Sarah Elizabeth Cox Flatt Hughes

HUGHES, SARAH ELIZABETH COX FLATT (1858-1940) ~ Sarah Elizabeth Cox Flatt Hughes, Confederate Widow, was born August 21, 1858, in St. Clair, Illinois to Joseph Cox and Mary Jane Pugh, both of Illinois. On November 20, 1858, the Cox family arrived in Texas and settled in Henderson County.

Sarah and her siblings grew up in Henderson County and Sarah first married a gentleman by the surname of Flatt. It is not known when she married, but it is known that by 1910, she was widowed and living with her daughter, Mackie and her husband, William Jones.

Sarah married a second time to Confederate Veteran William Moses Hughes. William was born October 25, 1842, in Jefferson County, Alabama to Jesse Hughes and Mary Powell. He mustered into Company C of the 19th Alabama Infantry at the start of the war and served until April of 1865, when he was paroled. After the war, William married Caroline Savanah Cooper at Village Springs, Alabama on September 7, 1865. In 1870, they, along with their two children, moved to Texas and settled in Bosque County. There, they would have 10 more children before moving to Van Zandt County where their 13th child was born. They then moved in 1893, settling in Henderson County, near Athens, where their 14th and final child was born. On October 3, 1907, Caroline died and on November 30, 1911, William married Sarah Flatt in Stockard, Texas.

Sarah worked in the home, while William farmed. All of William‘s children were grown and most were married. Sarah‘s children were grown and married as well. However, William‘s brother, Jesse, who was a widower, and William‘s son, William Jesse were living with them in 1920. In 1921, William‘s brother, Jesse, passed away. In 1930, William Moses passes away on June 22 and is buried in the Payne Cemetery, along with his first wife and brother outside of Athens, Texas.

After William‘s death, she applied for and received a pension and then moved to Houston to live with her daughters Mrs. Donna Summerall and Mrs. George Rushing. Donna entered her mother into the Confederate Women‘s Home on February 5, 1938. Donna was present with Sarah when she passed away on February 22, 1940. Services were held the next day, February 23, at the home by Chaplain Mobley and interrment followed at the State Cemetery.

Sources: www.rootsweb.com/~txhender/Pioneer/wmhughes.htm; Texas Confederate Woman‘s Home roster and application; death certificate; pension application #46854; www.rootsweb.com/~txhender/GroupSheet/wmm1hughes.htm; 1860, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 US Census Records.