Based on the genealogy found by this writer while researching the Hughes family of Florala, it appears there were two family lines, which resided there but were not related. And interestingly enough, a James Hughes was a prominent figure in both lines.

For clarity, the James Hughes being reviewed today was born in 1879, about 40 years later than James E. Hughes who will be featured in a separate narrative. One Ancestry.com source states that James D. Hughes appears to be the son of William Hughes who was born in 1854 in Georgia. William was married to Mary Hughes, but no other information was listed for this couple. The following four children are listed for William and Mary Hughes: Rufinie, b. 1874; John L., b. 1876; James “Jim,” b. 1879; and Martha, b. 1879.

A second Ancestry.com source lists James D. Hughes as the son of Alexander Z. Hughes who was born in 1845 in Coffee County, Ala. Alex was married first in 1875 to Melissa Sawyer (1852-1925) and second to Lillie Jackson. He lived to be 90 years old and died in 1935 in the same Coffee County.

If James is the son of Alexander Hughes, then the following genealogy is his significant lineage: Alexander was the son of Jesse Hughes who was born in 1818 in Lexington County, S.C., and who migrated to Coffee County, Ala. Jesse was married first to Louisa Cooley who was born in 1833. He was married second to Elizabeth “Eliza” Sykes who was born in 1818. Jesse Hughes served during the Creek War of 1837 in Georgia. He was a private in Captain Pouncey’s Company of Wellborn’s Regiment of Alabama Volunteers. His brothers, Vinson and John Hughes served with him in the same company. Jesse died in 1878 in Coffee County.

Jesse Hughes was the son of John Hughs who was born in the South Carolina Colony in 1775. John migrated from there to Dale County, Ala., circa 1824, and he died in 1830. He was married to Charity Tyler (1776-1856), daughter of Jacob Theiler of South Carolina. John Hughs was drafted into service during the War of 1812 on November 21, 1814, at Jones County Courthouse in Clinton, Ga. He served as a private in Captain Easter’s Company, Colonel Blackshear’s Regiment, and under General Andrew Jackson. He was discharged in 1815 at Darien, Ga.

The above John was the son of James Hughs. The date or place of James’s birth is not known to this writer, but he died in 1810. James was married to a lady named Agnes, but her maiden name is not known.

James D. “Jim” Hughes who was identified above named one son after himself, so he was designated as James Sr. and was called Jim Hughes. James Sr. was married to a lady named Ida or Ada Love, “Lovie,” or Louise McGowan who was the daughter of David H. McGowen (1859-1937) and Sarah (Stroud) (1861-1947). Lovie was born in 1883 in Pike County, Ala. and died in 1971 in Florala.

James and Lovie Hughes reared the following children: Tobe or Tobie, b. 1901, d. 1958, m. 1918 Callie Mae Jackson (1903-1997); Robbie Lee, b. 1903, d. 1987; Andrew, b. 1905; Estelle, b. 1907, d. 1978; Tolbert Woodham or Wooden, b. 1909, m. 1930 Martha Ann Peters (1915-2003); James Thomas, b. 1912, d. 1982, m. 1936 Thelma Priscilla Peters; Vera Ruth, b. 1918, d. 1997; and Jewell, b. 1921, d. 1992.

The oldest son, Tobie Hughes, was married to Callie Mae Jackson, daughter of Monroe J. Jackson (1880-1947) and Jerushire Anna (Davidson) (1879-1953). They resided in the Florala area and reared the following five children: Living child; Edna, b. 1924-2005; Howard Edward, b. 1926, d. 1991; Holland David Pete, b. 1928, d. 1970, m. Annie Maude Martin (1935-2003); and Clovis Nell, b. 1941, d. 1992. Holland David and Annie Maude Hughes reared 14 children with Charles (1957-2004) being the youngest.

The fourth son, Tolbert Woodham Hughes, was married in 1930 to Martha Ann Peters, daughter of Henry Newton Peters and Ozie (Turbeville) who moved to Covington County from Geneva County in 1917. Tolbert farmed and worked as a fresh water well driller. Ozie, as so many women did during this time, worked in the shirt factory. Henry Peters was the grandson of Spencer Peters and Elizabeth (Grice) who had migrated to Alabama from North Carolina. He was the son of William “Bill” Peters (1846-1933) and Emileen (Nolan). Emileen passed away in 1886 after giving birth to her eighth child, Henry Newton.

Their oldest child of Tolbert and Martha Ann, Jean Eloise, was born in 1934, married Edward Conner Wilks and lived in Atlanta where he worked in public education as a teacher. The second child, Jerry Wayne, was born in 1945 and Married Dorothy ?, but they were later divorced. The youngest son, Terry Lynn, was born in 1956 and was first married to Deborah Edwards and later to Patricia Wortemann. Tolbert and Martha Ann made their home in Florala and died there.

The fifth and youngest son, James Thomas, was also a farmer and well driller. He was married in 1936 to Thelma Priscilla Peters, a sister to his brother, Tolbert’s, wife, Martha Ann. Their daughter, Helen Keith Hughes, was born in 1937 and was first married to Vernon Robbins. She was next married to George James Bonner. The second daughter, Marsha Kaye Hughes, was born in 1952 and was first married to Tony Cheshire. She was later married to John Porter Hooten.

There were several Hughes businesses in Florala, but it is believed these were owned and operated by descendants of the James Edwin Hughes family. Hopefully, further research will answer such questions and provide more thorough genealogy on these Hughes families.

The primary sources for this writing included family stories written by Martha Hughes and Helen (Hughes) Bonner of Florala for The Heritage of Covington County, Alabama; and Ancestry.com.

Anyone who might find an error in the above is asked to contact this writer at one of the below addresses. Also, there is an urgent request for additional information on this family as well as James Edwin Hughes, “Father of Florala,” and his descendants. Hopefully his family can be featured in a column in the very near future.

Contact this writer, Curtis Thomasson, at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-804-1442; or Email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.