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

Pancho Villa & his Wife, Luz Corral Villa

Mayor Tom Lea arrested Luz Corral Villa for arms smuggling ...

Eighteen year - old Tom Lea

Eighteen year-old Tom Lea departing for the Art institute of ...

The Art Institute of Chicago

The Art Institute of Chicago, Michigan Avenue Entrance, C. ...

Pioneers Mural - El Paso, Texas

Tom Lea in Front of Pioneers mural,1931

Santa Fe

Santa Fe, view across the Santa River southeast from Cerro ...

Santa Fe

Santa Fe, view across the Santa River southeast from Cerro ...

First Wall Of Giants

Mary Haskins wife of Don Haskins - famous basketball coach.

Indians

Tom lea, Indians, design for a decorative mural panel, 1933. ...

Lonely Town

Tom Lea, Lonely Town, 1937. Oil on Canvas, 24x34. Collection ...

Gus Momsen Family: Gus Jr, Rueben, Leo, Katie and Gus Sr.

This is a portrait of the Momsen family. Mr. Momsen established ...

The NoteBook of Nancy Lea - El Paso, Texas

Tom Lea's wife, Nancy Lea. Tom Lea commemorated her by ...

Study for the mural on the North Wall

Tom Lea, Study for the mural on the North Wall, West Texas room, ...

Charro

Tom Lea standing in front of the studies of the Charro and ...

Pass of the North

Tom Lea, Pass of the North, mural 1938. Oil on Canvas,11x14 ...

Tom and Sarah

Tom and Sarah Lea in front of the United States Post Office in ...

Comanches

Tom Lea, Comanches , mural,1942. Oil on canvas, 5'x13'17". Post ...

At the Grand Opening for the Second Wall of Giants

Former Farah employees enjoyed the reunion during the Grand ...

During the Grand Opening for the Farah Wall of Giants

There is so much to see and to discuss during the Grand Opening ...

Former Farah Manufacturing Company Employees

Former Farah Manufacturing Company Employees at the Grand ...

Third Wall Of Giants - El Paso's Mayors

Third Wall Of Giants - June 10, 2011.

Third Wall Of Giants - El Paso's Mayors

Third Wall Of Giants - June 11, 2011.

First Mayor - Ben S. Dowell 1873 - 1875

The City of El Paso was incorporated by the Texas Legislature on ...

home.search_collection