My Genealogy Hound

John A. Hughes is a well known and prominent merchant of Centre Point, Ark., and was born in March, 1842, to John H. and Margaret A. (Sample) Hughes, a short history of whom is given in the sketch of W. R. Hughes. The paternal great-grandfather, James Hughes, was a native of Wales, and came to America in colonial times, settled in North Carolina, and took an active part in the Indian troubles of early times. He had two sons, John and Robert, both of whom settled in Middle Tennessee, the former being the grandfather of the subject of this sketch. He spent his life in Tennessee, following farming, and died there in 1818 at the age of fifty years. He was married to Miss Sarah Harris, of North Carolina, her death occurring in 1867 at the age of one hundred and three years, and during her lifetime often told the subject of this sketch many events which occurred during the Revolutionary War, which she well remembered. John A. Hughes was taught the details of farm labor by his father, but did not receive many opportunities for acquiring an education. When the war opened he enlisted in Company G, Twelfth Arkansas Infantry, and on March 13, 1862, took part in the battle of New Madrid, and later was captured at Island No. 10, and was kept a prisoner at Camp Douglas, Chicago, and on September 23 of the same year was exchanged at Vicksburg. Upon the re-organization of his command at Jackson, Miss., Mr. Hughes resumed his work in the field, but at the battle of Port Hudson was again captured, paroled and returned home. He was soon after given the position of third lieutenant in Company G, Nineteenth Arkansas Regiment, after which he took part in the battle of Pleasant Hill, his company being disbanded Marshall, Tex. After his return home, Mr. Hughes purchased his father's old home, and followed farming until 1875, when he was elected to the office of deputy sheriff and collector, a position he filled during 1875-76-77. In 1878 he formed a partnership with Wiley McGuire in the milling business at Centre Point, but upon the death of the latter, at the end of one year, Mr. Hughes became sole proprietor, and has since owned the milling interests of the place. His establishment comprises a saw, grist and planing-mill, a cotton-gin and wood-working machinery. This plant cost $8,000, and is the largest in Southwest Arkansas not situated on any railroad. Mr. Hughes began merchandising in 1881, the firm being known as Hughes & Bean for four years, and in 1885-86 he followed the same business alone, and was then with J. R. Tinny, Jr., the style of the firm now being Hughes & Tinny. They carry a stock of goods valued at $8,000, their annual sales amounting to about $40,000. In 1880 Mr. Hughes erected his pretty and comfortable house in Centre Point, and here expects to make his future home. He is considered a shrewd, but thoroughly honorable business man, and is what may be called a self-made man, for at the time of his marriage his entire capital amounted to $13. He now owns land to the amount of 2,500 acres, and has 1,000 acres under cultivation, the balance being covered with good timber. He belongs to Centre Point Lodge No. 87, of the A. F. & A. M., and Chapter No. 24, and has served as secretary of the same since its reorganization in 1873. He was married July 12, 1865, to Miss Sarah Beene, a native of Mississippi, and a daughter of Jesse Beene, who came to Sevier County in 1860, and died in 1865. To them have been born the following family of children: James H. (who died at the age of eighteen years), an infant son that died unnamed, Lenora E. (wife of J. R. Tinny, Jr.), William Robert (who died at the age of four years), John Morgan, Charles Gardner, Joseph Anderson (who died when four years of age), Sallie E., Edgar E., Otis J. and A. Hunter. The family attend the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, of which Mr. and Mrs. Hughes are members.