David G. and Cynthia Henson Hughes

Before we actually begin our research vacation, I want to share how we plan to carry out this research. Everyone doing genealogy knows you start with yourself and work back through the generations and for the most part, this is what we have done. However, on this trip, the search is dictated by geography, not chronology. Leaving Alabama, our first stop will be in Hot Springs County, Arkansas. It is here, we hope to learn more about the great grandparents of Alton Hughes - David G. and Cynthia Henson Hughes.

An earlier family historian was unable to find the names of this couple, but said that this man was a doctor and a wealthy land owner in Arkansas. It was also stated he (David) was in the Civil War, "but did not fight because he was captured in the very beginning and spent the entire time imprisoned. When the war was over he returned home, and one week later was thrown from a horse and killed."

What was this man's name and how accurate is the story?

I located on the Burleson Family website (more about who the Burlesons were will come later) a posting which gave a clue that this man's name was David G. Hughes and that he had married a Cynthia Henson Callison. They lived in Arkansas. An email to the Burleson Family Association was unable to confirm the acccuracy of this information.

Later, I found a David G, Hughes and Cynthia Callison in the 1850 US Census from Hot Springs County, Arkansas and in Clear Creek Township. Are these the right folks? Notice David's occupation is said to be a teacher.







Several months later, I discovered a copy of Biographical Souvenir of the State of Texas published in 1889 online. There was an entry for J. L Hughes (Alton's grandfather), page 435. In this biographical sketch, J. L. (John Linnaeus) states his parents were David and Cynthia Henson Hughes from Hot Springs County, Arkansas. It is also reported that David, a physician, died in June 1858. That's interesting since that is three years before the beginning of the Civil War.

Since David's and Cynthia's first child, John, was born September, 1851, they must have been married shortly after the taking of this census, but to date, I have found no marriage certificate.

There are land patents for David G. Hughes in Dallas County, AR which is the county to the south of Hot Springs County. I also, found a marriage certificate for Mrs. Cynthia Hughes and Benjamin F. Larkin dated April 14, 1861. in Dallas County. The certificate also states the wedding was in the home of Mrs. Cynthia Hughes. Are these the same people of our search? While it seems reasonable, our onsight search will attempt to verify this information and locate the truth about date and cause of David G. Hughes' death.

What will we find in Hot Springs and Dallas Counties? We can hardly wait to see!