Notes for: Jesse Hughes
"Jesse Hughes, the eldest son, whose history is of more moment to us, was born in the "Old Dominion", in 1750, and in early life, he was married to Miss Grace Tanner, sister of one of the pioneer settlers of Roane county, and near the year 1772, he came to Hacker's creek in Harrison county.
"Two years after the discovery of the river that bears his name, we find him engaged in the awful struggle at Point Pleasant, but little else of value concerning his life is in our possession other than that he was a confirmed Indian hater, an intrepid leader, and a prominent border scout.
"He resided near Jane Lew, in Lewis county, at one time on the small stream that still bears his name, "Jesse's run," and in a rural burying-ground in this section, strangers have been pointed to a low mound which is said to cover his silent dust, but this is in error. He died at the home of his son-in-law, George Hanshaw, at Ravenswood, in Jackson county, during the autumn of 1829, and near this town he lies in his last sleep. After his death, Mrs. Hughes made her home with her daughter, Mrs. Uriah Gandee, in Roane county, until her death, and in the Gandeeville cemetery, she reposes.
"They were the parents of two sons and seven daughters: viz., Jesse, junior, William, Rachel (Mrs. William Cottrell), Martha (Mrs. Jacob Bonnett), Sudna (Mrs. Elijah Runner), Elizabeth (Mrs. James Stanley), Lucinda (Mrs. Uriah Sayre), Nancy (Mrs. George Hanshaw), and Massie, who married Uriah Gandee, the founder of Gandeeville, in Roane county. Mrs. Gandee was the last survivor of Jesse Hughes' family. She died in 1883 at the age of one hundred four years, and was laid in the Gandeeville cemetery by the side of her mother. James S. Gandee, of Higby, Roane county, her son, still survives; and the Hon. Frederick Gandee, of that county, is her grandson.
"One of these daughters was captured by the Indians, but was rescued the following year and lived to a good old age, but we cannot say which one.
"Jesse Hughes' name was ever associated with that of courage and daring, and he "lived many years to enjoy the peace and quietude that the hardships of his early life had so dearly bought". And the beautiful river that bears his name is a more fitting memorial than bronze or marble."
Quoted from Minnie Kendall Lowther's "History of Ritchie County" at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~wvritchi/MKL_HRC1.htm#1
More info at: http://www.rootsweb.com/~wvharris/clarkstel2.html