Hugh was residing in Dallas when he registered for the draft on Sep. 10, 1918. He named his daughter Vanita as his nearest relative and a resident of Omaha. He was described as being short and slim with blue eyes and brown hair and confirmed his birth date as July 4, 1879.
He was married at least three times. His first was to Vassie Alberta Lewis, born Sep, 1881 in Morris Co., TX and who died there on Sep. 13, 1904, apparently from lingering difficulties after the birth of their second child on Sep. 14, 1903. That child, Tom H. Coffey died on Oct. 4, 1904, some days after the death of Vassie.
Their first child was Vanita Ann, born May 19, 1902 in Morris Co. She married twice, first to Sebia Ambrose Bell on Aug. 31, 1919 in Dallas. There was one child, Frederick Hugh Bell, born Jun. 7, 1924 in Dallas. He died in Arlington, Tarrant Co., TX on Jul. 4, 1982.
This marriage apparently ended in divorce because Vanita married Walter Cox Johnston on Apr. 16, 1935 in Dallas. Sebia died on Apr. 7, 1962 in San Francisco, CA. This union to Mr. Johnston produced at least one child, Donald Ray, born Mr. 16, 1939 in Fort Worth and died there on Nov. 12, 2000.
Vanita died Feb. 24, 1997 in Fort Worth.
Her obituary:
FORT WORTH -- Vanita Ann Johnston, 92, a homemaker, died Monday,Feb. 24, 1997, at a Fort Worth nursing home. Funeral: 2 P.M. Wednesday at Greenwood Funeral Home. Entombment: Greenwood Mausoleum. Visitation: 6 to 8 P.M. Tuesday at the funeral home.
Vanita Ann Johnston was born May 19, 1904, in Omaha, Tx. Mrs. Walter Cox Johnston was a member of the Optimist Club, Park Hill Neighborhood Association and University Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Cox Johnston; a son,Frederick Hugh Bell; and a grandson, Walter Ray Johnston.
Survivors: Son, Don R. Johnston of Fort Worth; grandchildren, Teri Stanek of Oklahoma, Okla., Cindy Winegardner of Arlington, Mark Bell of Irving and Lesa Bankhead of Azle; and great-grandchildren, Tyson Stanek, Neil Stanek, Brady Sharp, Tammi Sharp, Troy Sharp and Chelsea Post. Greenwood Funeral Home 3100 White settlement Road 336-0584
Hugh's second wife was Ella Hood to whom he was married on Apr. 16, 1905 in Omaha. No further information is known about this wife. His third wife was Josephine Angela Blackmon c1910. Jo - as she was named on Hugh's death certificate - was born Dec. 19, 1898 in Dallas and died there on Jan. 18, 1952. Jo's parents were natives of Germany. There are no known children from this union.
Hugh died on Apr. 19, 1944 of a cerebral hemorrhage; Jo died on Jan. 18, 1952 of colon cancer. Both are buried at Hillcrest Cemetery in Dallas.
