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where the wild west comes alive
John R. Hughes
(February 11, 1855 - June 3, 1947)
Drawing by Richard Florence
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John R. Hughes was born in Illinois, left for Texas and did some ranching. There were problems with cattle rustlers and John used his natural abilities to track them.
- A Pair of Texas Rangers: Bill McDonald and John Hughes by Virgil E. Baugh
- This book contains short biographies for two of the better known Rangers and provides a good summary of their lives.
He join the Texas Rangers in 1887 and patrolled the Mexican border. In 1893, John was appointed Captain. The exploits during his long career are varied and hair raising. Along with other Rangers, John's active career was spent chasing border ruffians, escaped criminals and rustlers.
Ill health in his later years prompted John R. Hughes to commit suicide.
The western writer Zane Grey spent some time with Hughes while he was on the job. Later, Grey wrote the book The Lone Star Ranger and dedicated the book to Hughes and the Texas Rangers. This book was also the basis for the character the Lone Ranger. Thus, some have concluded the Lone Ranger was based on John R. Hughes. John Hughes in buried in the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Texas.
Books about John R. Hughes |
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