Life of an East Texas Pioneer
Written at Hughes Springs, Texas, A.D 1929
by Howell Rose Hughes
Submitted by Glenda DeLoach
GG Granddaughter

CONTINUED FROM VOLUME 224
(webmaster note: I do not have a copy of this volume but if someone else does and can scan it and send me a version via e-mail I'll put it with this part)

I mention those unpleasant facts just simply because they actually occurred, and also for the reason that they indicate more clearly than anything else the true spirit of those early times. About this time and especially after 1845, when Texas was admitted to the Union, the migration to this section increased wonderfully, new counties were organized, many new towns sprang up and everything became more settled and prosperous.

By the year 1847, Recce Hughes planned and carried into execution the founding of a new town at a noted chalybeate spring situated about one mile west of his home. He named this new town Hughes Springs. But there was scarcely anything left of this first town of Hughes Springs when the children of Reece Hughes, joined by Dr. J. H. McLean, under a contract with the East Line and Red River Railway Company, in the year A. D. 1878 in the month of May, laid off and founded the present town of Hughes Springs. Yet the first town of Hughes Springs made very rapid progress for a time when it was first established, and became a place of considerable note. It became a noted place for camp meetings in those early days, and at one time a well-known teacher by the name of Potton conducted a large and successful boarding school at this place. But the main thing that caused the town to dwindle away was that Reece Hughes, its founder, and Col. W. B. Akin, another rich cotton planter and his nearest neighbor, bought up nearly all the land in that section and in this way forced the people of more moderate means to go west.

During these years the success of Reece Hughes in cotton raising and other farming operations was so amazingly great that in the year 1853, on the occasion of the death of his young wife Elizabeth, in a recorded statement to the courts, he estimated her separate individual property at one hundred and fifty thousand ($150,000) dollars worth of real estate, 100 slaves and $30,000 in gold coin. You can find this certified statement recorded in Vol. XLII - Page 116 of the Reports of the Supreme Court of Cass, the title of the case is W. P. Hughes et al vs. Thomas Roper.

After the death of his first wife and, it is said, in accordance with her dying request, Reece Hughes and the widow of John W. Scott of Harrison County were married. This man, John W. Scott, was a brother of Co W. T. Scoot of Scottsvi lie, in Harrison County. His widow was also a daughter of old Capt. W. P. Rose and an older sister of my mother, Elizabeth.
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Thus by this marriage Judge W. P McLean and Dr. John H. McLean became the stepsons of Reece Hughes, their mother having been married three times, first to Allen McLean, second to George Rembert, third to John W. Scott, and then to Reece Hughes in the fall of 1853.

In the year A.D.1856, my father moved from his old farm one mile east of Hughes Springs and made his new home about three miles southeast of the Springs on the main highway leading west toward Dallas and Sherman from Jefferson, which was the greatest trading center of Northeast Texas at that time. At this point the old Brick House was built, one of the largest and finest private residences ever built in Texas. It had solid massive brick walls, both outer and partition walls, and with the basement was four stories high, with parapet walls and towers standing above the roof. It had more the appearance of some old English castle than of a modern country residence. About three miles east of this home mansion he built his iron furnace, where he was building was done by him with his own large body of Negro slaves, with just one or two white men to direct the operations.

By the outbreak of the War of Secession in 1861,1 feel it would be entirely within the bounds of sober truth to say that Reece Hughes, in his own name and clear of any kind of debt or encumbrance, was the owner of a magnificent estate of more than twenty-five thousand acres of land in Cass and adjoining counties. He on this landed estate, had a fine valley farm of more than 2000 acres of cleared land in high state of cultivation. He owned about 200 slaves with which he cultivated this land. And as I said above he had a fine iron foundry just ready to be given the manufacture of iron. I honestly do not believe that any man in Texas ever prospered like he did, who depended solely on farming to gain wealth. But just at this time the great war came up and threw its dark shadow over the whole land.

At the beginning of the year 1861, though the war clouds hung low and dark aver the whole political horizon, times at the old Brick House were exceedingly gay and lively. Reece Hughes had just engaged the services of three of the most noted dancing masters in Texas at that time, Hun Williams, and Sam and Lud Williams, and having invited in a large number of his kin people and neighbors, was having a great dancing school taught in his own home. The dance room was one of the main halls of the building, an apartment 20 feet wide by 40 feet long. The floor was dressed as smooth as a plane could make it and then waxed, which gave it almost
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a glossy smoothness. This made it an ideal place for the performance.

This dancing school occupies, even up to this day, a very conspicuous place in my memory. I, having been born on the old Hughes farm one mile east of the town of Hughes Springs on January 2nd, A.D.1851, was only ten years of age at this time.

But I was considered to be of sufficient age to take an active part in these lively exorcizes. I have a very distinct recollection of everything connected with this school. I remember just haw I was dressed to affend it. I wore a sporty velvet jacket decorated with many shining brass buffons. My shoes were of bright patent leather, and my pants were full length and cut gaiter fashion. I know that some will smile when they read this description of my dancing costume, but you must remember that I am describing the customs of 70 years ago. After this dancing school up.. there was a season of almost continual fun and frolic day and night at the Hughes home for months. There had been much talk of war all over the South land previous to this time, but the leading men and specially the politicians said the war would be a mere breakfast spell, that one southern man could easily whip a dozen Yankees, and some went so far as to say they could and would drink all the blood that was shed in it.

But suddenly in the month of April 1861 in the very height of all our gaiety and fun, like a clap of thunder from the sky, there came the soul stirring news that the cannons of the Confederates had opened fire on Fort Sumter, South Carolina. Though numbed and dumfounded by this sudden and dreadful news, there came over us all a vague realization that a great thrill of horror passed through my frame when I saw the look of sorrow and despair that came over the face of my father when the news of the opening of the great war first came to him. His heart seemed almost crushed with grief for he appeared to realize at once just what all this meant to him and to all the South land It is almost needless to mention the fact that the dancing school closed at once, and in less time than 30 days the young men of the country were arming, equipping and hurrying to the battlefield.

This sudden and wonderful change has always reminded me strongly of the scenes I afterwards read about. I refer to the description given in the Bible of the Feast of King Belshazzar and of Byron's soul-stirring description of the dance at Brussels that was broken up. by the roar of the cannons at the battle of Waterloo.

From this time forward Reece Hughes was outspoken, strong and uncompromising in his opposition to the policy of secession. He wished to still hold his slaves but he wanted the South to remain in the Union and to fight for her rights under the old Flag. It will be remembered that this same view of this matter was held by old Gen. Sam Houston and many other prominent men of the South. Just one little incident that occurred at this time will show with wonderful clearness the bold stand he took
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The first company that was raised in our immediate section was organized at Avinger by Capt. W. E. Duncan. I believe it went by the name of "The Black Cypress Rangers." When the rof I of this company was completed and they took up. their line of march for the front, on their first day they halted for dinner at the old brick House. Recce Hughes, as his manner was, ave them a royal welcome, had a fine substantial meal prepared for the whole company, had all their horses cared for in good style, and after dinner, according to the custom then in vogue, he set out a liberal supply of his best peach brandy.

This, many of the new soldiers did nat fail to imbibe very freely. When the time came for them to depart, the whole company lined up. in front of the old Brick House and someone proposed "Three Cheers for Reece Hughes." This was responded to at once and three lusty cheers were given by the whole company. But just at this moment some fellow who had apparently gotten too much of the old peach, in a swaggering tone called out, "We are going out to fight for old Reece Hughes and his Negroes." This refrain was caught up. and repeated by several along the line. This sudden outburst was too much for the nerves of the old gentleman, with his strong anti-secession sentiments. He advanced to the edge of the portico facing the whole line, waved his hand to get their attention, and then said in a loud and distinct voice, "Gentlemen, if that is what you are going out for, let me beg of you now to go back home and lay down your arms. I do not need your services, for this war will only result in the freeing of the Negroes and the ruin of the South land."

This short speech, about the only one I ever heard him attempt to make in public, did not, of course, meet with a very hearty reception from his soldier hearers, but it strongly impressed me as being wonderfully prophetic of what actually occurred within the next four years. As I have stated before, there was a great and sudden change in the spirit of things at the Hughes home. But though the old Brick House was far more quiet and settled than heretofore, yet all through the four year period of the war, it continued to be an old-time, typical Dixie home. Standing as it did close by the main highway, it gave food and shelter to hundreds and hundreds of weary and hungry Confederate soldiers who passed that way. and this was always without money and without price. I will state also that large numbers of war widows, that is women whose husbands were serving in the army, got great help in the way of corn and bacon and other supplies from the Hughes farm.

TO BE CONCLUDED IN VOL 23 NO 2
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