Capt. John Hughes-Texas Ranger - El Paso, Texas
Capitan John Hughes - Guardabosques de Texas - El Paso, Texas

Capt. John Hughes-Texas Ranger - El Paso, Texas

In 1886 several horses were stolen from his and neighboring ranches. Hughes trailed the men for several months, killing some of them and capturing the rest. He returned the stolen horses to their owners. His feat gained the attention of not only the outlaws but also the Texas Rangers. In July 1887, Hughes helped Texas Ranger Ira Aten track down and kill escaped murderer Judd Roberts. In August 1887, Hughes was persuaded to join the Texas Rangers. He had risen to the rank of sergeant in Company D Frontier Battalion by 1893. When their Captain, Frank Jones, was killed in June 1893, Hughes was promoted to captain of Company D. For most of his career, Hughes served along the border of southwest Texas. In 1901, when the Frontier Battalion was abolished and the State Rangers created, John Hughes was selected as one of the four Captains of the new companies. He served until his retirement in 1915. During the 28 years he was a Ranger, Hughes dealt with a wide variety of cases including thefts at the Shafter silver mines, cattle rustlers, horse thieves, murders and even the Maher-Fitzsimmons prize fight. He was known as "the border boss." John Hughes never married. He spent his retirement years prospecting and traveling by automobile. He was also involved in the banking industry, becoming chairman of the board and largest stockholder of the Citizens Industrial Bank of Austin, but he continued to live in El Paso. In 1940 John R. Hughes received the Certificate of Valor, an award commemorating the the bravery of peace officers. He moved to Austin to live with a niece, and on 3 June 1947, after living through the end of the frontier and two world wars he committed suicide at the age of 92. He was buried in the State Cemetery in Austin, Texas.

Area: Central / Downtown

Source: El Paso County Historical Society

Reference ID: 013-1983-148

Uploaded by: El Paso Museum of History

Comments

Add a comment
Thank you for your comment

Report this entry

Choose the most important reason for this report

Your name

Your email address

Optional detail

Thank you for your report

More from the same community-collection

Ishine Promo - Video

This video talks a little about what the meaning of ishine is ...

Finishing Sound Options

We need to make sure we always bring the best of who we are and ...

Corner Bakery I shine

we almost finishing up with preparations for this project

Downtown El Paso 1959

Area photograph of Downtown El Paso in 1959. Bassett Tower, the ...

Annie's Adventures El Paso's Ambassador of Fun

El Paso's Ambassador of Fun Personal shopper/buyer, ...

Annie's Adventures El Paso's Ambassador of Fun

El Paso's Ambassador of Fun Personal shopper/buyer, ...

Chihuhuas game

A great day for a ball game

Mexican Community Center

Written on the image: Josephine Bergland, Caroline Porter, Nelle ...

Gus Momsen, Sr. founder of Momsen Dunnegan Ryan Company, 1913

Mr. Momsen formed a partnership with Dunnegan and Ryan and was ...

Carl F. Dunnegan, of Momsen Dunnegan Ryan Company, 1913

Mr. Dunnegan was President in 1942 and retired in 1948.

George B. Ryan of Momsen Dunnegan Ryan Company, 1913

Mr. Ryan was General Manager in 1919, a position he held until ...

Momsen Dunnegan Ryan Company in 1933

This is a photo of the Momsen Dunnegan Ryan Company building ...

field trip 2015

Enrichment field trip

Roberto Betancourt Arce (Left) - 1927 - El Paso, Texas

03/20/1927 My father, Roberto Betancourt Arce, at age 18. ...

The El Paso Y.O.U.N.G GHOSTBUSTERS

The El Paso Y.O.U.N.G GHOSTBUSTERS

The El Paso Y.O.U.N.G GHOSTBUSTERS

The El Paso Y.O.U.N.G GHOSTBUSTERS

The El Paso Y.O.U.N.G GHOSTBUSTERS

The El Paso Y.O.U.N.G GHOSTBUSTERS

The El Paso Y.O.U.N.G GHOSTBUSTERS

The El Paso Y.O.U.N.G GHOSTBUSTERS

Y.O.U.N.G GHOSTBUSTERS SAVING THE CITY

Y.O.U.N.G GHOSTBUSTERS SAVING THE CITY

El Paso's Finest

El Paso's finest getting ready for a Chihuahuas baseball game.

Girls' night out at the Chihuahuas

Nice way to unwind with friends, watching a good old fashion ...

Enjoying a nice evening at the Plaza Theatre

Love attending Broadway shows and being exposed to the arts.

home.search_collection