More Regarding David and Cynthia Hughes

The day began with more questions than answers. What would we know by day's end? A decision was made to begin our research in Dallas County, Arkansas, since there was some evidence David and Cynthia had lived there (see previous post).



The Dallas County Courthouse in an attractive old building and the ladies in the County Clerk's office were very helpful.



Led into the room with rows and rows of large books of a variety of record types (marriage, probate, taxes, etc.), we scouted the shelves to decide where to begin. I had already determined we must search for probate records. A will could offer great clues as to whether our David G.

Hughes really lived in the county. In the first index searched, we found the name, David G. Hughes. We were in luck. We found the correct page and will number in the will book and - paydirt. There was David Hughes' will written by hand 149 years ago. See it for yourself.



Notice the will only mentions, by name, the son of Cynthia's by her first marriage, William Callison. Other court records which we photographed, show that David became William's legal guardian. William Callison was 3 years old in the 1850 US Census (see previous post).

An earlier family historian, Evelyn Beryl Hughes Fraquela, Alton's sister, records David was a wealthy land owner who also owned slaves. The land records and probate inventory reveal he did own over 400 acres. We also discovered in probate records that David and Cynthia did own many slaves, for the most part one family. Another court record stated there was a male slave named Jake and a female named, Maria.

David's first land entry in the tax records was made in 1851, apparently purchased just shortly after David and Cynthia were married. The next entry was made in 1855.

David's will was recorded in May of 1858 and the probate work began in August of the same year. Had he been sick? Cynthia was named the executrix, but something very interesting happened.

On April 14, 1861, Cynthia Hughes married Benjamin F. Larkin. On May 16, A. C. Henson and E. C. Jones, securities for the estate, petitioned the court that since Cynthia had remarried, her role as administrator of the estate, should be revoked and that William Daniel, Sheriff and ex officio adminstrator of Dallas County should be appointed administrator. The court so decreed.

Apparently, one of the problems was a concern regarding Benjamin F. Larkin who, "is a man of suspicious character and a stranger in the county." The family story handed down is that there may have been foul play in Cynthia's death in October of the same year.

We leave these folks for now. On Tuesday we will be searching for any records which may be found in the Hot Springs County Clerk's office and Malvern Public Library. Check back in later.

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!

Alton Eugene Hughes - Emma Neale Ortner

Alton Eugene Hughes was born, January 17, 1898 in Altus, Greer County, Oklahoma Territory. Alton was the first of five children born to William David and Lena Belle Campbell Hughes with baby sister, Ruby following 18 months later (see the picture to the left). In order of birth were: Alton Eugene, Ruby Algia, Claude Deane, Evelyn Beryl and Harlan Wayne.

Alton's mother died November 29, 1917 and on June 2, 1918, his father married a younger sister of Lena Belle's, Maude Flurina. This union would produce more siblings in the Hughes household: William Clay, Lorena Margaret and David Ardelle.

Nothing is known regarding Alton's elementary schooling, but a college transcript indicates he graduated from high school in Altus, May 1917. Then in the fall of 1918, he enrolled as a student at Southwestern Junior College, a Seventh-day Adventist College, located in Keene, Johnson County, Texas where he was a boarder with several other young men in the home of George and Esther West. (Ruby, Alton's sister, was at the same time boarding with Ellenor Hunter just a short distance away.)

On September 12, 1918, Alton completed the mandatory WWI registration which shows Alton to be a student at Southwestern Junior College (SWJ).

Alton graduated from SWJ College in 1920. Later, he would complete a B.A. from Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska.

Just when Alton met a very special young German girl from Hitchcock, Oklahoma, I don't know, but they were married May 24, 1921. So far, I have been unable to locate a marriage certificate for this couple, but the search goes on.

Who was this special girl? Her name was Emma Neale Ortner, daugther of George C. and Maria Samuels Ortner who had immigrated to the United States in 1878. George and Maria had emigrated from Russia with their young baby, Jacob (Jake) and settled in Marion County, Kansas. In 1893 the George Ortner family homesteaded in Blaine County, Oklahoma on a quarter section of land near Hitchcock. Later, they would move into the town of Hitchcock and it was here, Emma was born, March 22, 1899. Ultimately, there would be 14 children, seven boys and seven girls with one girl, Sarah, dying shortly after the family arrived in Oklahoma.

Back rowL-R: Ellen, Abe, Sam, Chris

Front row L-R: Leah, Maria, Elsie, George, Emma

More information regarding Alton and Emma Hughes and their families will be coming in later posts.

Plans for the Research Trip

My wife and I are soon to begin a trip to Arkansas, Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas to research the lives and ancestors of Alton Eugene Hughes and Emma Neale Ortner Hughes. Alton and Emma were both born in Oklahoma. While it is believed they were married in Oklahoma, I have been unable to locate a marriage certificate.

Our plan for the trip is to locate as much information as we can about Alton and Emma and their ancestors. I will attempt to post each day of the trip showing what we have found and where we have found it.

I am planning to post one more message before we leave, giving more details about Alton and Emma Hughes (my wife's paternal grandparents).

[Clicking once on the pictures will enlarge them]