John Hughes (lawman)

John Reynolds Hughes (February 11, 1855 – June 3, 1947) was a Texas Ranger and cowboy of the Old West, and later an author. Several books were written about his long history as one of the most influential Texas Rangers of all time. It has been suggested he was the inspiration for the Lone Ranger character, since Zane Grey dedicated his most famous book "The Lone Star Ranger" to Hughes in 1915. The ambush of Texas Ranger Captain Frank Jones and Hughes' long hunt for the killers also support this theory. Hughes also told relatives that he believed he was the inspiration for the Lone Ranger character.

Hughes was born John Reynolds Hughes, in Cambridge, Illinois, son to Thomas Hughes and Jennie Bond Hughes. In 1865 the family moved to Dixon, Illinois, then later to Mound City, Kansas. Hughes left home at the age of 14 to work on a ranch as a cowboy. He later made his way west into Indian Territory, where he became closely associated with the Choctaw and Osage Indians, and later with the Comanche, learning much about their cultures and traditions. Following this, Hughes worked as a trail driver on the Chisholm Trail, then purchased a farm in Liberty Hill, Texas.

In May 1886, his neighbor lost several horses to thieves, and Hughes pursued the band, killing two of the men in the process, and capturing the remaining thieves in New Mexico Territory, returning the horses to his neighbor. The pursuit lasted for several months, and brought him to the attention of local Texas Ranger Ira Aten. In July, 1887, Hughes accompanied Ranger Aten in the pursuit of murderer Judd Roberts, with Hughes and Aten killing Roberts in a gunfight. Recruited by the Rangers, prompted by Aten's recommendation, Hughes signed on in 1887 beginning a career that would last until his retirement on January 31, 1915.

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