Biography - W. J. Hughes

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).

Contributed 29 Aug 2020 by Norma Hass, extracted from Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana, published in 1890, page 134.