Beckham Co. OK The Hughes Stories Submitted by Brent Tod Hughes tex_l@yahoo.com ************************************************************************ USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. http://www.rootsweb.com/~usgenweb/ *********************************************************************** The Hughes Stories Written by Brent Tod Hughes Edited by Ms. Virginia Hutson Which I owe many thanks, because of Kind acts shown to me. Part One A New Beginning I can trace my family from Ireland in early 1800’s, based on James Hughes military enlistment records, which give his birth land. The records go on to say that he is a 30-year-old, red headed, Grey eyes, 5’ 3.5 ”tall, profession Laborer. He started military service wit the Republic of Texas in Galveston, Texas. Records showed he was given bounty for his services in 1840 @ Harrisburg. Land Bounty N0. 292 for 640 acres were issued in what is now called Burleson County of Texas. Records show that two or more bounty where given him for his service to the Republic. Research is pending on remaining bounties. The 1845 Navarro County Tax records show James Hughes had no land recorded but did have two horses and six heads of cattle. Also noteworthy is a Wm. Hughes shown same page that paid tax on one horse. Although James has never been located in any census records in Navarro County, its known he made a land deal which eventually went before the 1857/58 session of the Supreme Court of Texas in Austin concerning a land grant owned by a John Welch. A bond was signed between Hughes and Welch giving Hughes 1000 dollars for 1/3 of league of land when patent is made on his bounty. Moses had appeared in County court and demurred to giving Welch payment. However no records have been located in land deeds records of either Navarro County or Burleson County of Texas concerning the two men. But Land Deed records in Navarro County show taxes paid on a bond made between Wm. Bartell and James Hughes. The Supreme Court order was issued to uphold the judgement made in favor of Mr. Welch in County Court. Lands where taken from the estate of James Hughes in 1858 at which time Martha Carolina Hughes was administering for the estate. Her husband Moses M. Hughes died before the courts rendered their decision. He had become the Administrator in December 1846. Navarro County Tax records show M.M. Hughes paid tax on a total of 1767 acres the James Hughes estate. Lands were shown in other counties in 1846. I don’t the exac final resting-place of James, but records suggest he died in Texas near Navarro County. One possible location is The Springhill cemetery near where stories circulate of Nemours unmarked graves that have been unearthed. Other records show James Hughes signing petition to send relief to Citizens of Robertson County as a result of Indian attacks in 1838. Hughes is also shown in Texas land office records as having power of attorney for Joseph T Bell. Bell was issued a league of land for immigrating to the USA. The league encompasses the town of Purdon, Texas in Navarro County. Moses M. Hughes was shown paying taxes on lands owned in the Bell grant starting in 1846 until his death. It should be noted that its not certain whether Moses Hughes and James Hughes where actually brothers, but numerous records show Moses as the heir of James, and this fact along with their shared surname certainly suggest family ties. Other possible family ties are in Burleson County where the will of Bradford Hughes -- also an original landowner of Texas-- listed Rebecca Hughes; John; Moses and Isac Hughes receiving property. The publication Old Northwest Texas shows a Moses Hughes immigrated in 1838 to Washington County before the time of the Board of land Commissioners. Proven residence allowed him to be issued 1/3 league of land. Bradford Hughes appeared before the board at the same time, stated he had immigrated to Texas in Feb. 1834, and was issued a certificate for one league and one labor of land. Other possible family ties found are indicated when Martha renders lands for payment to settle the lawsuit of James Hughes. Land given in the settlement once was owned of Peter M. Hughes: 738 acres located in Merdian County. We may assume he was deceased at the time. Martha was shown paying taxes on the land in 1858. An interesting discovery in my research is that many suspected Hughes relations shared the middle initial “M” believed to be the Irish name of “McAlester.” I was told me that the middle and last name combined could be used to record two families Lines that marry, very easy ways to record a family’s origin over time when writte records were not yet prevalent. Example being McAlester/ Hughes. Records to date show Hughes is in the top forty percent of Irish names used and is shown to have originated in Wales, England, where it is in the top 20 percent of most commonly held family names. Hughes was derived from “the son of Hugh.” Also, the name has records in Texas, but most documents record the spelling as Hughes. The other spelling was user choice or simply put how they chose to spell it. I have never felt like anything other than “Hughes” is the correct spelling since the time of Hugh. Part Two A place to call Home The Moses M. “Hugh’s” family is first shown in Census Records of St. Clair County Of Alabama. Records list a total of five Moses M. Hugh’s in the 1830. But only one matched later known descriptions of the family. They shared the same age, census showed no children to date. We know a daughter was born later in 1930. The 1850 Navarro County Census lists Moses M. Hugh’s birth as 1806 in Georgia, his occupation is farmer, and his age 44. His wife Martha C. Hugh’s, age 44 was born in North Carolina. His children where all born in Alabama and listed as follows: Dorcas Elizabeth b. 1830; Amelia Annette b. 1835; Alzada Adaline b. 1843 and last their only son Anguish M. Hugh’s b. 1846. The girls all married in Navarro County, Texas. A publication Old Northwest Texas Volume I-B records Dates and Married names from courthouse records for each of them. Land Records of the Mercer Colony show Moses was granted land located in Navarro County in early 1846. The land, a total of 640 acres was in dispute for many years and finally awarded in 1850 Abstract # 407. Later the land became part of nowadays Hill County near Aquilla Creek. Moses sold the lands @ the Navarro County Courthouse to Ethan Melton in 1852 at which time he lived in Navarro County where he remained until his death in circa 1857 on Lands once belonging to the JT Bell grant near Purdon, Texas, Located near Richland creek. The Place of Internment has not been found to date, but again, Springhill Cemetery is the most likely place. In 1848, MM Hugh’s deeds all lands to Wife Martha and becomes her agent to await the court decision concerning the Lands of James Hughes and his previous bond. County Tax and Deed records show Moses and later Martha Hugh’s have held the land from November 1847 to 1863. It appears that in 1863 their only son then takes over the remaining 200 acres of the original 899 acres located on the League belonging to JT Bell in Navarro Co. Texas. I term this piece of property the “Homestead of my forefathers in Texas”. Tax records in 1864 show only 160 acres remaining. The rest of the lands where either sold or rendered to settle the Lawsuit concerning James Hughes Bond. I have searched Records to find prove that Martha C. Hughes was alive after 1864, but none where found. I therefore conclude she probably passed away around 1864 or shortly they’re after. The civil war was ending, and Anguish just married Permelia A. Parson daughter of Joseph E Parson native of Germany and Elizabeth A. Robertson from Virginia. The youngest of the Moses Hughes Siblings was starting a whole new chapter in his life as Moses and Martha’s had ended. Records show Anguish M. Hughes son of Moses M. Hughes used the name MC Hughes instead of using his christen name. I can only assume he choose MC because neither of his names where suitable for life on the Frontiers of Texas, so he used the MC abbreviation from his middle name. Some books show him being shown as “Mack” Hughes. Records indicate Moses and his wife where first farmers and later part of the original settlers to the Texas frontier a situation which led them into becoming cattleman and land barons. At the height of land dealings, Moses Hughes family held well over 4600 acres in what later to became as the State of Texas (as opposed to the Republic of Texas), located from San Antonio to the Dallas, Texas region. The task of tracking down all land records for such a wide span of territory is still on going. In 1847 Moses M. Hughes signed petition to move the county Seat. In 1849 Martha C. “Hugh’s” registered the family cattle brand. The civil index of Navarro County 1855 -1891 shows numerous times Martha was called to proceedings concerning previous land dealings of Moses and James Hughes. It seems anytime lands where sold at later dates, she had to appear. Not much else has been uncovered about their lives in Georgia, North Carolina, Alabama and Texas. The untold hardship they must have endured to bring my family name to Texas Frontier during the Height of the Republic certainly should be noted. Family names of which we are still apart in 2001, raising are families as they did in this Great State of Texas, 180 years later and counting. Hardship still arising to us all, but no hardships of today can exceed theirs, nor ever be as proud of an achievement to have recorded as being part of are family heritage. Their efforts where not in vain as we look further into the Future. Part Three Texas to stay, and the unknown The story of my family line continues with the birth of a Son to Moses Hughes, born in Alabama in 1846. Shortly after his birth Anguish M. Hughes was brought to the Texas Frontier near the Ghost town Of SpringHill, Texas, Navarro County. Anguish a very young man now given cause to arise against a vast and untamed land, for he lived many years in the Texas Frontier. Anguish’s father died in his son’s tenth year, but the boy had many older sisters and a mother to see him through his growth to manhood and the leadership of his family affairs. His mother didn’t die until circa his 17th birthday. He was very much a man now, using the standards set in the 1800’s and on the Texas frontier. He soon took a wife named Permelia A. Parson born Henderson County Kentucky in 1844. Her father homesteaded in near by Wise County of Texas shortly after her mother’s death back in Kentucky. How the two meet is still up for debate. But Permelia’s father was a Circuit preacher known to ride the frontier with bible in hand and a songbook in his saddlebag. This might explain how the two meet or maybe Anguish was just out speculating his options on the frontier in his younger days when they meet. The only fact we have to present for the time of their marriage is the Parson bible entry: “MC Hugh & Pem A. Parson was married on the 8th of Sept. 1864.” Since no record of marriage has ever been found, noting the original Wise county court house burned down it may be assumed her father on the Texas Frontier married her. The Navarro County records first show Anguish M. Hughes in the 1850 Texas Census, a male ages 4. Second is the record of Anguish written as MC Hughes comes from Navarro County Tax records. Here he is shown paying taxes on Abstract # . The Original Land owner was JT Bell 180 acres. The next notable record is a Special Voters registry taken August 1867 after the Civil War to determine eligible voters in x-confederate States. The name listed is MC Hughes; Place of Residence, Springhill, Texas, Precinct: #2, Time of residence: 23 years, Native: yes, USA, Signature of Elector: The tax record finally gives a connection between Abstract numbers recorded earlier for Martha Carolina Hughes and MC Hughes. In 1871 MC Hugh’s is recorded as paying taxes on Abstract number 31; the amount of land was 160 acres. It is same Abstract number last recorded for Martha in 1864, when the amount of land then was 200 acres. I feel Abstract # is a misprint or that Martha had moved shortly after the lawsuit was settled concerning her involvement in the James Hughes estate. But its known the number recorded for the Bell land grant in later tax records. Now today recorded by the General Land Office of Texas is Abstract # 43, which in records for the year 1878 suddenly changes to Abstract # 43 from #31, Original landowner JT Bell, 160 acres of land, 3 mules, and 10 head of cattle. The year 1879 goes on to expand the same information with the certificate # 169shown, now only 155 acres of land remaining. But Permelia is shown separately paying taxes on 150 acres of land Abstract # 43 Original Land owner is JT Bell. Land deeds records show MC Hughes deeding lands to “Amelia” Hughes his beloved wife as a gift to her in Navarro County in the year 1873. Permelia is shown paying taxes on the lands mostly between 1864 and 1879 off and on. Permelia one year, MC the next or both names recorded. Census records tell us she had nine children born to her from two separate marriages. The first surviving child Born circa October 1870/ April 1871 was named James M. Hughes; the second surviving Hughes child William Daniel Hughes was born October 10, 1879. Both births took place near the town of Purdon, Texas, in Navarro County, presumably on the Moses M. Hughes homestead. After 1879 MC Hughes is no longer found paying taxes in Navarro Co. on any lands, and his story becomes unclear. However, in 1882 Permelia is shown selling land to an unnamed Railroad Company, which might be the second property of MC and Permelia listed in previous tax records in 1879 Navarro County. Not much is known about MC Hughes after that. He is not shown in 1870 Texas Census records, but in 1880 an MC Hughes is shown living in Robertson County married to wife Annette, the same age as my MC Hughes would have been that time, no children are shown. In 1883 an MC Hughes was shown trying to obtain a land grant in Clay County, Texas, but was refused by the land office of Texas because the land was already part of a homestead claim. A book written by Millie Porter speaks of a Hughes family living in Wheeler county Texas in the late 1800’s. Millie wrote an MC Hughes supplied milk to the soldiers of Fort Elliott. Millie wrote they both MC and his wife had been previously married, a fact which would fit my MC Hughes profile of the day. Also written was the family had been hit by a cyclone and there milk business disrupted. They appeared for the most part to have religious ways, excluding that day. To date I have never found in Wheeler County a final resting-place for any Hughes family member. It is known, however, his eldest son James M. Hughes made his way to nearby Indian Territory. In what’s now named Roger Mills County of Oklahoma near the town of Berlin, where State of Kansas records along with Oklahoma Census records show he married Nettie Snell Banks in 1893. Something I have always wondered is how he met the Banks family. Was it in Wheeler County where by land records it shows they lived five miles north of Hide Town-- nowadays called Old Mobeetie, Texas or was during the land runs of the Oklahoma Territory of 1892? It is known they married in 1893 and that all children where born between 1894 and 1907. By 1910, records show residency in Canadian, Texas. I know Robert Banks, born in Tennessee, remained in Oklahoma from 1892 through his wife’s Hannah McDonald Thompson – Banks, born in Missouri, death in 1907 until his own in 1922; both deaths occurred near Sweetwater, Oklahoma. They where interned at Rock cemetery in Wheeler Co. Texas. I believe the families of Banks and Hughes lived on the same farm or neighbored until the early 1900’s where both families are shown in the township of Berlin, Oklahoma. Then Robert Banks moved in 1903 to near Sweetwater OK and homesteaded in his sons name to be nearer his kids and possibly leaving behind recorded hardships of Berlin, Oklahoma during this period of time. Joe and family move to Texas marking the beginning of the end for Joe’s own family. Searches of land deeds records list many of my Banks families’ homesteads. But only two listings for Hughes: first, James A. and second James N. Hughes; no other listing is shown for any other Hughes line in the region, a fact now proves neither James nor his father MC Hughes ever homesteaded in Oklahoma. It’s not even known truly if MC Hughes ever left Navarro County. That question has to be raised since he had a child born in October 1879, and all records stop recording him there at that time. We don’t know if he died then or if a divorce took place and he is the man shown living in Robertson County, shown in the 1880 Texas Census and if later he headed north to Wheeler County by way of Clay Co. Texas. Finally on in to Oklahoma after the closing of Fort Elliott. His son could have joined up with him in either place, coming to live with him after the remarriage of his mother Permelia A. Parson-Hughes to a Robert M. Tickle when he was then the age of sixteen. The facts may never present themselves to us proofing where either of the final resting- places is for my Great Great Grand father Mack or Great Great Great Grand father Moses. The only proof that his name was changed from Anguish M. McAlester to “Mack” comes from the William D. Hughes family line, namely a Ms. Patsy Walker-Vanderpool. She provided me with a cassette tape of Family members made in 1980, the recording has sister discussing the facts about the first born son in the family was named after his Grandfather. Further prove comes from the monument for the said child standing in Younger Cemetery and 1850 Census records are a match. Funeral records of WD Hughes show father’s name was Mack. The Informant was Tommie Hughes, the youngest son of Martha Elizabeth Kennemore - Hughes and William Daniel Hughes. The entries above where all missing facts to me, thus allowed my family research to progress further back than the days of MC “Mack” Hughes in Texas. Part Four How it was we remain today This segment is about My Great Grand Father James M. Hughes born Texas in circa 1870, passed away during the great depression on December 25th 1933 near Fairview Oklahoma where he is interned. I have always felt his name came from the relative of my Great Great Great Grandfather Moses M. Hughes’ relation to James Hughes. It might be the last time that our family line would use McAlester for naming family members. Only exception might be James and Nettie named their last daughter Bertie M. Hughes in 1907. It can not be said at this time with any certainly that every middle name was to have represented the name of McAlester. But the name has been traced back to Irish roots along with my family line. It certainly looks like a family Bond. Traditions of the time for most families was to use a constant in the naming new children so later generations could trace are origins, since written records where very few. Later, the middle name is taken from the father’s first name, giving a written record to trace family roots of today. James was born during a period of great expectation for a growing nation and the Frontier of Texas. I wish I knew more of his raising, but no records whatever handed down where lost to us all or yet to be discovered? But today any recounts of his early days would be only offerings from History, with only Places and dates being fact. He was born the third child of a family of seven children. He was the first son to live to manhood. The preceding children maybe where stillborn; there sex to date is not even known. Doctors where not plentiful on any frontier and Hospital where nonexistent. The 1900 Census records typically document this loss of life for many families. The next three siblings where lost to the family as before. But the seventh child survived, a brother to James was finally born. Completing the birthing cycle for Permelia and Mack Hughes. It was about this time James became the man of the house for the next six years or so. 1886 tax records show the last year he is Navarro County. Facts are limited during this period, 1886 to 1893 due to the loss of the 1890 census to fire. 1900 Navarro County Census tell us about his Half Sister and Brother, Lillie Tickle – Bolton and Andy R. Tickle being born. Then James also reappears in the 1900 Oklahoma Census married to Nettie Snell Banks. Shown as a Farmer by trade and sporting the birth of three boys Frank Isard, George C. and Robert Lee Hughes. Also, he is now using the name of Joe Hughes. This time in Oklahoma History was recorded as settling Indian lands. The area was where the first of three land runs where made on the state of Oklahoma. He is part of the lands great history and hardships and soon will be registered as a Pioneer to Oklahoma territories. The oldest living relative shares the memory told to him by his father Robert Lee Hughes. The story is told that Joe moved to Texas to work as a butcher and later a railroad man. The 1910 Texas census records his occupation as slaughter pen worker. My own father shares his dad’s stories of stringing rope across the Canadian River to move horses. The 1910 Census tells us about the birth of three girls since 1900 records. Names Florence Ruth, Roy Eva and Bertha M. Hughes. We know now the family breaks apart during that time of are history. By 1914 Joe is living in Dodge City, Kansas with the two oldest girls. The oldest two boys set out to start their own fortunes. Later it is known Frank serves in WWI then marries and has one child named Cody Hughes by 1930, then is soon divorced. His later year’s record he was in and out of VA Hospitals until his death in 1970 at Trinidad Colorado. Body is interned at Memory Gardens Cemetery Pampa, Texas. Soon to be placed on the site is a monument proved by the Government for service to his country. George C Hughes’ life is still pretty much a mystery to me. The only fact I have concerning him a post card sent to Robert the face being a photo of George Hughes. I see a middle aged man wearing a hairpiece. His hands appear looking like tough leather, which may have been in a fire. LDS records show a possible match of WWI draft registration records for George. Maybe he was hurt during the service to his country. Uncle Willie Bee told me before his death a story of George being killed in a Ranching accident. While riding a horse it stubbed during the crossing a Dam, in turn kills George in the State of Wyoming. Place of internment unknown to me this day. I did search many 1920 Census records in hopes of locating him. Research still pending using the 1930 census records concerning his Life. The youngest son Robert Lee Hughes was taken to live with his grandfathers Banks near the Town of Sweetwater, Oklahoma where he grew up from 1913 to 1917. Bertha M. Hughes was also taken to live with an unknown family at this time. Says letters saved by Jane Lee Myers – Hughes written to Robert from his sister Florence. Sadly the name of the family is never mentioned. Later prove comes from an insurance policy obtained in 1917 at Trinidad, Colorado by Robert himself. As to Bertha’s life, It shows six children as his siblings but one had died in Infancy; lost child is believed to be Bertha M. Hughes. The Place of death is still unknown, but it is presumed to be in Oklahoma with other Banks family members, or possibly the Texas Panhandle. Joe is known to have lived in Dodge City, Kansas for a period of no less than one year by 1914. Court record show he had became a resident and his oldest daughter became a ward of the court then. I can only speculate where Roy Eva was taken during this time. Eva was not taken the same place as her sister. We do know that later a Mr. Crevestion adopted Florence and finished raising her as his own child in Osage County of Kansas by way of 1920 census records. It reported Mr. Crevestion and wife ages in there sixty’s, no other children shown living in the home. Florence did go on to marry a Frank Buzzell and lived in 1940 at Los Angles California. I assume children where born to this union. Florence’s place of interment is presumed California, but not before 1979. She out lived all her other Siblings. Family records show both Nettie Banks – Hughes – Hicks born in 1879 in Texas, now has remarried with a Half sister being born to the family named Winifred Helen Hicks by 1920 along with Roy Eva Hughes – Turney, they all lived many years in Garden City, Kansas. Nettie’s location of Internment is known to me, Death was in 1971 there. But still looking for Roy Eva final resting-place. A letter to Robert Hughes shows she was in the care of her mother when she passed, Interment should be garden city, Kansas but no records of her interment have ever been found. Another possible location is Overland Park, Kansas. She had a son named Bob whom lived there in 1962 after a second marriage, records show then wife Margaret gave birth to a son named Robert James Turney. Its known three other children where born to Bob by 1962. Also Eva’s husband is recorded as being in the same region in circa 1935 during the time of her death. Winifred later moved to Wichita, Kansas and was married to a Mr. Jason which later giving birth to a son named Bob Jason. Reason tells me she should be interned near Wichita, Kansas. Records show she lived there as late as 1971. Records again are very limited from 1914 through 1920 as to where Joe Hughes lived. I search all 1920 Census records for Texas as well as those for bordering states to Texas. And I found nothing. In 1929 he is know to be living in Enid, Oklahoma at the same time of his mother’s death in Corsicana, Texas. Permelia is interned outside of Corsicana in Younger Cemetery. Joe is now found working as a Hotel Detective at the Oxnard Hotel. Another letter shows he traveled to Purdon, Texas a few years prior to attend Christmas with his mother. Newspaper from 1933 from the city of Fairview reflects that the Oxnard Hotel was a rather nice for its day. Unclear is when did he move to the location 11 miles north east of Fairview, Oklahoma. Since the Great Depression started in late 1929, it would be a good guess he was working on road projects in Major County. Newspapers in Fairview for the year 1933 show many a man became employed by the federal relief programs of the day. One project that was closet to his home was the work on highway 60 which consisted of an 11 mile stretch to the City of Fairview. His final day was Christmas 1933; he had car trouble and the men riding with him said he died suddenly while trying to start his car. His Death Certificate lists a heart attack as probable cause, son Robert Hughes was shown as the informant for his death record. No obituary was ever found in later editions of the Fairview Newspaper. Persons attending the service where never recorded. Sadly by the time of his passed, he had seen at least three of his kids precede him in death. And I believe a fourth had passed, leaving his sons Frank living in Kansas; Robert Hughes in Oklahoma and one daughter in California. Who is assumed never made the trip to the funeral due to bad weather in the area and time constraints. A family member named Jack Topper and son Robert fore sure-- according to living family members-- attended the Services. Roberts’s children remained home. He is the only Hughes member buried in the Fairview cemetery to this day. Family members purchased a monument inscribed “JM Hughes” in the summer of 2001. One world war had been fought and won. Untamed lands had been conquered in the surrounding region. Indians nations had fallen and the Great Depression had begun during his lifetime. To date I have never found any records showing any other Children or marriages to my Great Grandfather. Pictures do show he visited the home of his Son Robert in nearby Sweetwater, Oklahoma on at least one occasion before his death. Only known photos of the man still are around today. A letter shows he did try to make admen’s to his son. The letter read “I am your father JM Hughes”. Florence too records in a later letter to her brother Robert, when she was separated from her dad in Kansas “She always thought he would be back to get her” My grand father I’ve been told-- never spoke much about his Father Joe to other relatives, not even on occasion when previous genealogists or curious family members asked him. Knowing of Roberts being raised by his Grandfather Banks and the divorce from Mr. Banks’ daughter surly aided in his lack of information concerning his own family line. But Census records Joe Hughes’ farther as being born in Georgia. One way to explain this might be that Moses M Hughes was listed from Georgia in census records. Permelia never heard family stories of MC four-year stay in Alabama. Oklahoma death records show Robert didn’t even know the name of his own grandparents. Telling me previous generations never spent much time getting to know there own linkage. How we survived this dark period in time will forever be outside my ability to fully understand given the records I have uncovered to this day. My prayer is for more doors to soon open helping me understand the ways of my forefathers. So all can be shared with future generations yearning to be born and to hear first hand from they’re own father words about long ago generations. Educating us to past mistakes and hardships endured because of past mistakes, so we can go on to educate are young, in the hopes they will never go on again to repeat themselves. I also pray that we will never again run so very close to losing the very information that tells us all “Who We Are” Chapter Five Lessons Learned and Remembered Long before the passing of my own grand father, I should have asked many more questions of him than I did. Its know now he was born near Berlin, Oklahoma in a time of no hospitals. Census records tell us he was the third of seven children. He lived with his natural parents until the age of fourteen, then was taken away to live with his Grandfather Banks at his home in Beckham County, Oklahoma, around the year 1914. His sister Florence recounts the fateful day in a letter to Robert many years after they had being lost from each other. She talked about how the Banks’ place was the only place to be seen for days during their journey from Canadian Texas. Considering the hardships endured by his brothers and sisters after that day, Robert, in my opinion, was the luckiest of all the children born to Joe and Nettie Hughes. His childhood was for the most part carefree compared to others. Things around my grandfather’s house tell me he had a strong affection to his Grandfather Banks for taking him in. Living most of his days now on the Banks ¼ section near the Myers Homestead, which I might add, have been visited by me in recent days. It’s not hard to see how he came to meet my Grandmother and his later wife of 50+ years. He just had to cross the Sweetwater Creek to be on Myers Land. Pictures have shown them attending the same School. Reason tells us many more times they must have set eyes on each other during their childhood. Jane grew up there, and Robert lived there for three years before setting out to ranch near Trinidad, Colorado, for a very short. One family heirloom from that time is a saddle he paid 100 dollars to begin his short attempt at being a Cowboy. He then heading back to Sweetwater, Oklahoma, by 1919 to marry my grand mother. Jane Lee Myers was born 1900 near Bowie, Texas Montague County. Shortly before he married papers show he had been released from the draft of WWI. There he was a farmer and raised Turkeys. From reading post cards, we know that she had other suitors in her day. She must have fallen in love with him very early on. They lived on the Myers homestead the first twenty years of their married lives, and all but two births of their six children took place on the 160 acres of John Henry Myers. The other two births took place in nearby cities with Hospital, showing a mark in the changing times. They lived and raised their families with her beloved mother and father. Janie was the youngest of 13 kids. Her mother was Nancy Ann Pipkin – Myers. She passed away in 1929 and was interned at Salem Cemetery in Beckham County near the Town of Sweetwater, Oklahoma. John Henry followed her in death, in the year 1939. He Died at Sayre, Oklahoma after family members removed him from the care of Jane and Robert. His later death marked the being of a turbulent time in their lives. After a few years of renting the property, they where asked to leave so the farm could be sold. The story now moves to Texas where he rented place after place trying to farm and survive; a flyer shows his final day as a farmer. It shows him selling out all he owned in the world, it listed farm implement to milk-cows. All the time WWII had just begun. They soon move to Dalhart, Texas where Robert started building Gliders for the war effort. War ration books can still be found among Jane’s family papers to this day. My father remembers the day they moved. The Ford car they drove at the time kept over heating. It was a long miserable trip by his account. Then they started looking for work; they leave Texas, but soon call a relative who finds him work in the town of Pampa, Texas. The Story has it that they where on there way back to Oklahoma. Robert settled there where he was a Farmer and Ranch hand until his retirement. He died in 1979. He is interned in Memory Gardens Cemetery in Pampa. Along with his wife Jane who preceded him in death in 1978. Also preceding him in death was his oldest daughter Bertha in 1975. Until recently all of his other kids where still living, then his oldest son Willie Bee passed away May 2001. My grandfather had a warm heart, which he shared with me many times during my young life. He was a gentleman who lived off the land all his days. Raising his family seemed to be important to him after his own broken home. I can still remember the family getting together almost every weekend. It was relaxed times in are family history. Now many rifts exist among the rest of us whom sprang from his family. I’m sure if he was alive today, he could show us the way to make us a strong family again. Chapter Six Just killing Time Eddie Ray Hughes was born the fifth child born in a family of six. His birth took place in the town of Erick Oklahoma, in 1937. He attended Pampa High School until 1957. Being one of the first of my Hughes line to ever get a full education. Soon he started working in Borger, Texas as a salesman for Radcliff Supply. He met my mother Merdella Nadine Miller born in 1940 in Pampa, Texas. She is the daughter of Monroe Wright and Martha Lee Golden -Miller. He kept in touch with her through work - related trips to Pampa. As she finished her schooling, they decide to Elope to Cheyenne Oklahoma in 1958. My sister Connie Arleen Hughes is born in Borger, Texas the same year. Soon Darryl Eddie Hughes in 1960 and last, me-- Brent Tod Hughes--was born in 1962. The family was now Complete. We moved many times during my life, mostly going from rental to rental inside Pampa until they divorced when I was eight years old; the year was 1970. This opened the door for the worst and best days to follow. Eddie remarried soon to a local woman named Francis. Meanwhile, my mother took on the daily challenges that come with raising three small children alone, only remarrying when I was in high school at the age of sixteen. It was a brief marriage to say the least. She never remarries again. Merdella is currently the store manager of a small department store chain in 2001. Whom we owe are can do anything spirit of this family today. All the while Eddie lives and works in Pampa taking on various job related to the oilfield business until he slows down to just killing time the rest of his live. I feel his major contribution to this world comes through his children. They have all managed in there day to get degrees despite economic hardships facing them and now all work for major Chemical and Plastic plants in Texas. All this while giving the new life that makes up the next generation of Hughes family lines in Texas, three boys, one Girl and one grandchild to date. Much work remains in still locating living relatives from the Roy Eva Hughes -Turney in Kansas; Florence Ruth Hughes - Buzzell in California; Frank Isard Hughes in Kansas. Its known by letters all my Grandfathers siblings found each other in their lifetime and corresponded before they’re passing. But ties to there children’s generation and others have been lost to me. With the locating of the William Daniel Hughes line, brother to James M Hughes much has been accomplish towards the goal of finding families living today whom had been lost previous. Williams’s line for the most part where’ll found located near the lands of my forefathers in Navarro County of Texas. Last know contact with the Williams line was back in 1929. Before I talked with them in January 2001. Relatives of the James M Hughes are all still living in Texas stretching from Austin to East of Dallas then over to Odessa up through Levelland and finally deeply rooted still in the Texas Panhandle near Pampa, Texas. I’m not sure the last time the Hughes and Parson lines where in contact. The lines are reunited this day, having been located in Arizona; New Mexico and Texas. The Myers line still this day can be located on the Homestead of John Henry at Sweetwater, Oklahoma and the surrounding towns with a large part out west in California. With some of the Norman’s lines being located in Arizona and California. The listing of names for my linkage are as follows: Hughes; Parson; Robinson/Robertson; Banks; Sizemore; Thompson; Myers; Cain was adopted now follows the Pipkin Line; Potts; Norman; McCoy names being on my fathers side. Names from my mother side are: Miller; Noe; Bryant; Smith; Golden; Brewer; Parker; Boatright. It has brought me much joy in finding them all, with hopes of more to follow. Making the long work of genealogy research, which had been left unattained for so many years, share with me it’s many rewards and sorrows. Brent Tod Hughes Odessa, Texas May 26, 2001