hughes children, John and Edna.
Then in deed records of Falls County, TX, Vol 6, page 24, on August 2, 1882, B. D. Usselton purchased land from W. A. Wooley and wife, 50 acres of the Wm. Caldwell survey. Then in deed book Vol 4, page 143, on April 8, 1891, B. D. Uselton and M.J. Uselton wife, sold to V. T. Asbury, Jr., the land in the Caldwell survey. The family might have left Falls County in 1891.
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In the Powers Chapel Cemetery near Rosebud, Texas, there is a a marker that says "John Hughes, Co. K, 19 Texas Cav, Confederate States Army." This is in a line of headstones and a plaque that says "Powers Chapel Cemetery, In memory of The Confederate Veterans buried in Powers Chapel Cemetery, whose graves have been marked by the David B. Lowe Chap. No. 2461, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Pasadena, TX, 25 May 1986." Powers Chapel Cemetery was started in 1850.
Mary Ann Perry talked to a Mark at the Rosebud Funeral Home on Oct 25, 2004, and the only record he could find of a John Hughes being buried there was the one where the marker is, for the Civil War Vaterans.
Mary Ann Perry has copies of records from Texas State Archives of a file for Pvt. John Hughes, Co. K, 19th Reg, Texas Cavalry, Confederate States Army. According to "Units of the Confederate States Army" by Joseph Crute, Jr., the 19th Cavalry Regiment was attached to Trans-Mississippi Department. The unit ended the war at Marshall, Texas and was disbanded in May, 1865.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------
compiled by Mary A. Perry
updated Oct 2004
.
.
.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------
Concerning John Optimus Hughes(1837), son of James Fisher Hughes(circ 1798)
According to a book "The History of Daleville, Mississippi" by Patricia Lightsey Davis, John Optimus Hughes was born about 1837 (in Alabama or Lauderdale Co, Miss) to James Fisher Hughes and Martha Stevenson Hughes.
John's parents moved from Alabama to near Daleville, Lauderdale County, Mississippi in January of 1837, therefore, the question of whether John was born in Alabama or Mississippi. In the Daleville History it states that John Optimus was born in 1837 or 1838 in Lauderdale County, Mississippi.
In the 1840 Lauderdale County, Miss Census, Jas. F. Hughes is listed with his family, including 2 boys to 5 years old, 1 boy 5-10, 2 boys 10-15, 1 boy 15-20, one girl to 5 yrs, and 2 girls 5-10. John Optimus was probably a boy about 3 years old.
In th 1850 Lauderdale County, Miss Census, James Hughs, wife Martha and family are living there, and John is 13 years old, indicating that he was born in Alabama. James Fisher Hughes died Feb 1, 1853, Lauderdale County, Miss, and is buried in Hughes Family Cemetery, near Daleville.
In the 1860 Smith County, Mississippi census, John Hughs 22 b. Miss , is listed with Martha Hughs 60, b. S.C. Also in the same household are Toliver Phipps 26 b. Ga., Sarah Phipps 20 b. Miss, a John A. Phipps 23 b. Ga., Amanda Phipps 18, b. Ga., and a John D. Florence 20, farm laborer.
We don't know whether this John Optimus Hughes, son of James Fisher Hughes, fought in the civil war (1861-1865) for Miss. as he would have been of age. His brother Daniel apparently served in the Texas Cavalry. In a book "History of Falls County, Texas" by Roy Eddings, Chapter "Under the Confederacy", is listed on page 143, Hughes, D.S., private, Company F, 41st Inf. Greens Brigade, Hardiman's Div., Trans-Miss Enlisted in Texas, Marlin, Texas.
Also, in "The History of Smith County, Mississippi," History 976.2582, on page 358 - War Between The States, Harpa's Reserves, Company "C" 36th Inf, is listed: Dobbs, T.N. Pvt; Hughes, George, Pvt; Hughes, Joel W. Sgt; and Kelly, John Pvt. There was no John Hughes listed as serving from Smith County, Miss.
So far, we have not been able to locate John Hughes (about 32 years old) in the 1870 census, either in Mississippi or Texas. We believe this John Hughes may have come to Falls County, Texas around 1868, and that he is probably the John Hughes, father of our Optimus John Hughes born in Falls County, Texas, June 24, 1875.)
John's brother, Daniel Friday Hughes apparently came to Falls County, Texas before April 1869, as the marriage records of Falls County, Texas list D. S. Hughes married E. H. Rouse Apr 15, 1869.
The tax records of Falls County 1868, lists Hughs, Danl, 1 horse $40, and also Hughs, John, 1 horse $40.
In the 1867-1869 Voter Registration List of Falls County, Texas( on microfilm in the Fort Worth Library,) on page 494 are listed D. S. Hughes, and O. J. Hughes (one below the other), date of registry was Nov 25, 1869, and it indicated they had both been in the state 12 months and in the county 20 days. (However, the registrar was a little bit lazy and used ditto marks quite a lot.)
1870 Census records, Falls County, Texas, list Daniel Hughes 34 b Miss, and wife Harriet 25 b Ga., and son Irvin l yr old.
Also, according to "Families of Falls County" (Texas) in the Ft. Worth Public Library, John's sister, Sara Jane Hughes Phipps (wife of Toliver Phipps), came to Texas around 1867. And according to "The History of Daleville, Mississippi", John's brother, Josiah Powell Hughes died in Texas, as did his sister, Louisa Maria who married Daniel Price.
Pauline Craig Hughes of Lauderdale County, Miss. wrote to her children circ 1908 (copy of letter in possession of Mary A. Perry,) that John Hughes (son of James Fisher Hughes) was thrown from a horse and killed. So was the father of our Pa Hughes, Optimus John Hughes(1875).
updated October, 2004
by Mary A. Perry
Events
| Birth | 1837 | Mississippi, United States |  | ||
| Census | 1860 | Smith, Mississippi, United States |  | | |
| Military | Abt 1864 | Co. K Texas Cavalry CSA - American Civil War, United States | |||
| Marriage | Abt 1872 | Falls, Texas, United States - Martha Jane "Patty" Wilson | | ||
| Death | 1875 | from a fall off a horse - Falls, Texas, United States | |||
| Burial | Powers Chapel Cemetery, Rosebud, Falls, Texas, United States |
Families
| Spouse | Martha Jane "Patty" Wilson (1849 - 1923) |
| Child | Minnie Edna Hughes (1873 - 1941) |
| Child | Optimus John Hughes (1875 - 1957) |
| Father | James Fisher Hughes (1798 - 1853) |
| Mother | Martha Stevenson (1799 - 1860) |
| Sibling | Charles Edward Hughes (1821 - 1888) |
| 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 | Sarah Jane Hughes (1839 - 1926) |
Notes
Census
266, 266 Martha Hughes 60 F 1500, 250 SCJohn Hughes 22 M Farmer 200, 150 MS
Toliver Phipps 26 M Farmer 0, 100 GA
Sarah Phipps 20 F MS
John A Phipps 23 M Merchant 0, 800 GA
Amanda Phipps 18 F GA
John D. Florence 20 M Farm laborer 0.100 GA
Endnotes
1. US Federal Government, Census - Mississippi, 1850 Lauderdale Co. (read 26 May, 2001, Nancy Prouty.).
2. U.S. Census images. Heritage Quest Online. Subscription database through the Sonoma County Public Library. (ProQuest LLC, 2009.), 1860 census says MS.
3. U.S. Census images. Heritage Quest Online. Subscription database through the Sonoma County Public Library. (ProQuest LLC, 2009.), 1860 > Mississippi > SMITH > NO TWP LISTED Series: M653 Roll: 591 Page: 274.
4. Linda Caviness, "Descendants of John Optimus Hughes," e-mail messages and GED file from