| #1-25 Mar., 1908 - The Pilot - Thomas Charles Hughes
C. T. Hughes died at the home of his son, W. D. Hughes, south of town last Friday night just as the clock tolled out the hour of midnight. He had been sick about two weeks with the grip and being almost 72 years of age was too old to withstand its weakening influence. The funeral was held at the Methodist church in this city on Sunday afternoon, Rev. J. G. Shick officiating. The G.A.R. of which the deceased was a member and the W.R.C. attended in a body. Mr. Hughes was a pioneer of Stanton county, but had made his home with W.D. for the past three years. His wife died last July, and he has now gone to join the companion of his life. He leaves two sons besides W. D. and five daughters.
#2-Published in Blair Democrat on 26 March 1908
DEATH OF AN OLD VETERAN
Charles Thomas Hughes was born in Pike county, Ohio, May 20, 1836, and died at the home of his son W.D. Hughes, south of Blair, on Friday, March 20, 1908, aged 71 years and ten months. Deceased moved to Indiana with his parents at the age of four where he lived until the breaking out of the war, enlisting April 21, 1861, as a private in Co. K. Indiana mounted volunteer infantry, Wilder's brigade, later being promoted to the rank of sergeant.
He participated in all the campaigns of the army of the Cumberland and was in all the great battles fought by that army up to October 28, 1864, when he was severely wounded and honorable discharged from the hospital June 2, 1865.
Was married October 5, 1865, to Louisa J. Reynolds, of Santa Fe., Ind., and to them were born nine children as follows: W.D., of Blair, James F., of Ames, John T., of Hemet, Cal, and Charles Thomas, Jr., who died in infancy; daughters, Mrs. A.A.Vanness, of Ft. Collins, Col., Mrs. W.N. Servass, of Helmet, Cal., Mrs. A.A. Melvin, of Omaha, Mrs. Henry Burtz, of Ames, and Miss Ethel, of Omaha.
In the summer of 1868, he in company with several other families, emigrated in covered wagons to Nebraska, settling on a homestead in Stanton county. Here he reared his family and acquired some additional land and considerable personal property, undergoing all the hardships incident to pioneer life of those times. Later, through adverse circumstances and a great wrong at the hands of one whom he befriended and helped he lost all his property. From this blow he never recovered and its effects and remembrance remained with him to the end as a poignant, burning sorrow.
For several years he held various offices in Stanton county which he discharged with honor to himself and the party that elected him. Leaving Stanton county in the spring of 1890, he lived successively at Valparaiso, Ames, Fremont and for the past three years on the farm with his son near Blair, his wife dying there July 7, 1907.
Deceased was a man of high moral character and high ideals, was broad minded and generous, and a man whose advice and counsel was often sought by those with whom he was best acquainted. In speaking of his military service the day before he died he said, "Second only to the Christian religion in love and esteem do I regard the flag of my country."
He became a member of the United Brethern church early in life and never severed his connection with that denomination. On his deathbed he expressed great hope and faith in God and was entirely reconciled to die. The remains were interred by those of his wife in the Blair cemetery under the auspices and impressive ceremonies of the G.A.R. post and the W.R.C of this city.
~~~ Obituary courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library at Blair, Nebraska.~~~
Find a Grave # 115537436 Blair Cemetery
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