Johnson, Hughes Herbert

JOHNSON, MORRIS, HUGHES, BISHOP, FITHIAN, DUNN, KAIGHN, SEALS, SAYRES, POINSETT, HERBERT

Posted By: Kara Kneedy-Cayem (email)
Date: 9/12/2023 at 23:21:13

Hughes Herbert Johnson was born 18 Nov 1841 in Greene Co., PA. His father was David B. Johnson (1815-1874) and his mother was Elizabeth "Eliza" Morris (1815-1867).

Hughes Herbert's grandparents were Moses Johnson (1793-1865) and Frances Herbert (1794-1880), Thomas Morris (1793-1863) and Martha Hughes (1790-1857). His great grandparents were John Johnston (1755-1835) (Rev War)and Margaret Bishop (1757-1796), John Herbert (1770-) and Fannie Poinsett (1768-1849), James Morris (1773-1798) and Phoebe Sayres (1776-1801) who was the daughter of Lt William Sayres (Rev War) and Mary Fithian, James Hughes (1750-1836) (Commander in Chief's Guard-Rev War) and Cassandra Dunn (1755-1799). James Hughes was the son of Phelime Hughes and Cinthia Kaign and James Morris was the son of Richard Morris and Mary Seals. Richard Morris was related to Robert Morris who was a signer of the Declaration of Independence and financed in part the Revolutionary War.

Hughes had three bothers and a sister. Franklin Burleigh (1844-1917) died in Oklahoma City, OK, Newton Tompkins (1846-1883) died in Parkersburg, Butler Co., IA, Amanda Morris (1849-1920) died in Dubuque, IA and James Knox ( 1853-1892) place of death unknown at this time. His sister Amanda Morris Johnson owned a milliner shop in Webster City. She is the reason that his wife always went by Amanda Nichols Johnson so they would not be confused.

Hughes Herbert moved with his family to Washington Co., IA about 1860. From there he moved to Webster City, IA and was Superintendent of Schools in Hamilton County for 4 years beginning about 1887. He also was the editor for the Williams Standard paper. It was when he was going from school to school to observe he met Amanda Nichols (1949-1932), a teacher, who he married on 12 Nov 1877 in Grant Co., Wisconsin. They had two daughters: Grace Mabel (1879-1968) and Blanche Carrye (1881-1901). Blanche died of TB when she was only 20 years old.

Hughes Herbert was in the Civil War Co A, 25th IA Infantry. He was discharged due to disability and never really recovered. My father Robert Hughes said that he got sick with the "Measles turned inwards" and was taken by wagon to a church used as a hospital through snow and sleet. In the morning he was the only one alive. Next , they took him by boat up the Mississippi River and the family had to come pick him up in a wagon to take him home to convalesce in Washington County, IA. He died at the young age of 46 leaving his daughters with his wife at the ages of 6 and 8.

Hughes left both of his daughters a pocket watch that his wife was to give them when they graduated from High School. They really valued this gift.

Hughes Herbert was active in the Masonic Order. Acacia Lodge #176 conducted his funeral when he passed away and he belonged to #239 in Parkersburg, Butler County Iowa

Hughes Herbert is buried at Graceland Cemetery in Webster City, Hamilton Co., IA and is said to have the oldest grave of the Civil War Veterans buried there.