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Key local figure

John Knox Hughes

John Knox Hughes was sheriff of Orange County, an office his father had also held, and died in April 1905 after a long illness.

Source: Orange County Observer (Hillsborough): death of Sheriff John Knox Hughes (April 27, 1905, p. 2)

Orange County Indexed has not yet linked an indexed work directly to John Knox Hughes. The biography and the dated events on this page provide sources about John Knox Hughes’ life and work. Suggest a source.

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Dated events connected with this person, in date order. See these 47 dated events in the chronology →

  1. The Eno Grange is organized at Cedar Grove James Means of Concord organized the Eno Grange at Cedar Grove with thirty members and more applications, electing John K. Hughes master and Nathaniel L. Bain secretary, after a Hillsborough meeting drew too few farmers and a Durham meeting formed only a small club. People: John Knox HughesHillsborough Recorder, December 17, 1873, p. 3
  2. Orange County Granges form a county council of the Patrons of Husbandry Delegates of Orange County Granges met at Hillsborough and organized a county council of the Patrons of Husbandry, electing John K. Hughes master, W. W. Guess overseer, S. H. Webb lecturer, Rev. J. B. Martin chaplain, A. W. Graham secretary and W. C. Claytor treasurer. Red Mountain, Little River, Pleasant Green, New Bethel, Durham, Chapel Hill and Eno Granges were represented. People: Augustus Washington Graham, John Knox HughesSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, October 14, 1874, p. 3
  3. The Orange County Grange hears Gen. D. H. Hill at Little River Church Six to eight hundred people, many of them women, gathered at Little River Church north of Hillsborough, where Gen. D. H. Hill addressed the County Grange on agriculture and on the Grange as a defender of the farmer against middlemen; a dinner under the oaks followed, and the Grange met in council in its hall. People: John Knox HughesSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, September 6, 1876, p. 3
  4. Orange County gives the Democrats a sweeping victory in the 1876 election Orange polled more than 4,100 votes, some 800 more than at any earlier election, in a quiet contest that went to the Democratic ticket: Thomas J. Jarvis carried the county for lieutenant governor 2,420 to 1,669, Calvin E. Parish and John K. Hughes won its House seats, and John W. Graham beat Josiah Turner Jr., who had run against the party's nominee with Republican backing, for the state Senate. The county officers, among them Treasurer D. C. Parks and Register John Laws, won with about 2,700 votes each. People: Thomas Jordan Jarvis, Calvin E. Parish, John W. Graham, Josiah Turner Jr., David C. Parks, John Knox HughesSearch the index · Hillsborough Recorder, November 15, 1876, p. 3
  5. Newly elected county commissioners take office and re-elect Jones Watson chairman The county commissioners elected in November, Jones Watson, John F. Lyon, N. D. Bain, J. W. Latta and D. F. Morrow, were sworn in at the Hillsborough court house and re-elected Watson chairman. They accepted the bonds of the newly elected officers, Sheriff John K. Hughes, Treasurer R. C. Tilley, Surveyor B. H. Bell, Coroner Dr. T. J. Wilson and Register of Deeds John Laws, and settled in full with the former treasurer, D. C. Parks. People: Jones Watson, David C. Parks, Nathaniel D. Bain, John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), December 18, 1880, p. 2
  6. Treasurer R. C. Tilley resigns and Sheriff John K. Hughes is named county treasurer The county commissioners settled accounts with Treasurer R. C. Tilley, who resigned his office effective December 6, 1881, and appointed Sheriff John K. Hughes to fill the vacancy. People: John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), December 17, 1881, p. 2
  7. Eight prisoners break out of the Orange County jail at Hillsborough Prisoners seized the jailer as he climbed to the iron cages on a Wednesday night, threw a blanket over his head, took his keys and freed eight men, all Durham County prisoners held at Hillsborough for safekeeping. Sheriff John K. Hughes offered rewards, two of the men were soon retaken, and Justice O. Hooker bound over Sam Faulkner, a white man accused of slipping the prisoners an iron pin, under a $100 bond. People: John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), January 7, 1882, p. 2
  8. Orange Republicans endorse the Liberal coalition ticket The Republican county convention at the court house approved the state party's endorsement of the Liberal ticket, recommended Isaac R. Strayhorn for the state Senate, endorsed James A. Cheek, a Liberal, for the House, Sheriff John K. Hughes for re-election and Ed. Rosemond for treasurer, and resolved to back only legislative candidates pledged to abolish the county government system and have magistrates, commissioners and school committeemen elected by the people. People: Isaac R. Strayhorn, James A. Cheek, John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), October 7, 1882, p. 2
  9. Orange County votes for Cleveland and Scales and re-elects Sheriff Hughes over the Democratic nominee In the general election Orange County gave Cleveland 1,668 votes to Blaine's 1,064 and Scales 1,670 to York's 1,051, elected the Democratic legislative ticket and D. M. Laws as treasurer, and returned Sheriff John K. Hughes with 1,709 votes over the Democratic nominee, D. F. Morrow, who had 1,008. People: Augustus Washington Graham, Dudley M. Laws, John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), November 8, 1884, p. 2
  10. Orange Republicans name James B. Mason for the Senate and back Cheek and Hughes The Republican county convention at Hillsborough, chaired by James B. Mason, named Mason for the state Senate, endorsed James A. Cheek for the House and John K. Hughes for sheriff, nominated Wilson Brown for clerk and Thomas Roberts for treasurer, and recommended Isaac R. Strayhorn for solicitor. People: James B. Mason, Isaac R. Strayhorn, James A. Cheek, John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), September 25, 1886, p. 3
  11. Orange voters elect the Democratic county ticket but send Republicans to the legislature In the November 2 election Orange chose the Democratic county ticket except for sheriff, where the Republican-backed John K. Hughes beat William Strain by more than 1,100 votes. James A. Cheek and Oakley won the Orange-Durham House seats, Republicans James B. Mason and Harrison the Senate seats, and Isaac R. Strayhorn the solicitorship, while John W. Graham carried Orange by 238 votes but lost the Fourth District congressional race to John Nichols. People: James B. Mason, John W. Graham, Isaac R. Strayhorn, James A. Cheek, John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), November 6, 1886, p. 3
  12. Three Black men convicted in the killing of student Freeze go to the penitentiary After the state Supreme Court upheld their convictions in Orange Superior Court for the killing of University student Jacob A. Freeze at Chapel Hill, Sheriff John K. Hughes took Pat Brewer, sentenced to ten years, and Frank Kirby and Jesse Harris, five years each, to the penitentiary at Raleigh. People: John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), December 10, 1887, p. 3
Show all 47 dated events
  1. Prisoners overpower the jailer and break out of the Hillsborough jail David Holmes and James P. Hopkins overpowered jailer Hayes when he brought breakfast, took his keys, freed James Hogan and fled; the sheriff's party caught Holmes and Hopkins within hours, and Hogan was taken in Chatham County. On the night of March 11 Hopkins and Holmes's son broke out again through a hole in the wall, the jail's third escape since New Year's. People: John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), March 10, 1888, p. 3
  2. Two prisoners slip out of the Hillsborough jail a week after the first break On Sunday night James P. Hopkins and the son of David Holmes, both held for misdemeanors, got out of the Hillsborough jail through a cell door found unlocked the next morning; David Holmes, in another cell, stayed. Hopkins later wrote the sheriff that he had bent the bucket bail into a key, and a deputy found the wire key where he said. People: John Knox HughesSearch the index · Hillsboro Recorder, March 15, 1888, p. 3
  3. The Orange County Farmers' Alliance organizes with Sheriff John K. Hughes as president Delegates of the subordinate alliances met at the court house in Hillsborough and organized a County Alliance, electing Sheriff John Knox Hughes president, Thomas J. Oldham vice-president, W. V. Andrews secretary and N. D. Bain treasurer. They set regular meetings every three months, beginning the first Friday in July. People: Wilton V. Andrews, Nathaniel D. Bain, Thomas J. Oldham, John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), May 26, 1888, p. 3
  4. Orange County gives Cleveland and Fowle majorities and re-elects Sheriff John K. Hughes Orange County gave Grover Cleveland 1,613 votes to Benjamin Harrison's 1,297 and Daniel G. Fowle 1,610 to Oliver H. Dockery's 1,288, though the Hillsborough box went Republican. Sheriff John K. Hughes, running as an independent, beat Republican Wilson Brown 1,804 to 1,105; the Democrats John Laws and D. M. Laws won as register of deeds and treasurer, and Thomas M. Cheek and John T. Nichols took the two House seats for Orange and Durham. People: Dudley M. Laws, John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), November 10, 1888, p. 3
  5. Sheriff John K. Hughes asks Governor Fowle for help for Orange County's hungry After a delegation of Black citizens asked him to seek aid, Sheriff John K. Hughes wrote to Governor Fowle that crop failures had left many Orange County people, white and Black, short of meat and bread, a hardship the paper called the worst since the war. People: John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), March 9, 1889, p. 3
  6. Eagle Lodge No. 71 elects Joseph G. Cooley worshipful master At its regular meeting Eagle Lodge No. 71 of Masons at Hillsborough elected Joseph G. Cooley worshipful master for the Masonic year, with D. Y. Mebane senior warden, John K. Hughes junior warden, E. A. Rosemond treasurer and D. C. Parris secretary. People: John Knox Hughes, Edward Atkins Rosemond, D. C. ParrisSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), June 15, 1889, p. 3
  7. Webb & Morrow, merchants at Oaks, make an assignment The Oaks firm of Webb & Morrow deeded several tracts of land and its stock of goods in trust for its creditors, with Sheriff John K. Hughes and James O. Webb as trustees; its debts were put at $5,000 to $10,000, and the failure was laid to hard times and slow collections. People: John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), December 21, 1889, p. 3
  8. The state superintendent tells Orange County to make its sheriff pay over the school taxes Teachers were holding $500 in unpaid orders with nothing in the school treasury because Sheriff John Knox Hughes had not turned over the taxes he collected. Asked for advice, the state superintendent advised Patton to collect from the sheriff or take him to court. People: Benjamin C. Patton, John Knox HughesSearch the index · DigitalNC: Irene Oliver Pender, A History of Orange County Schools, 1752-1983 (1983), p. 105
  9. Judge Armfield's hearing at Hillsborough on the McMannen killing ends with the officers in federal hands A large crowd came to Hillsborough for Judge Armfield's habeas corpus hearing on the revenue officers charged with killing Henry McMannen. The officers' lawyers withdrew their petition, the sheriff reported he had given them up to the U.S. marshal on a federal writ, and Armfield let them go; at Greensboro on March 14 federal Judge Dick bound them over to the April term of the federal court. People: Frederick N. Strudwick, John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), March 15, 1890, p. 3
  10. The Orange grand jury indicts Durham editor Hackney for libeling Sheriff Hughes After the Durham Recorder printed a false report that Judge Armfield had jailed Sheriff John K. Hughes over the revenue officers' case and that the prisoners had jumped bail, the Orange County grand jury returned a true bill for libel against its editor, Hackney. People: John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), March 22, 1890, p. 2
  11. Cedar Grove citizens put up a new academy building and plan a chapel in memory of Samuel W. Hughes Citizens of Cedar Grove were building a handsome academy near the site of Samuel Wellwood Hughes's old school, now under Rev. J. R. Game of South Carolina. The trustees proposed a chapel beside it named for Hughes and asked his former pupils for a dollar or more each toward it. People: Samuel Wellwood Hughes, John Knox HughesOrange County Observer (Hillsborough), April 12, 1890, p. 2
  12. Orange County Democrats nominate their legislative and county ticket and instruct for Vance The county convention at the court house, with every township represented, nominated R. N. Hall Jr. of Little River for the House, S. M. Gattis for clerk, John K. Hughes for sheriff, John Laws for register of deeds and D. M. Laws for treasurer. It passed a resolution instructing Orange's legislators to vote to return Zebulon Vance to the Senate. People: Calvin E. Parish, Samuel Mallett Gattis, George W. Tate, John Knox Hughes, Dudley M. LawsSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), August 2, 1890, p. 2
  13. Democrats carry the county offices in Orange County's general election Orange voters chose the whole Democratic ticket by wide margins, among them Sheriff John K. Hughes, Superior Court Clerk Samuel M. Gattis, Register of Deeds John Laws and Treasurer D. M. Laws, and with Durham sent R. N. Hall Jr. and a Durham Democrat to the state House. Constables were also elected in five townships. People: Samuel Mallett Gattis, Stephen T. Forrest, John Knox Hughes, Dudley M. LawsSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), November 15, 1890, p. 2
  14. The school board hires D. H. Thompson to audit the sheriff's school accounts Rather than sue, the board engaged Major D. H. Thompson to go through Sheriff Hughes's accounts of school money, hoping to settle the matter without a lawsuit. People: John Knox HughesSearch the index · DigitalNC: Irene Oliver Pender, A History of Orange County Schools, 1752-1983 (1983), p. 44
  15. Sherman Snipes is convicted of highway robbery at the August term Sherman Snipes, a Black youth reported as about 14 or 15, was found guilty of highway robbery at the August term and sentenced to the penitentiary. He had been arrested in July for taking money from an elderly farmer on the road near Hillsborough. People: John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), August 15, 1891, p. 3
  16. Orange Democrats hold county convention and bar two People's Party delegates The Democratic county convention met at the court house with every township represented and Sheriff J. K. Hughes in the chair. Two delegates who said they stood on the St. Louis platform and would vote for no one outside it, Thomas J. Oldham and W. Jesse Morrow, were declared ineligible, and delegates to the congressional and state conventions were chosen. People: Thomas J. Oldham, John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), May 14, 1892, p. 2
  17. Superior Court convicts Umstead Jones of second-degree murder for killing Bob Morrow At the fall term of Orange Superior Court a jury found Umstead Jones, a Black man, guilty of second-degree murder for killing Bob Morrow, also Black, with a mattock. Judge George H. Brown Jr. sentenced him to twenty years at hard labor in the state penitentiary, and Sheriff John K. Hughes took him to Raleigh on November 6. People: John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), November 4, 1893, p. 2
  18. Orange County Democrats nominate D. C. Parks for the House and a full county ticket The Democratic county convention, meeting at the court house under chairman Matthew Atwater, nominated David C. Parks for the state House, Samuel M. Gattis for clerk of superior court, John K. Hughes for sheriff, John Laws for register of deeds, D. M. Laws for treasurer, Dr. D. C. Parris for coroner and Col. George W. Tate for surveyor. It also ordered a party vote at every precinct on election day to record Orange Democrats' choice for the two United States Senate seats, and bound its House nominee to vote for the winners. People: David C. Parks, Samuel Mallett Gattis, Matthew Atwater, D. C. Parris, George W. Tate, John Knox Hughes, Dudley M. LawsSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), September 8, 1894, p. 2
  19. Republicans and Populists sweep Orange County's election, leaving the Democrats only the sheriff and register of deeds Orange County went against the Democrats in the general election: Sheriff John K. Hughes held his office by a plurality of 58, and the official count kept Register of Deeds John Laws in office by seven votes over Henry N. Brown Jr. Republicans won the clerk of court, treasurer, coroner and surveyor offices and the county's House seat, and Thomas Settle beat Augustus W. Graham for Congress in the district. People: George W. Tate, Augustus Washington Graham, John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), November 10, 1894, p. 3
  20. Orange County citizens organize corn relief for drought-stricken Nebraska A meeting at the Hillsborough court house organized relief for drought-stricken Nebraska farmers and named committees in every township to collect corn and seed, not money, for delivery to Charles S. Cooley at Hillsboro by February 5. By February 9 Cooley had received more than 200 bushels, with more held up by bad roads. People: N. W. Brown, Samuel Mallett Gattis, John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), January 26, 1895, p. 2
  21. Orange County farmers organize a Farmers' Mutual Insurance association A Farmers' Mutual Insurance association was organized in Orange County to insure isolated farm property at cost, with Matthew Atwater as president, John K. Hughes as secretary and treasurer, and supervisors for the townships. Its agent's illness held up the work until January 1896, when R. S. Phipps and C. F. Webster took the agency and began writing policies. People: Matthew Atwater, John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), January 25, 1896, p. 2
  22. Orange County Democrats nominate S. M. Gattis for the House and a county ticket The Orange County Democratic convention met in the court house, nominated S. M. Gattis for the state House and a full county ticket headed by Sheriff John K. Hughes, and then heard R. B. Glenn speak for free silver. People: Samuel Mallett Gattis, David McCauley, John W. Thompson, Clarence Dupre Jones, R. B. (Robert Brodnax) Glenn, John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), September 24, 1896, p. 3
  23. Orange Democrats and Populists fuse on a county ticket Orange County's Democrats and Populists agreed on a joint county ticket. The Populist Albert H. Holmes replaced the Democratic nominee S. M. Gattis for the House, the Populist William B. York ran for treasurer, and the Populist Thomas J. Hogan replaced James Laws Jr. among the commissioner candidates, alongside Democrats such as John K. Hughes for sheriff and John Laws for register of deeds. People: Samuel Mallett Gattis, John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), October 22, 1896, p. 2
  24. The Democratic-Populist fusion ticket carries Orange County Orange County's voters elected the whole fusion ticket: Albert H. Holmes (Populist) to the House, John K. Hughes sheriff, John Laws register of deeds, W. B. York treasurer, Dr. C. D. Jones coroner, James O. Webb surveyor, and M. W. Moore, N. V. Ray and Thomas J. Hogan county commissioners. W. W. Kitchin carried the county for Congress by 401 votes. People: Clarence Dupre Jones, William W. (William Walton) Kitchin, John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), November 5, 1896, p. 3
  25. The fall term of Orange Superior Court is not held because Judge McIver is ill The fall term, already put off to Thursday, November 5, so that everyone could vote in the election of court week, did not open. On the morning of November 4 Judge James D. McIver telegraphed Sheriff John K. Hughes that his doctor would not let him come to Hillsborough, and the Observer expected the commissioners to ask Governor Carr for a special term to clear the dockets. People: John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), November 5, 1896, p. 3
  26. Orange Democrats name their 1898 county ticket with S. M. Gattis for the House Orange County Democrats put up a county ticket for the 1898 election with Samuel M. Gattis for the House, John K. Hughes for sheriff, Ed. A. Dickson for treasurer, James O. Webb for surveyor, Dr. D. C. Parris for coroner, and James Laws Jr., W. A. Maddry and James M. Monk for county commissioners. People: Samuel Mallett Gattis, D. C. Parris, John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), September 29, 1898, p. 3
  27. Harry L. Parish is secretary and treasurer of the People's Mutual Benevolent Association's Orange Division The People's Mutual Benevolent Association of North Carolina, a life insurance society whose division agent was based at Hillsborough, named Samuel M. Gattis president and Harry L. Parish secretary and treasurer of its division for Orange and Durham counties, with John K. Hughes, Thomas J. Oldham and other county men as directors. People: Samuel Mallett Gattis, John Knox Hughes, Thomas J. OldhamSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), May 11, 1899, p. 2
  28. Burglars break open the sheriff's safe in the Hillsborough court house Burglars took tools from Al. Crabtree's shop, forced the front door of the court house and the door of the sheriff's office, and pried open Sheriff John K. Hughes's safe, taking about $200. Most of the money belonged to people for whom the sheriff had sold machinery as agent, and a small part was county funds; there was no clue to the thieves. People: John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), November 16, 1899, p. 3
  29. Orange Democrats nominate Samuel M. Gattis and the 1900 county ticket The Orange Democratic county convention nominated Samuel M. Gattis for the House, John K. Hughes for sheriff, John Laws for register of deeds, E. A. Dickson for treasurer, James O. Webb for surveyor, Dr. D. C. Parris for coroner and W. A. Maddry, J. M. Monk and James Laws Jr. for county commissioners. People: Samuel Mallett Gattis, D. C. Parris, John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), June 14, 1900, p. 3
  30. Charles B. Aycock addresses a White Supremacy rally at Hillsborough Charles B. Aycock, Democratic candidate for governor, spoke for two hours in the court house yard at Hillsborough for the suffrage amendment before a crowd put at 3,000 voters plus women and children. A horseback parade met him at the depot, the Gate City Brass Band of Greensboro played, and the Eno Cotton Mill and town businesses shut for the day. People: Samuel Mallett Gattis, John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), July 19, 1900, p. 3
  31. Orange County narrowly votes down the suffrage amendment In the state election the official Orange County canvass showed the suffrage amendment losing in the county by a handful of votes and the Fusion state ticket carrying it by two to nine votes, while Democrats won the legislative seats and county offices; Samuel M. Gattis beat Thomas E. Sparrow for the House, 1,488 to 1,420, and Sheriff John K. Hughes was re-elected. People: Samuel Mallett Gattis, Thomas Sparrow, John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), August 9, 1900, p. 3
  32. Unpaid poll tax keeps 875 Orange men from voting When the May 1 deadline passed, Sheriff John K. Hughes reported that 375 white and 500 Black men in Orange County had not paid their 1901 poll tax, which under the new suffrage amendment barred them from voting that November. People: John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), May 8, 1902, p. 3
  33. Orange Democrats name their 1902 county ticket The largest Democratic county convention in years met at the court house and nominated W. N. Pritchard for the state Senate, S. M. Gattis for the House, D. H. Hamilton for clerk, Sheriff John K. Hughes for another term, John Laws for register of deeds, M. A. McCauley for treasurer over the sitting treasurer E. A. Dickson, and Thomas H. Wilson, A. F. Andrews and B. H. McKee for county commissioners. People: Samuel Mallett Gattis, Clarence Dupre Jones, John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), August 21, 1902, p. 3
  34. Democrats carry Orange and Sheriff Hughes beats an independent challenger Orange County went Democratic again in the general election: Sheriff John K. Hughes, against whom the hardest fight was made, defeated James M. Atwater, a Democrat running as an independent, and the rest of the Democratic county and legislative ticket won. W. N. Pritchard and R. L. Walker carried the Nineteenth Senatorial District over Thomas J. Oldham of Orange and J. E. Lyon of Durham. People: James Atwater, Samuel Mallett Gattis, Thomas J. Oldham, John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), November 6, 1902, p. 3
  35. Sheriff John Knox Hughes dies Sheriff and tax collector John Knox Hughes, whose father had also been sheriff of Orange, died after an illness of more than a year. On May 1 his bondsmen named his son Eugene A. Hughes to finish collecting the taxes and settle with the county commissioners. People: John Knox HughesSearch the index · Orange County Observer (Hillsborough), April 27, 1905, p. 2

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