David Walter Hughes and Hattie Belle Sinclair Hughes
Cemetery List | Home Page | Table of Contents | E-Mail
The TXGenWeb Project
  Dickens County
  USGenWeb Project

Dickens County Biographies

In Remembrance of

David and Belle Hughes
Walter and Belle Hughes
rose spray
separator bar

Service


Biography

On January 10, 197, I came through Dickens County with my parents, two brothers and sister, moving from Stephens County to Quay County, New Mexico.

Coming in from the East, the roads were rough and narrow, but the white courthouse stood like a sentinel watching over the county.

My parents, the late Mr. and Mrs. H.A. Sinclair, settled in this area near Dumont, Texas in November 109, moving here in a covered wagon and a surrey. My father was a farmer, rancher and a veterinarian. My brothers, Jess L. and Oscar H.(deceased) served in world War I. My only sister, Mrs. Hugh Vinson still resides in the Dumont Community.

Having a desire to live in Dickens County where the people seemed to be prosperous, friendly and happy, with my husband, the late D.W. Hughes, we moved from Refugio County, Texas in November of 1920. We made the journey in a covered Model T truck with camping supplies, and a Model T touring car. It required five days, using some darkness to make the trip. Walter drove the truck with the children and me under the tarp. Clarice (Mrs. Victor Crabtree) was a baby, only three weeks old, but we kept warm and comfortable with a pressure heater. We hired a driver for the car, and the two vehicles often became separated.

Leaving a mild climate, one of our problems the first winter was learning how to keep warm and purchasing warm clothing for the children.

Searching over the county for several days, we decided to purchase what was known as the George Davis Farm in the Duncan Flat community. Feeling that it was a good location with a church and a school, and friendly people.

All nine of our children attended this school, being pupils of Miss Ethel Kennedy, Law Sone, Delma Law, G.W. Bennett, Harry Lovell, Mrs. Ben Eldredge, Mrs. Clark Forbis, Naomia Blakley, Mrs. L.A. Lollar, Mrs. Tom Whitaker, Lee Glenn, Fred Arrington and Mr. Cozby, my husband served on this school board for many years.

The church was a Union church with all denominations worshipping together, so in August, 1922, with Br. H.L. Braunam, serving as District Missionary, a Baptist Church was organized, with 12 charter members. I was one of those 12. The membership grew to eighty members. Many pioneer preachers served as pastors of this church, some of them were Br. A.P. Stokes, W.B. Bennett, H.L. Brunam, Alvis Hicks and Luther Bilberry.

Our nine children are all still living. Vance married Naomia Blakeley of the Midway Community. Mamie married Tom Yeates, they still live on the farm Tom was born on. Homer married Eudelle Yeates, and they still live at the same location where Eudelle was born. Hazel married Clifton Cummings of Lubbock; Opal married Alonzo Mayfield (deceased) of Aspermont, Texas, David W. Jr., served thirty three months in the army during World War II, his wife is the former Bernita Rinn of Old Glory, Texas. Clarice married Victor Crabtree, a retired Baptist minister; Harold L. went overseas in 1944 with the 101st Airborne Division, and during the Battle of the Bulge, at Bast, he received a serious head injury and remained in a hospital in Germany for many months. Sinclair served four years in the Far East during the Korean conflict. He is married to the former Gerry Estep of Spur. I now have three grandsons in service overseas.

As the years passed, we progressed slowly, but soundly. My husband purchased the first two row farming equipment, and later the first Farmall tractor in our community. I now own nine hundred and fifty acres of land in Dickens County, which my son Homer, and my son-in-law operate for me.

In 1934 our school consolidated with the Patton Springs school district, being interested in education and schools, Walter served on this school board for many years.

During the years that we have lived in Dickens County, we have experienced many changes, happy years, times of sorrow, hardships, progress and prosperity, all shared with neighbors and friends, such as the Joe M. Roses, W.F. Raglands, W.F. Clements, the three Smiley families, F.F. Henry, the Law family, the Sedgwicks Families, Tom McWilliams, J.A. Garrisons, C.D. Wilsons, J.B. Greenwoods and Bill Norris' families and many many others.

In 1954, May, Walter suffered a stroke, and with the help of my children and the children of the above families and others, I cared for him in our home. On November 8, 1954, he passed away in the home, community and County that he loved so much.

I have continued to live in that same home with Harold Lee, and memories of the past, and hope and faith in the future.
by: Mrs. Belle Hughes

Source: History of Dickens County; Ranches and Rolling Plains, Fred Arrington, ©1971 page 269

Others Researching This Family


Burial Site


Headstone Photograph, Inscription & Sentiments

tombstone photo

Additional Information & Documentation

Photos

Obituary

David Walter Hughes, 80, died Monday, Nov. 8. Funeral services were set for 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 10 at the Afton Baptist Church with Rev. Victor Crabtree officiating.

Hughes was born on June 24, 1844 at Ft. Bend, TX and came to Dickens County 34 years ago. In 1906 he married Belle Sinclair. He was converted to the Christian religion 30 years ago and joined the Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife, five sons, Vance of Strathmore, CA, Homer of Roaring Springs, D. W. Jr. of Lubbock. Harold Lee of Los Angeles, CA and Sinclair of Lubbock; four daughters, Mrs. T. B. Yeates of Roaring Springs, Mrs. C. H. Cummings of Lubbock, Mrs. Alonzo Mayfield of Aspermont and Mrs. Clarice Wyatt of Spur; one brother, J. L. Hughes of Seguin, TX; and two sisters, Mrs. Alice Wolf of Taft, TX and Mrs. Elmer Kilmer of Garretsville, Ohio, 23 grandchildren and three great grandchildren.

Chandler Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Pallbearers will be Frank Ragland, Gilbert Gagland, Leonard Clements, Glenn Rose, Bill Ligon, Paul Baxter, Dumont Bridges and Hershall Marshall. Honorary pallbearers will include Claud Sedgwick, John Jackson, H. C. Gibson, Joe Rose, John Belaska, Biddy Hicks, D.P. Smiley, Jack Frazier, W. H. Rigsby, Jim Sedgwick, Martin Smith, Will Smiley, M. L. Kelly, C. E. Wells and Jim Greenwood.

Interment will be in the Afton Cemetery.

©The Texas Spur, November 11, 1954

Home Page | Cemetery List | Table of Contents | Helping with this Project

USGenWeb Project
Dickens County TXGenWeb Project
Webmaster Linda Fox Hughes
© Dickens County Historical Commission 1997-2022


This site may be freely linked to but not duplicated in any fashion without consent.
The information on these pages is meant for personal genealogical
research only and is not for commercial use of ANY type.