Mattie Pearl Thomas was born on February 21, 1882 in the Oak Grove community of Trigg County, Kentucky. She was the oldest of ten children born to Wesley Gunn Thomas and Eliza Henderson Thomas. Wesley Gunn was a native of Trigg County and Eliza was native of Caldwell County, Kentucky. Wesley, who was known as “Cousin Wes” throughout the county was a respected farmer and a grandson of Starkie Thomas.
Pearl’s siblings were Hazie Lou Thomas, born in 1885; Eura Wesley Thomas, born in 1887 and married Lucy Pearl Lawrence; Leslie Edwin Thomas , born in 1889 and married Hazel Mae Gibson; Annie Lurline Thomas, born in 1892 and married Garland Drew Bridges; Peachie Ethel Thomas, born in 1894 and married Lewis Smith Terrell; James Stone Thomas, born in 1896 and married Mabel Clara Timmons; Lucian Marquess Thomas, born in 1899 and married Mayma Lewis Boyd; Luther Thompson Thomas, born in 1902 and married Mary Grace Cunningham; and Berta Adeline Thomas, born in 1905 and married Clarence Averitt Francis.
Pearl grew up in the Oak Grove community and attended the local one-room school house. When she was a young lady, she became a teacher and taught school in several Trigg County schools.
On Christmas Day, December 25, 1902 Pearl married Mason Hamilton Hughes, Jr. in a ceremony in the bride’s home in Oak Grove with Rev. John Cunningham officiating. Mason was born on May 5, 1880 in Trigg County. His parents were Hampton “Ham” Hughes and Mary Della Guier Hughes., both natives of Kentucky. Ham fought in the Civil War and was a member of the first Kentucky “Orphan” Brigade of the Confederate Army and participated in the Battle of Lookout Mountain in Chattanooga, Tennessee, as well as the Battle of Shiloh. Ham was a well-known farmer in Trigg County.
After their marriage, Pearl and Mason settled on a farm in the Oak Grove community that they had acquired from Pearl’s grandparents, Stanley and Emily Ann Light Thomas. The farm was part of the original farm settled by the James Thomas family. A portion of this land was donated by Stanley, Emily, Mason and Pearl as a site for the Oak Grove Baptist Church. Mason was a farmer as well as being known as a “horse trader.” Pearl was known as a very quiet and loving person who was very devoted to her family and home. Pearl and Mason lived their entire lives in the Oak Grove community.
Mason and Pearl were the parents of three children. They were Eliza Dell Hughes, born in 1904 and married Thomas Perry Gentry; Hazie Irbell Hughes, born in 1911 and married John Clayton Light; and Twyman Mason Hughes, born in 1914 and married Eldo Myra Boyd and later married Nora Ambie Bridges.
Pearl died on April 3, 1953 at the age of 71 at the home of her son, Twyman Hughes, in the Oak Grove community. She was buried in the Lawrence Cemetery in Trigg County. Mason died on July 9, 1959 at the age of 79 at his home in the Oak Grove community. He was buried in the Lawrence Cemetery next to his wife.
Pearl and Mason
Mason and Pearl in their early years
Mason and Pearl tombstone
LINEAGE: (Mattie Pearl Thomas was the daughter of Wesley Gunn and Eliza L. Henderson Thomas. Wesley Gunn was the sixth child of Stanley and Emily Ann Light Thomas. Stanley was the second child of Starkie and Mary Bridges Thomas. Starkie was the fourth child of James and Mary Standley Thomas.)
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