Benton Co., AR - Biographies - H. M. Mcgaughey

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H. M. Mcgaughey. Among the farmers of prominence of Benton County, 
Ark., deserving of mention is Mr. McGaughey, who was born in Franklin 
County, Ind., and is the youngest of nine children-five living-born to 
George and Stella (Byfield) McGaughey. The parents were born in the 
"Buckeye State" in 1796 and 1798, respectively, and were there 
married. They afterward became residents of Indiana, and in 1856 moved 
to Minnesota, where the mother died three years later. The father died 
in Arkansas in 1883. H. M. McGaughey remained in his native State 
until nineteen years of age. when he removed with his parents to 
Minnesota, and was a resident of Goodhue County for thirteen years. He 
then moved to Cottonwood County, and assisted in its organization, and 
was chosen its first treasurer. He was the second superintendent of 
[p.863] public instruction, and the first legal clerk of the court. In 
1878 he was elected to the office of county commissioner, and was 
chairman of that body for one year. He also held the office of justice 
of the peace nearly all the time he resided in the county. He was the 
owner of a fine farm, but after five years, during which his crops 
were destroyed by grasshoppers, and two seasons unfavorable to 
agriculture, he determined to seek new fields for his labors, and in 
1881 he came to Arkansas, purchased a farm near Rogers, and here has 
since resided. He also owns some valuable town property. While in 
Minnesota (1872) he was married to Miss E. A. Shafter, who was born in 
Indiana in 1852, and by her is the father of two children Frank and 
Cora. In 1861 Mr. McGaughey joined Company E. Third Minnesota 
Infantry; was with the company in the South and through Sibley's first 
campaign against the Indians in Minnesota, the Third being the first 
troops on the ground after the outbreak in 1862, and claims the honor 
of giving the Indians their first defeat, which was at Wood Lake. He 
was with the regiment through the siege of Vicksburg; was wounded at 
Helena, Ark., August 7, and remained in hospital till December, when 
he joined his regiment at Little Rock, Ark. Was on detached service 
there about six months, when he accepted a commission as first 
lieutenant Company B, One Hundred and Twelfth United States Infantry. 
Received his final discharge on account of disability February 13, 
1865. He served under Mitchell, Buell, Sibley, Sherman and Steele, and 
was in a number of hotly contested battles and numerous skirmishes. 
Our subject is a pronounced Republican in political views, and in 
religion an Agnostic.