COL. HUGHES DILLARD.
The father of Hughes Dillard was Gen. John Dillard, of Henry
county, Virginia. His mother was Matilda Hughes. Both are now
deceased. His paternal grandfather was Col. John Dillard of Revolutionary
fame, who was wounded in the battle of Guilford Court-House,
and who was a son, or a grandson, of James Dillard, who came from
England to the colony of Virginia at a very early date, and located
first in the tide-water country. The tradition preserved in the family
assigns to this James Dillard the profession of barrister. He or one
of his sons located lands in Nelson, Albemarle and Amherst counties,
upon grant from George III. Several of his sons served with distinction
in the Continental Army, war of the Revolution, and all were
wounded.
Hughes Dillard was born in Henry county, Virginia, on March 17,
1817. In that county, December 17, 1840, he married Martha A.
Dillard, who was born in Rockingham county, North Carolina, in
1822. Her father was Col. Peter H. Dillard, of Henry county, Virginia,
and a brother of Gen. John Dillard. Her mother was a daughter of
the late Major John Rudd, who was a Revolutionary soldier. The
record of the children of Hughes Dillard is: i. John L. Dillard, in the
late war in service with the Lexington cadets, followed the profession
of law, was prosecuting attorney for Henry county, and elected judge
of Henry county court at age of twenty-three years; died in Florida,
at age of 27 years. ii. Peter H. Dillard, attorney-at-law, now prosecuting
attorney for the Commonwealth, Franklin county, Virginia.
iii. Bettie, now the wife of Daniel Arrington, of Danville, Virginia. iv.
Mattie H., now the wife of William W. Chamberlain, of Norfolk, Virginia.
v. Patty R., now the wife of William Penn, of Botetourt
county, Virginia. vi. Lucie D., now the wife of I. F. Wingfield, of
Bedford county, Virginia. vii. Hughes Dillard, jr., attorney-at-law,
Chatham. Mr. Dillard lost several near relatives in the late war, some
of whom were killed; others died in service. For many years he followed
the profession of law, and will ever be remembered as one of the
prominent men of his day. He was for a time a member of the legislature
of Virginia, and was also an elector on the Pierce-Butler and
Buchanan-Breckenridge tickets.
