GOODSPEED BIOGRAPHIES
Contributed by Charlene Holland
WILLIAM R. VAUGHN
William R Vaughn is a Kentuckian by birth, born in 1830, and like the majority of those who claim that as the State of their nativity, he is pushing, enterprising and wide awake. He is one of the following family of children: Elisha, Sally, Phoebe, Rebecca, William R. (the subject of this sketch), John, Reuben, Benjamin, Eliza, Irene, Stephen and Obadiah, of whom only William R., Obadiah and Reuben are now living. They are the children of Obadiah and Nancy (Vaughn) Vaughn, who died when William R. was about fourteen years of age, the former being a farmer by occupation, and served under Gen. Jackson in the War of 1812. After his father's death William R. began working as a farm laborer, and in 1850 was married to Miss Susan Yandell, a daughter of William and Molly A. Yandell, immediately afterward removing to Scott County, Ark., where, in 1865, he unfortunately lost his wife, she leaving him with six children: George R., William O., James A., Stephen H., John Z., and one that died unnamed. Of these children only Stephen and John survive. In 1866 Mr. Vaughn took for his second wife Mrs. Luvicy (James) Jones, relict of James Jones, and daughter of Clayburn and Jennie James, but in 1887 this wife also passed from life, having borne Mr. Vaughn six children: Sarah F., Jessie V., Cansady, Isaiah, Benjamin F., and one that died in infancy unnamed. Of these children all are dead except Sarah, Jessie, Cansady and Isaiah. By his second wife Mr. Vaughn acquired 160 acres of land, of which about 60 are improved, and on which he raises corn and cotton, the former averaging fifteen bushels and the latter one-half bale to the acre. In May, 1888, he was married a third time, his wife being Mrs. Nancy E. (Rogers) Jones, widow of William H. Jones, who died in 1881. To them one child has been born, Riley Harrison. Mrs. Vaughn is a member of the Free-Will Baptist Church, of which Mr. Vaughn was also formerly a member. His youngest son by his first wife, John Z., was born in Arkansas, in 1862, and at the age of eighteen years began for himself, marrying, a year later, Miss Louisa Cruse, who was born in Georgia, in 1859, a daughter of S.P. and Melissa (Lamm) Cruse. John Z. and his wife have now a family of live children: Stephen F., John Lawson (de ceased), Reuben, Jesse Lee and Alena Bell. Mrs. Vaughn died on February 6, 1890, an earnest member of the Free-Will Baptist Church. Her husband, on July 20, 1890, married Miss Louisa Jones, who was born in Arkansas, in 1872, a daughter of W. H. and Nancy E. Jones.