Frank H. Hughes 
Frank H. was born about 1831 in , , Tennessee, USA.1 Frank H.'s father was Hezekiah Hughes and his mother was Elizabeth Click. His paternal grandparents were John Hughes and Jane Skyles. He had two brothers and five sisters, named John McKinney, William, Mary Ann, Nancy, Eliza Jane, Rachel and Rebecca. He was the third youngest of the eight children. He died on February 11th, 1928 in Soddy, Hamilton County, Tennessee, USA. He was buried in Bowman Cemetery, Flattop Mountain, Bledsoe County, Tennessee, USA.2 2 General Notes
http://www.hctgs.org/newspaper/francis_hughes_101.htm
submitted by: Connie Lisenby <C_LISENBY at aol dot com>
FRANCIS HUGHES, 101-YEAR-OLD VOTER OF FLAT TOP PRECINCT
Has Lived in Same Community on Ridge All His Life and One House for Seventy-five Years
That man is of few years and full of sorrow is not the opinion of Francis Hughes, centenarian, of Flat Top precinct, in Hamilton county, who not only has the distinction of being the oldest voter, but, as far as known, the oldest native resident of this section, he having lived in the same community for 101 years and spent seventy-five years of that time in one house.
Flat Top is located on Walden’s ridge, eight miles from Soddy, and can only be reached by wagon or muleback. The voting precinct was established a few months ago and Mr. Hughes was among the first to place his name on the registration book. They are all republicans and boast that there isn’t a democrat in the precinct.
It is the little hamlet where Mr. Hughes has spent the greater portion of his long life in an isolated community cut off from the march of progress and civilization, both on account of its inaccessibility and because of the wishes of the few inhabitants, who prefer solitude to the busy marts of life. The family of Mr. Hughes and his few neighbors live in almost feudal manner. The scenery and contour of the country reminds the visitor who accidentally happens on the unique settlement, of Exmoor of the wild and rugged country vividly described in “Lorna Doone.”
The hurrying rush of the world seems far removed and it is with wonder the visitor hears Mr. Hughes expound his views with regard to America’s attitude toward France in the recent debt controversy. The centenarian believes the United States would do well to remember the manner in which France, through Lafayette, helped this country in its time of need, and advocates that leniency temper all decisions concerning the disagreement with regard to money obligations between the two nations.
Still Operating Blacksmith Shop.
Mr. Hughes was born within three miles of Flat Top on the Henry Bowman place. “My old friends are all dead, and all my playmates anything like my age are gone, but I don’t ever want to die.” He went over into Bledsoe county on March 7, 1851, to get his wife, who was Miss Margaret Duff, and brought her back to the house he had built for her, now called the “old home place.” Recently Mr. Hughes left this home, where his fourteen children were born, nine girls and five boys, and took up residence with a son, Richard Hughes.
Centenarian Never Used Tobacco, but Did Take Liquor in Coffee When Brand Was Good –Operates Blacksmith Shop, Chops Wood and Rides Horse Every Day.
Each day, however, finds Mr. Hughes astride his horse, riding over to his old home and to his blacksmith shop, where he maintains an active business. Time is not measured by months and years by the centenarian, but by the size of a tree, for he told a Times representative who called on him recently: “I have lived here long enough to plant this spruce and see it grown until it is now three feet thick.”
When Mr. Hughes was questioned regarding the reason for his long life, his humorous view of the world was demonstrated, as he said: “Well, it might be plenty of meal bread and potatoes, and on the other hand it might be the whisky I used to drink for breakfast,” and with a twinkle in his eye he deplored the present state of affairs, declaring only amateurs are making liquor now, and “it’s not Christian to drink it”.
Fella gave me a pint of the stuff a short time ago, and I brought it home,” said Mr. Hughes, “and in a few days it turned as white as milk.”
Tobacco is described by Mr. Hughes as a vile weed, and he declares he will not use it in any form. “Took a chaw of tobaccer once,” he said, “and it made me sick. Ain’t never had any use for it, and won’t tolerate ground to grow it.”
Mr. Hughes declares he has never been sick in his life – “that is not to say sick, had a cold once or twice,” he explained. “I’d live on and on if the Good Master would let me,” he said.
Graphically Describes Civil War Experiences.
Civil war experience are graphically described by Mr. Hughes, who says he never fought on either side, but his family were “Yankees,” and he characterizes the Confederate soldiers as “rebels,” declaring they tried to hang his father and raided their barns and fields for food and fodder. Whenever the Confederate army approached, members of the Hughes family would take the wagons into the various hollows near Flat Top and either hide under the vehicles or in them until the raiding party moved on. Several of the brothers of Frank Hughes fought in the army and one was confined in the Andersonville prison for a long period and later died there.
Flat Top Section Home of Wild Life When Hughes Was Young and Indians Often Visited Community
Large number of wild animals, such as bear, deer, turkey and wolves, inhabited the country around Flat Top when Mr. Hughes was a child and a young man. Cherokee Indians from Georgia frequently came to that section of the country to hunt and to trade with the settlers before they were taken to the reservation west of the Mississippi river. The Indians from Georgia had one bad habit which made the obnoxious to the inhabitants of Flat Top. Whenever they killed a deer they stripped the hide from the animal and left the carcass, taking only such meat as the hunters wished to eat at that time.
Enormous rattlesnakes of great age infested the country around Flat Top when Mr. Hughes was a youngster. He stated he had killed tow of these snakes, each measuring five feet, but most of them were about six inches long. May copperheads were also found and killed.
Now that owners of expensive automobiles brag about diving to Nashville from Chattanooga in four house and certain number of minutes, the announcement that the trip to the capital from Flat Top required twelve days when Mr. Hughes was a boy is received with almost incredulous silence. The journey was considered an exciting adventure in those days and was made only at long intervals, or when illness or death made the perilous undertaking necessary.
Commenting on the change in conditions after the Civil war, Mr. Hughes seemed to think the women folds had the hardest time. Prior to the war the women could do nothing for themselves when they went to town. A negro had to carry them to the buggy, put them in it, drive them to their destination, carry their bundles from the different stores to the buggy and bring them safely home again. However, after the conflict the women had to walk to town, and assist in carrying home such articles as the men could not hold in their arms.
Mr. Hughes is the father of fourteen children, all of whom are dead except four girls and two boys; he has thirty-two grandchildren, eighty-five great grandchildren, and twelve great-great-grandchildren.
Mr. Hughes is not a church man. When his father and mother first settled in that section of the country it was entirely isolated from all forms of civilization, churches, being unheard of, therefore he never entered into its fellowship. All of his children, he stated, had embraced the Methodist faith.
Customs Hark Back to Revolutionary Days.
The conditions prevailing throughout the country during the Revolutionary days maintain in large measure on Flat Top. From the wool of sheep raised on the farms thread is carded and spun and then knitted into stocking and sweaters, which are proudly displayed by various members of the family. The old distaff and spinning wheel used by Margaret Duff Hughes when she made the clothes for her firstborn, about three-quarters of a century ago, are still in use by some of her daughters, although the entire family is not dressed in homespun today, as is the case when she came a bride to Flat Top.
Mr. Hughes’ one hobby is horses. In all his long and active life he has never permitted a day to pass without taking a horseback ride. His energy would put many a younger man to shame, for in addition to managing his blacksmith shop, he splits enough wood to supply the family of his son, with whom he now resides.
Several members of his family have lived to more than ripe old age, Mr. Hughes stated. His grandmother died at the age of 105 and one sister lived to be 110. He expressed the hope he would live many more years on Flat Top, where it is peaceful and quiet.
Only once during his long life has the seclusion of his home been threatened. About seventeen years ago a company from Pennsylvania came to the mountain to cut timber. They put up a sawmill, brought a gang of woodsmen and started to work. In order to provide living quarters for the workmen a large number of wooden shacks were erected, the ruins of which are still standing. Demonstrating the fact that nothing changes in the little community the section where the wood cutting operations took place is designed (sic) as “out at Pennsylvania.”
When a Times staff photographer arrived at Flat Top it was evident the invisible messengers of the mountains had traveled ahead and warm welcome was waiting for the visitors. A bountiful dinner had been prepared and the stranger was invited to partake of the meal before any question was permitted as to the business which brought the guest to the remote district.
While Mr. Hughes did not seem to have a philosophy of life other than to live clean and at peace with his neighbors, it is to his credit that he raised a large family of law-abiding citizens who have never, insofar as can be ascertained, brought dishonor upon the name he bears. Mr. Hughes declared he had never been drunk in his life, never used tobacco in any form and ate only healthy food. He also is a great believer in staying out doors as much as possible and takes plenty of exercise through hard work.
The Chattanooga Times: Chattanooga, Tenn., Sunday, August 8, 1926
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Research of Susan Kimes Burgess:
Research of Carolyn Whitaker <attsissie at aol dot com>
http://awt.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=carolynwhitaker&id=I3776
She has done extensive research on the Hezekiah Hughes Family and many of the census records I have reviewed were because of her research.
1830 United States Census: , Bledsoe, Tennessee, Page: 283; NARA Roll: M19-175; Family History Film: 0024533.
Name: Hzakich Hughs
[Hzakiah Hughs]
Free White Persons - Males - Under 5: 1
Free White Persons - Males - 20 thru 29: 1
Free White Persons - Females - Under 5: 3
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 20 thru 29: 1
Free White Persons - Females - 60 thru 69: 1
Slaves - Males - 36 thru 54: 1
Free White Persons - Under 20: 5
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2
Total Free White Persons: 8
Total Slaves: 1
Total - All Persons (Free White, Slaves, Free Colored): 9
1840 United States Census: , Bledsoe, Tennessee; Roll: 517; Page: 165; Image: 336; Family History Library Film: 0024542
Name: Elizabeth Hugh
[Elizabeth Hughs]
Home in 1840 (City, County, State): Bledsoe, Tennessee
Free White Persons - Males - Under 5: 2 ?, William abt. 0
Free White Persons - Males - 5 thru 9: 1 Francis abt. 9
Free White Persons - Males - 40 thru 49: 1 Hezekiah abt. 46
Free White Persons - Females - 5 thru 9: 1 Rebecca abt. 6
Free White Persons - Females - 10 thru 14: 1 Rachel abt. 10
Free White Persons - Females - 40 thru 49: 1 Elizabeth abt. 47
Persons Employed in Agriculture: 1
No. White Persons over 20 Who Cannot Read and Write: 1
Free White Persons - Under 20: 5
Free White Persons - 20 thru 49: 2
Total Free White Persons: 7
Total All Persons - Free White, Free Colored, Slaves: 7
1850 United States Census: Eastern District, Bledsoe, Tennessee; Roll: M432_870; Page: 402B; Image: 252.
713 Hughs Jzakiah 56 abt 1794 Male Tennessee
713 Hughs Elizabeth 57 abt 1793 Female Tennessee
713 Hughs Francis 19 abt 1831 Male Tennessee
713 Hughs Rebecca 16 abt 1834 Female Tennessee
713 Hughs William 10 abt 1840 Male Tennessee
713 Click Mary A 86 abt 1764 Female Tennessee
1860 United States Census:
1870 United States Census: District 12 Subdivision 43, Hamilton, Tennessee; Roll: M593_1532; Page: 623B; Image: 347; Family History Library Film: 553031.
135 Hughes Kinney 40 abt 1830 Male White
135 Hughes Adeline 38 abt 1832 Female White
135 Hughes Samuel 19 abt 1851 Male White
135 Hughes Margret 17 abt 1853 Female White
135 Hughes Eliza 14 abt 1856 Female White
135 Hughes William 9 abt 1861 Male White
135 Hughes Benjamin 2 abt 1868 Male White
136 Rice Lewis 60 abt 1810 Male White
136 Rice Sallie 40 abt 1830 Female White
136 Rice Jessee 19 abt 1851 Male White
136 Rice Zachariah 15 abt 1855 Male White Georgia
136 Rice Larvesnee 13 abt 1857 Female White
136 Rice Luera 10 abt 1860 Female White
136 Rice Lincoln 5 abt 1865 Male White
136 Rice Rosencranse 4 abt 1866 Male White
137 Hickson John 25 abt 1845 Male White
137 Hickson Sarah 28 abt 1842 Female White
138 Hughes Hesckich 75 abt 1795 Male White
138 Hughes Elizabeth 80 abt 1790 Female White
138 Hughes Harden Rebecca 35 abt 1835 Female White
138 Hughes Nancy 12 abt 1858 Female White
139 Hughs Frank 38 abt 1832 Male White
139 Hughs Margret 38 abt 1832 Female White
139 Hughs Nancy 17 abt 1853 Female White
139 Hughs Mary 16 abt 1854 Female White
139 Hughs Luticia 13 abt 1857 Female White
139 Hughs Tennessee 10 abt 1860 Female White
139 Hughs Thomas 6 abt 1864 Male White
139 Hughs Dick 5 abt 1865 Male White
139 Hughs Elizabeth 2 abt 1868 Female White
1880 United States Census: District 11, Hamilton, Tennessee; Roll: 1259; Family History Film: 1255259; Page: 102D; Enumeration District: 050;
Hughes Frank White Male 50 abt 1830 Self (Head) Married Tennessee Tennessee Kentucky
Hughes Margaret White Female 47 abt 1833 Wife Married Tennessee Tennessee
Hughes Tennessee White Female 18 abt 1862 Daughter Single Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee
Hughes Thomas White Male 15 abt 1865 Son Single Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee
Hughes Richard White Male 13 abt 1867 Son Single Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee
Hughes Elizabeth White Female 11 abt 1869 Daughter Single Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee
Hughes Esther A. White Female 9 abt 1871 Daughter Single Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee
Hughes Sarah White Female 6 abt 1874 Daughter Single Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee
Hughes John White Male 4 abt 1876 Son Single Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee
1900 United States Census: Civil District 13, Hamilton, Tennessee; Roll: 1574; Page: 8B; Enumeration Hughes Tom Head White Male Nov 1865 34 Married 14 1886 Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee Civil District 13, Hamilton, Tennessee
Hughes Mary Wife White Female 1866 34 Married 14 1886 Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee Civil District 13, Hamilton, Tennessee
Hughes Sallie Daughter White Female Aug 1887 12 Single Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee Civil District 13, Hamilton, Tennessee
Hughes H Francis Head White Male 1839 67 Widowed Tennessee Tennessee Kentucky Civil District 13, Hamilton, Tennessee
West Margret Granddaughter White Female Aug 1883 16 Single Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee Civil District 13, Hamilton, Tennessee
Hughes John Head White Male Apr 1877 23 Married 3 1897 Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee Civil District 13, Hamilton, Tennessee
Hughes Demie Wife White Female Jul 1880 19 Married 3 1897 Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee Civil District 13, Hamilton, Tennessee
Hughes James Son White Male Oct 1898 1 Single Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee Civil District 13, Hamilton, Tennessee
Hughes Stella May Daughter White Female Apr 1900 1/12 Single Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee Civil District 13, Hamilton, Tennessee
Hughes Richard Head White Male Nov 1868 31 Married 4 1896 Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee Civil District 13, Hamilton, Tennessee
Hughes Rosa G Wife White Female Dec 1875 24 Married 4 1896 Georgia North Carolina Georgia Civil District 13, Hamilton, Tennessee
Hughes Ella Daughter White Female May 1897 3 Single Tennessee Tennessee Georgia Civil District 13, Hamilton, Tennessee
Hughes Annie Daughter White Female Jul 1899 11/12 Single Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee Civil District 13, Hamilton, Tennessee
Bowman Mary E Head White Female Apr 1851 49 Widowed Alabama Tennessee Alabama Civil District 13, Hamilton, Tennessee
Bowman Charley Son White Male Sep 1885 14 Single Tennessee Tennessee Alabama Civil District 13, Hamilton, Tennessee
Bowman Alford Son White Male Jul 1886 13 Single Tennessee Tennessee Alabama Civil District 13, Hamilton, Tennessee
Bowman Almon Son White Male Jul 1886 13 Single Tennessee Tennessee Alabama Civil District 13, Hamilton, Tennessee
Bowman Lillie Daughter White Female Mar 1890 10 Single Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee Civil District 13, Hamilton, Tennessee
Bowman Eway Son White Male Sep 1890 9 Single Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee Civil District 13, Hamilton, Tennessee
1910 United States Census: Civil District 3, Hamilton, Tennessee; Roll: T624_1502; Page: 9A; Enumeration District: 0083; Image: 382; FHL microfilm: 1375515.
168 Hughes Frank Head Male White 78 1832 Widowed Tennessee Tennessee Kentucky
168 Welch Margaret Granddaughter Female White 28 1882 Single Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee
168 Rose John Hired Man Male White 15 1895 Single Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee
1920 United States Census: Civil District 3, Hamilton, Tennessee; Roll: T625_1744; Page: 13A; Enumeration District: 229; Image: 316.
240 Hughes Frank Head Male White 90 abt 1830 Widowed Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee
240 Hixon Arvie Cook Female White 15 abt 1905 Married Tennessee Tennessee Tennessee
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Ancestor Pedigree Chart
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*There are earlier generations for the ancestor(s) indicated. See their page(s) for details (click name)
- b.~ 1697 in Philadelphia, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania d.1777 in Augusta/Rockingham County, Virginia
- b.< 1732 in Pennsylvania d.07 Jul 1791 in Greene County, Tennessee
- b.~ 1706
- b.1759 in Dunmore/Shenandoah County, Virginia d.25 Jan 1841 in Bledsoe County, Tennessee
- d.> 1795 in Greene County, Tennessee
- b.~ 1781 in , , Tennessee, USA d.15 Mar 1871 in , Hamilton County, Tennessee, USA
- b.~ 1750 d.< 1840 in , Greene County, Tennessee, USA
- b.1797 in , , Tennessee, USA d.1877 in Opossum Creek, Hamilton County, Tennessee, USA
- b.~ 1780 in , , Virginia d.BET 1850 AND 1860 in , Hamilton County, Tennessee, USA
- b.~ 1831 in , , Tennessee, USA d.11 Feb 1928 in Soddy, Hamilton County, Tennessee, USA
- b.1791 in , , Tennessee, USA d.> 1880 in , Bledsoe County, Tennessee, USA
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Details of Frank H.'s family with Margaret Elizabeth Duff
1 1840 United States Census
2 Find a Grave
Further source/citation:
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=burgess_kimes&id=I40722
2 Find a Grave
Further source/citation:
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=burgess_kimes&id=I40722
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