The Hughes Family History

Spottswood H. Hughes was born in 1813. This is confirmed
through his enlistment papers. It is also supported by the
fact that he was not given title to his father's land until he
became of age in 1834. He is listed as an orphan son of
William Hughes, Jr in an Amherst County Guardian Bond
where the Court appoints Jesse Beck to be guardian of the
orphans Spottswood H. Hughes and David G. Hughes. In
1831, James L. Lamkin was appointed commissioner to
divide the land of William Hughes between David and
Spottswood. David assumed the deed at that time but
Spottswood was not given clear deed until 1834.

On Aug 28, 1834, James J Miles sold 214 acres of land
to William D. Miles, the boundary of which shows to be
property lines of William Pettyjohn, Rodney Taliaferro,
deceased, Rachel Norcut, Ambrose Burford, Archelaus
Reynolds and Spottswood Hughes. The other boundary
line is shown as Harris Creek. On Sep 19, 1834, William
Miles sold this same land to Ludwell L. Dawson.

Spottswood married Paulina Jenkins in Amherst County
on Sep 22, 1834. Her father, William Jenkins gave consent
for the marriage.

On Oct 29, 1836 Spottswood Hughes and Wife, Paulina
sold 140 acres of land on Fawn Creek & Harris Creek
to Willis M Reynolds for $240. Lynchburg Justices of
the Peace, Samuel Nowling and David R Lyman may
have signed this land transaction. On the same date,
Spottswood and Paulina sold an additional 90 acres to
Ludwell L Dawson for $410. The land boundaries are
defined as the property lines of William Pettyjohn, Willis
M Reynolds, Fawn Creek, Harris Creek, Berry's branch,
I.R. Reynolds. Lynchburg Justice's of the Peace also
signed this transaction. After selling their Va land, they moved to
West Va. and settled in the area of Davis Creek in
Cabell Co.

A 1839 Cabell Co, WV land deed recorded in deed book 9, page 250
records Spottswood HUGHES purchasing 213 acres of land from
Charles R. Seamonds. The land is along the "West bank of
Hughes Branch of Davis Creek". This Branch is known today as the
Right Fork of Davis Creek. Hughes Branch Road now runs along side of
this creek. Its approximate location is 38.375424 degrees North
by 82.34624 degrees west. (Coordinates are from an estimated map
reading and have not been field confirmed.)

Spottswood and Paulina first appear on the Census roll
of Cabell Co, WV in 1840. William Jenkins, Paulina's
father, made to move from Amherst Co to Cabell Co
with the Hughes family and occupies the dewelling next to them.

In April of 1840, the record of the Circuit Superior Court of Law and Chancery,
Cabell County, WV, page 93, shows that one Michael Thompson
was "indicted ... for maliciously, violently and of purpose bitting
off the right ear of Spottswood H. Hughes..."

On March 19, 1847, Spottswood enlisted in the US Army
to fight in the War with Mexico. From the Registers of
Enlistment, Spottswood is described as ;
age: 34,
color of eyes: blue,
hair: lt brown,
height: 6',
born: Amherst Co, Va,
occupation: labourer.
He served in the 11th Infantry, commanded by Colonel
Ramsey. He was a First Corporal in "C" Company under
Captain E.W. McComas. He died in Mexico City while
part of the occupational troops. The Surgeon General's
report showed the cause of death as dysentery.
Paulina filed an application for pension and received
$4.50 per month and a land grant of 160 acres near
Melissa, Cabell Co, WV.

(The following article was compiled by the West Virginia
University Agricultural Extension in the 1920-30's as
a project they did on Community Histories.)

A BRIEF HISTORY OF DAVIS CREEK COMMUNlTY

By James T. Blankenship


Dictated by James T. Blankenship and written by Fern Dillon



The settlement of Davis Creek dates back to about 1832. First
settler was Paul H. Davis, who came from Virginia and located on
Black Fork then Wayne County, but was later divided and the
place of his location is now Caboll. Mr. Davis laid a land warrant
for 622 acres of land and built a house near the sight where T. J.
Bolin's house now stands, which has been a land mark for many
years.

Mr. Davis reared a large family of children; four boys, Paul H. Jr.,
James, and Moses, and one girl, Louisa, who married John
Coborn. The older families of the Davis' have all passed away, but
a large number of grandchildren are yet living, of whom some are
now teachers in the public schools. Davis Creek took its name
from the first settlers.

The next to settle on Davis Creek was Samuel Blankenship who
emigrated here from Franklin County, Virginia in 1833. From that
time he lived in Cabell County until his death in 1890.

Mr. Blankenship had a family of ten children. Those still living are
the only girl, Fanny, who lives in Florida, and four boys, J.T. of
Davis Creek, Jeff and E. G. of Huntington, and Reece of Four
Pole. The oldest boy of the family, M. T. (now deceased) was a
local pastor in the M. E. Church, South.

In the following year after Mr. Blankenship came here, (in 1843)
John Ward located and built his home where R. W. Hensley now
lives. Mr. Ward reared four boys, Thomas, William, G. W., and
David.

Spottswood Hughes came here from Virginia in 1836 and settled
on Davis Creek where he reared his family, two boys, L. D. and
Ralph and four girls, Virginia, Bettie, Anna, and Fannie.

When the Mexican War began in 1846 Spottswood Hughes
enlisted under Captain Elisha McCommas and in the beginning of
1847 he went to Mexico, but he never returned and it was
supposed he was killed in a battle.

L. D. Hughes the son of Spottswood Hughes reared a large family
of girls and boys. The girls were: Mary (who taught in the public
schools), Alma, and Addie. The boys now living are: William,
Arnold, and Gallie, who live at the old home place.

The next settlement made on Davis Creek was by Edward Eden
who came from Virginia in 1848. He located at the place where
Henry Harless now lives. Mr. Eden had a large family of whom two
boys fought and lost their lives in the Federal Army. Mr. Eden died
in 1875. But one girl, Mrs. Martha McCarty of Huntington, and two
boys, Henry and Edward Jr. of Davis Creek are still living. The
Eden family were all good law abiding citizens.

Harvey Walker came to Davis Creek in 1857. He was also a
Virginian by birth. He reared a large family of good respectable
children. Dolphus, the oldest now living on Health Creek was a
volunteer in the 13th Virginia Regiment of the Civil War. R. W.
Walker is still living in Cabell County, Richard (deceased), Sidney
(whereabouts unknown), and Elisha and Elijah, the twins are living
in Covington, Kentucky. Mrs. Jane Melrose of the Sixteenth Street
Road, Mrs. Mary Swann of Huntington, and Mrs. Adelia Keeser
(deceased) were the other members of the family. Harvey Walker
has been dead about twelve years.

In 1858, L. J. Hoback and. R. R. Dillon came into possession of
the Paul H. Davis farm where they lived and worked as partners in
the timbering and farming business until Mr. Hoback moved to
Milton in 1873. Mr. Dillon died in 1887 leaving a wife who died
about eight years ago and thirteen children. The five boys are: T.
J. of Healths Creek, J. M. of Huntington, C. A., J. R., and A. A. of
Davis Creek. The girls are: Mrs. Sarah Poteet of Guyandotte, Mrs.
Susie Paugh of the Sixteenth Street Road, Mrs. Willie Wright of
Russell Creek, Mrs. Maggie Blankenship, Mrs. Julia Blankenship,
and Mrs. Nora Ullom of Davis Creek, Mrs. Lizzie Bradberry of
Logan and Mrs. Christina Dillon of Wenatchee, Washington.

L. J. Hoback had a family of seven children, all of whom are dead
but Mrs. Susie Jackson of Huntington, and Mrs. Ida Rice of
Russel, Kentucky. Mr. Hoback died in Kentucky about twenty-one
years ago.

In the spring of 1865 B. F. Dillon (known as Uncle Bob) settled on
Davis Creek. He reared a large family of children and all are Iiving
but two, Thomas and Douglas. W. J. Dillon is living in Wenatchee,
Washington, C. G. at the old homestead, J. T. of Davis Creek, B.
F. Jr,, and C. A. of Huntington, Mrs. Nannie Paugh of the
Sixteenth Street Road, Mrs. Sallie Dodson, of Prices Creek, Mrs.
Orinda Davis of Beech Fork, Wayne County, and Mrs. Nannie
Dodson of Huntington.

Uncle Bob was one of Cabell County's oldest tobacco growers at
the time of his death which occurred September 21, 1924. He had
been a lifelong resident of Cabell County, serving as constable for
thirty-two years.

C. C. Aills moved to Davis Creek from Ohio in the fall of 1872. He
had a family of seven children. There were two girls, Miss S. F., a
teacher for forty years in the public schools and Miss Addie of
Four Pole. The five boys, Carson, also a teacher, (deceased)
Frank, Addison, Crittendon, and William are all living on Four
Pole.

They are all loyal citizens.

In 1873, Archabald Paugh moved to Davis Creek on what is now
known as the Reece Earls farm. He was a former resident of
Wetzel County. He had a family of eight children. There were four
boys, Josephus (the oldest child has been dead about forty years)
Reverend J. C. and Reverend Manford of the Sixteenth Street
Road and Oscar of Huntington. The four girls, Mrs. Adeline Leaps,
Mrs. Melissa Bolin, Mrs. Rachel Cauliflour, and Mrs. Ella Kirkland
all of Huntington are still living. They are all good citizens.

R. P. Hensley settled on Davis Creek in 1872. He reared a family
of fifteen children, all good respectable people. The five boys are:
R. W. and T. J. of Davis Creek, Henry (of Huntington until his
death) Emry of Huntington, and Hale of Dayton, Ohio. The ten
girls include Mrs. Orinda Melrose (dead), Mrs. Lillie Dillon, Mrs.
Beulah Paugh of Davis Creek, Mrs. Vida Melrose, Mrs. Anna
Dillon, Mrs. Stella Blankenship, Mrs. Eddie Smith, Mrs. Ella
Bennett, Mrs. Mary Hodge, and Mrs. Eugene Nunnally all of
Huntington,

Another old settler was Thomas Nash, who moved to Davis Creek
from Ohio in 1878. There were eight children in his family. Two
were boys, T. H. Nash of Barboursville, who is president of the
present county court of Huntington and G. A. Nash of Davis
Creek, The six girls were Mrs. Emerine Blankenship, Mrs. Ellen
Keller, Mrs. Mary Guthrie and Mrs. Mahalia Ullom (all dead), Mrs.
Clara France of Long Branch and Mrs. Georgie Dunfee of
Huntington.

We have have now come to the older Pastors and Doctors of
Davis Creek.

John T. Johnson came to the Wayne Circuit in 1859 and was
there until the Civil War began in 1860. In 1861 he was chosen
"Chaplain" of the Eighth Virginia Regiment of the Confederates
and served as Chaplain all through the war. In 1865 Brother
Johnson came to Davis Creek as Circuit Rider. He was a
wonderful man for God. Brother Johnson was born in Erie County,
Pennsylvania in 1823.

After Brother Johnson, Brother Hiram Moore came on this circuit
in 1867. He was a Kentuckian by birth and also a great preacher
of the gospel. While on this circuit he made a host of friends.

In 1869, Charles Crook came to this work and served as pastor
until 1872 and then his brother John Crook took the work. They
were both good preachers.

Adam Given was at this circuit three different times. He was
beyond doubt the most intellectual of all the others. He was never
late at his appointments scattered over Wayne and Cabell
Counties. He was the main promoter and builder of Dillon Chapel
by the assistance of M. T. Blankenship a local preacher at that
time. Brother Blankenship was not a college graduate but he was
endowed with such intellectual powers to enable him to preach the
Bible from a true gospel standpoint.

The early doctors who practiced on Davis Creek were Dr. A. B.
McGinnis of Guyandotte and Dr. Randolph Moss of Barboursville.

Dr. McGinnis rode the country night and day whenever he was
called. He made a host of friends wherever he went.

Dr. Moss was always ready to go when called and by doing so he
gained a large practice from Barboursville to Wayne Court House
and from Barboursville to Logan Court House, as well as a host of
friends. He died several years ago but his widow is still living in
Barboursville.

The first free school that was taught in Barboursville district was in
1867, by Henry Dunkle, in a little school house. In the following
year 1868 John Thornburg taught. After Mr. Thornburg, Reverend
Calvin Reece, Fletcher Stewart, Lee Buehring, Miss Emma
McCommas, Frank Brammer, A. H. Melrose, Miss S. F. Aills, and
Dr. Unseld who was counted one of the most industrious teachers
of his time. When in the school room (which was from sun-up until
sun- down with only an hour for playtime and that was at noon) he
was never idle a moment. He always built his own fires before
daylight and he also kept his "Elm Rod of Correction", in the top of
his boot and woe to the pupil whom he caught idling his time
away. After Dr. Unseld were Miss Lizzie and Maggie Irvin, James
Wilson, Mollie Morris and Ona Doss.

From the time of the first settlement up until this present time,
there have been many improvements to help build up the
community, here at Davis Creek.

The Dillon Chapel Church was built in 1889 under the supervision
of Adam Given the first Pastor.

In 1913 a graded school was built and now a paved road is being
built through from Huntington, to Bluefield, Mercer County.

• Married: 22 SEP 1834 in Amherst Co, Va

1. Margaret Virgina Hughes b: 1835 in Amherst Co., Va
2. Jerutha Ann Hughes b: 1838 in Amherst Co., Va
3. Mary Elizabeth Hughes b: 1840 in Amherst Co., Va
4. Lorinzo Dow Hughes b: 20 FEB 1844 in Cabell County, W. VA
5. Ralph Lewis Hughes b: 1845 in Cabell County, W. VA
6. Jemima Francis Hughes b: 1847 in Cabell County, W. VA