My Genealogy Hound

Ivy S. Hughs, proprietor of the Hughs House of Jonesboro, Ark., was born in the Pickens District, S. C., March 5, 1829, and is the son of George and Margaret (Tannery) Hughs, both natives of the same State. His father was a farmer and brick mason by occupation, and died about 1847, aged fifty-five years. His mother’s parents were Zopher and Mary (Minturn) Tannery. Of the thirteen children born to this union, only eight are now living — Ivy S. being the only one in Arkansas. In October, 1887, Mrs. Hughs came on a visit to her son and died in the Hughs House, March 25, 1888, aged ninety-one years. I. S. Hughs left South Carolina with his father’s family, when fifteen years of age, and located in Cherokee County, Ga., where he resided until after he was of age. In 1856 he came to Arkansas, selecting a site within a mile of what is now Jonesboro, but then a wild timbered country. Mr. Hughs entered eighty acres of land, remained on it but a short time, and then engaged in merchandising for two years. Then he returned to the farm and was at the same time proprietor of a grocery store, where he remained until the beginning of the late war. He enlisted in the Confederate service, Company I, Thirteenth Arkansas Infantry, commanded by Col. Tappan. He served until the surrender, was promoted from private to captain, and was mustered out as the latter. He returned to Jonesboro, and after clerking for two years in the dry goods store of Burk & Chisenhall, went into business for himself, but was burned out. There being no hotel here for the accommodation of the public, he began keeping boarders, and as business increased, he erected the old part of the present Hughs House in 1881. Additions have been made until now it has thirty-three sleeping apartments, and is one of the largest hotels in this part of the State, and is located on two acres of hotel property. Mr. Hughs has also several farms scattered over the county, amounting in all to about 648 acres. October 28, 1858, he married Martha I. Kellar, a daughter of Uriah and Julia Kellar, residents of this county. To this union were born five children, only three of whom are now living: W. J., a merchant of St. Louis, married Belle Hughes; Ben. and I. O. Hughs. Mr. and Mrs. Hughs spare no pains in their efforts to make their guests as comfortable as possible. Mr. Hughs was appointed deputy under Sheriff Thorn, and served four years in that capacity, also holding the same position under Sheriff Lane for one term. He is a Democrat in politics, and a charter member of the Masonic order.