Bio: W. J. Hughes, Bossier Parish La
Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville,  1890

Submitted by: Suzanne Shoemaker




**********************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://usgwarchives.net/la/lafiles.htm
**********************************************
 *
  
W. J. HUGHES is a native of Fairfield, S. C., where he was born in 1837,
being a son of W. J. and Elizabeth (Brown) Hughes, both of whom were born
in Chester County, S. C., the former in 1804, and the latter in 1814.  They
were tillers of the soil and worthy members of the Presbyterian Church.
The grandfather, W. J. Hughes, fought under Marion in the Revolutionary
War, and was a Virginian by birth, being born in 1768.  The
great-grandfather, W. J. Hughes, was born in Ireland.  W. J. Hughes
obtained an academic education at Alexandria, Calhoun County, Ala., and
from 1857 to 1860, was a clerk in a wholesale grocery house, and a retail
dry goods store.  In the last named year he removed to Bossier Parish, La.,
and farmed on rented land until the opening of the war, when he joined
Company D, Ninth Louisiana Regiment, under Col. E. G. Randolph, his
operations being wholly in the State of Virginia, being present at the
battles of Newtown, Winchester, Cross Keys, Gaines' Mill and in the seven
days' fight around Richmond.  On June 9, 1862, he was promoted to the
position of quartermaster of his regiment, and at the time of the surrender
he was on detached service at Salisbury, N. C., under York.  On September
26, 1866, his marriage with Mary, daughter of Daniel and Malinda (Martin)
Clark, took place, and in time a family of four children gathered about
their hearthstone:  William C. (engaged in merchandising in partnership
with his brother), John F., James A. (engaged in farming at home), and
Belle (at school in Shreveport, La.).  Upon his return from the war Mr.
Hughes borrowed some capital and engaged in merchandising at Rocky Mount,
in which he did remarkably well, and now has one of the largest stocks of
general merchandise and farming implements in this section.  For the past
ten years his business has amounted to about $30,000 annually, and besides
this he is interested in two other mercantile houses in Bossier Parish, and
is the owner of 3,400 acres of land in Ward 5, 120 acres in Ward 4, has a
half interest in 1,000 acres in Red River land, in Ward 3, on Red River,
and one-half interest in 1,400 acres in Red River land in Caddo Parish, all
of which is the result of his own efforts and owing to his shrewdness and
ability as a financier.  Mr. Hughes is the second of four sons born to his
parents, the names of his brothers being:  John T. A., R. F. (both of whom
are farmers of Alabama), and James M. (a clerk in W. J. Hughes store).