Page:Confederate Military History - 1899 - Volume 3.djvu/1017

Rh intricate questions arising were discussed by Judge Hughes in an opinion, recorded in the tenth volume of the Federal Reporter, which has become a classic authority in admiralty law. Amid his absorbing duties Judge Hughes has found opportunity to produce several works of great value from both literary and legal point of view. He is the author of the biographies of Gen. John B. Floyd and Gen. Joseph E. Johnston in the volume styled, "Lee and His Lieutenants;" of a volume entitled "The Currency Question," published in 1879; of "The American Dollar," 1885; and five volumes of law reports entitled Hughes' Reports, in 1879 to 1885, being reports of cases in the United States district and circuit courts, of the circuit embracing the two Carolinas, the two Virginias and Maryland. Robert M. Hughes, eldest son of the foregoing, was born at Abingdon, Va., September 10, 1855. At the age of fifteen years he was sent to William and Mary college, where he became a member of the Phi Beta Kappa fraternity, won the debaters' medal in the Phoenix literary society, and was graduated as A. B. in 1873. He then entered the university of Virginia, and there remained four years, receiving the degree of master of arts and completing a course of law. In November, 1877, he began the practice of his profession at Norfolk, and has since then become one of the most distinguished lawyers of the city. In 1878 he became a member of the legal firm of Sharp & Hughes, a partnership which still exists. He is a prominent member of the Virginia bar association, of which he was elected president in 1895, being the youngest lawyer, it is believed, upon whom that honor has been bestowed. Literature has also been with him a favorite occupation, since college days, when he was chosen as one of the editors of the university magazine. Among the articles which he has published upon legal subjects, the best known are the reports of the committee on library and legal literature of the State bar association. In 1891 he accepted a commission from Gen. Joseph E. Johnston to prepare his biography for Appleton & Co.'s series of "Great Commanders." The book was issued in 1893, and has been highly commended both North and South. On February 19, 1879, Mr. Hughes was married to Mattie L., daughter of Hon. Sydney Smith, of Williamsburg, and they have two sons, Robert M. and Sydney Smith. Floyd Hughes, a son of Judge Robert W. Hughes, was born at Abingdon, Va., August 19, 1861. He was reared in his native town and educated at William and Mary college, where he studied for two years, and at the university of Virginia, where he remained five years, completing a full classical course and a course in law, and was graduated in 1883. He then located at Norfolk for the practice of his profession and in 1884 entered the partnership of Whitehurst & Hughes. This legal firm is still maintained, and occupies a high rank at the bar. Mr. Hughes is a member of the Virginia bar association, and is well known throughout the State. Since leaving college he has retained interest in his fraternity, the Phi Kappa Alpha, and now holds the position of grand high councilor of that organization in the United States. On April 8, 1885, he was married to Anna M., daughter of James R. Ricks, of Southampton, an officer in the late war. She died in 1891. On November 15, 1893, he was married to Virginia A., daughter of Dr. C. W. P. Brock, of Richmond, general