Iven Hughes

**Iven Hughes** (April 1842 – June 28, 1916) served as a private in Company B, 13th Tennessee Volunteer Cavalry.

## Personal life

Iven Hughes was born in April 1842 in Mitchell County, North Carolina to Charles and Matilda (Young) Hughes. He married first Martha Street (1855-1894) with whom he had at least six children. He married second Julia Frazier (1875-1943) with whom he had three children.

## Civil War service

Hughes enlisted as a private in Company B on September 23, 1863 in Carter County, Tennessee for a period of three years and mustered in October 28, 1863 at Strawberry Plains, Tennessee.

He is described as 21 years old, 5' 7 3/4" tall, dark complexion, blue eyes, dark hair, and by occupation a farmer.

Hughes is listed as present for duty until September 28, 1864 when he is reported as deserting near Jonesborough, Tennessee. He did not return to the regiment and was dishonorably discharged. On April 5, 1886, the Adjutant General's Office of the War Department removed the charge of desertion and absence without leave. Hughes had “become dismounted and was ordered by his captain to go into the country, get a horse and remount, but on attempting to rejoin his command he was prevented from doing so, by the presence of the enemy between him and it.” While waiting for an opportunity to rejoin the regiment, Hughes was taken sick and remained so until May 1, 1865 when he rejoined the regiment and served until July 30, 1865. Hughes also was erroneously recorded as absent without leave on June 27, 1865 and that charge was also removed. His discharge was approved to date from July 30, 1865.

When the regiment mustered out on September 5, 1865 at Knoxville, it was noted that he had last been paid to June 30, 1864, and had received a $25 bounty.

## Post-war life

Hughes applied for an invalid's pension on August 9, 1883 due to a loss of hearing in one ear. He died June 28, 1916 in Herrell Township, Mitchell County, North Carolina due to chronic diarrhea and “old age”. Hughes is recorded as being buried at Garland-Parker Cemetery in Buladean, North Carolina; if the grave is there, it is unmarked, despite a U.S. soldier's headstone shipped on September 12, 1930. His wife applied for a widow's pension on November 23, 1916. A minor's pension was applied for by William A. Bowers on October 21, 1919.

## Notes

1. ↑ His name is spelled variously throughout his life as Evan, Evans, Ervin, Iven, and Ivin.
2. ↑ 1870 U.S. Census, Mitchell County, North Carolina; 1880 U.S. Census, Mitchell County, North Carolina.
3. ↑ 1910 U.S. Census, Harrell Township, Mitchell County, North Carolina.
4. ↑ Another man named Ervin/Iven Hughes served in Company B, 58th North Carolina Infantry, but he is definitively not the same man who served in the 13th Tennessee Cavalry.
5. ↑ 1890 U.S. Veterans Census, Union Veterans and Widows of Union Veterans.
6. ↑ Certificate of Death, North Carolina State Board of Health.
7. ↑ The death certificate gives Blevins Cemetery in Mitchell County. No Hughes graves are there, whereas a large number of Hughes graves are in the Garland-Parker Cemetery. It is also possible he is buried in the Ham Hughes-Odom Cemetery in Buladean, where his parents are buried.