Muhlenberg County Kentucky

Old Muhlenberg map

Family Groups, H

Ishmael Hughes

Ishmael Hughes and Susannah Elizabeth Kincheloe married 23 Dec 1806, in Harrison County, Virginia (now West Virginia).

Ishmael Hughes was born between 1775 and 1780 in Virginia. A biographical sketch of Ishmael's son Timothy L. (T.L.) Hughes in Kentucky: A History of the State (Battle, Perrin, & Kniffin, 1885) states that Ishmael Hughes was a native of Virginia and of Irish descent.

In the 1810 Federal Census, Ishmael Hughes resided in Harrison County, Virginia and is the only Ishmael Hughes appearing in the 1810 censuses for the states of Virginia or Kentucky.

1810 Harrison County, Virginia census, p.84:

The ages and members in the above household corresponds with the later census listings for Ishmael Hughes of Muhlenberg County, Kentucky, and it is likely they are one and the same.

Ishmael Hughes settled in Muhlenberg County about 1815 when he first appeared on the Muhlenberg County Tax List. He purchased a farm of 65 acres on Pond Creek. Ishmael Hughes and family were enumerated in both the 1820 and 1830 censuses of Muhlenberg County.

1820 Muhlenberg County, Kentucky census, p.141:

1830 Muhlenberg County, Kentucky census, p.97:

Ishmael Hughes died in Muhlenberg County sometime between 1831 & 1833. He last appears in the Muhlenberg County tax lists in 1831. The tax lists for 1832 and 1833 are missing. Hughes does not appear in the tax list for 1834 or later.

According to the sketch of T.L. Hughes, Ishmael's wife Susan left Muhlenberg County about 1834 and settled in Ballard County, Kentucky, in the Jackson Purchase area of Western Kentucky. At least two sons went with Susan to Ballard County, Harrison and Timothy L. Susan does not appear in the 1840 census for Ballard County. As only the name of the head of the household was recorded, she may have been living in the household of one of her children.

A memorial stone for Ishmael and Susannah Hughes has been placed in the Hughes Cemetery at Dunmor in Muhlenberg County. Though information online posits that Susan lived to about 1880, it is unclear if she returned to Muhlenberg County.

In the 1850 census for Ballard County, Kentucky, Harrison and Timothy Hughes, sons of Ishmael and Susan, were living in the household of David Unsell.

David Unsell 1850 Ballard Census

Harrison and Timothy L. Hughes may have been related to the Unsel family with whom they were living. Several Unsel families were neighbors of the Hughes family while they lived in Muhlenberg County, and their older brother was named Henry Unsel Hughes.

Henry Unsel Hughes, son of Ishmael and Susan Hughes, was recorded in Muhlenberg County in the 1850 census.

Henry Hughes 1850 Muhlenberg Census

The biographical sketch of Timothy L. (T.L.) Hughes states that he was one of eleven children born to Ishmael & Susan Hughes.

T.L. Hughes, of Wickliffe, was born November 25, 1825, in Muhlenberg County, and is the tenth of eleven children born to Ishmael and Susan Hughes, natives of Virginia, and or Irish and German descent, respectively; was reared and educated on a farm. At the age of nine years he came with his mother to Ballard County, where he has lived ever since. He has been engaged as a pilot on the Mississippi river nearly all his life, his first trip having been made when nineteen years old; he has also carried on a farm, but in 1881 moved to Wickliffe, where he has been engaged in general merchandising. He was married in May, 1860, to Catherine Stovall, of Blandville, a daughter of J.H. and Hannah (Smith) Stovall, natives of Muhlenberg and Christian Counties, Ky., respectively. Her parents came to Ballard County in 1828, and settled near Blandville, which village was located on their farm. Her father was born in Muhlenberg County, December 29, 1806, and died March, 1884. Mr. Hughes had born to him by this union nine children: Harrison, Jesse L., John H., Eugenia, Joseph W. (deceased), Rhuanna, Thomas L. (deceased), Katie (deceased), and one not named. Mr. and Mrs. Hughes are members of the Baptist Church, and he is a member of the Masonic fraternity and I.O.O.F.

From Kentucky: A History of the State by Battle, Perrin & Kniffen (1885).

Children of Ishmael Hughes & Susannah Kincheloe

  1. Nancy, born 4 July 1806, Harrison County, Virginia; married Isaac Randolph, 12 Nov 1833, Muhlenberg County.
  2. Elizabeth, born 14 Nov 1807 Harrison County, Virginia; died 16 February 1864.
  3. Ruhannah, born 30 May 1809, Harrison County, Virginia; married Daniel Thompson (1801-1873), 22 Jan 1824, Muhlenberg County; died 12 May 1888, Clark County, Illinois, buried Thompson Cemetery, Clark County, Illinois.
  4. Peter H., born 2 Mar 1811, Harrison County, Virginia; married Elizabeth Wilcox, 4 Nov 1830, Muhlenberg County.
  5. Tobitha Elizabeth, born 17 Mar 1813, Harrison County, Virginia; married George W. Wilcox (1808-1844), 4 Nov 1830, Muhlenberg County; died 15 Apr 1894, Muhlenberg County, buried Wilcox Cemetery, Muhlenberg County.
  6. Mary Ann, born 19 Nov 1814, Muhlenberg County; married Presley Whitaker, 4 Dec 1836, Muhlenberg County.
  7. Henry Unsel, born 24 Oct 1816, Muhlenberg County; married Nancy W. Tooley (1822-1892), 7 Feb 1839, Muhlenberg County; died 6 Dec 1906 Muhlenberg County, buried Hughes Cemetery, Dunmor, Muhlenberg County.
  8. William, born 11 Aug 1818, Muhlenberg County.
  9. Nancy, born 22 Jan 1821, Muhlenberg County; married John B. Cheek, 12 Jan 1837, Muhlenberg County.
  10. Harrison, born 26 Nov 1822, Muhlenberg County. In 1850, was living in Ballard County, Kentucky.
  11. Timothy Lyon, born 25 Nov 1825, Muhlenberg County; married Catherine Stovall, May 1860, Ballard County, Kentucky; died 5 July 1886, Ballard County, Kentucky.
  12. Jacob B., born 20 Feb 1828, Muhlenberg County.

Family history compiled and written by Jerry Long.

See also West-Central Kentucky History & Genealogy.

Updated September 6, 2024.

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