Biography of Thomas J. Vaughan - Wayne Co. WV

Connected as he was with the earliest history of the state, Thomas J.
Vaughan, a resident of Lane County for a half century or more is
familiar with all that has gone before the greatness and prosperity of
Oregon.  His name is surely enrolled among the useful pioneers of the
state and the honor accorded such is given to him by all who know him.

Mr. Vaughan was born in Wayne County WV, August 13, 1830.  Five years
after his birth his parents removed to Illinois and located near
Springfield where they remained six months, then returned to West
Virginia.  In 1839 they moved across the river into Kentucky and
remained for a period of four months, then continuing the journey west
until they located in Platte County Missouri; from which state they
emigrated toward the more remote lands.  In 1845 the father was
attracted toward the opportunities of Oregon, traveling by pack animals
across the plains in the party, which had an unpleasant experience in
Meek's cut-off, and on his arrival in the state he went to work in a
sawmill in Salem where he remained throughout the winter.  He returned
to the Mississippi Valley in 1846 and found that his own family did not
know him, as he had not cut his hair or beard in the entire time.  
Having been a favorably impressed with the outlook he outfitted with
oxen and three wagons and necessary supplies in the spring of 1847
started again across the plains with his wife and nine children.  Just
before leaving he purchased some cows and two hundred and fifty eight
sheep.

During the trip which occupied the time from May 17 to September they
lost all but one hundred sheep.  Mr. Vaughan first located in Marion
County where the family remained for a few months, after which the
father took up a donation claim in Linn County consisting of six hundred
and forty acres.  

In August 1848 Mr. Vaughan went to California by pack animals and mined
on the American River and while there helped to hang some men at
Hangtown.  He was successful in his venture and came north with $14,000
in gold.  Again in 1847 he and two sons, Alexander and Thomas went to
California and mined on the Trinity and were once more successful. 
Returning in the fall of the year to Oregon he remained at home until
1851 when he again tried his fortunes in the Golden State being one of
the first to discover the Yerka mines.  Returning to Oregon he continued
to be a resident of Linn County until his death which occurred near
Thurston, November 18, 1888  at the age of eighty years and twenty seven
days.  His wife died October 19, 1901 when nearly ninety-one years old.

Henry J. Vaughan was 17 years old when he crossed the plains with his
parents, his duty on the trip being to drive the sheep.  In 1849 he
accompanied his father to California and on June 5, 1850 he married
Elizabeth S. Sampson, a native of Platte Co. Mo. She had crossed the
plains with her sister and brother-in-law Luther White in 1847.   Eleven
children were born to himself and his wife of whom Phoebe E. is the wife
of Mr. Myers and lives in Washington, Benjamin F. was postmaster at
Heppner Ores and he and his wife both drowned in the Heppner flood; Oren
is a cattleman of Nevada; Olive is the wife of Henry Bollin of Lane
County; Martha is the wife of A. Simmons; Orella lives in Seattle; Mary
J. is the wife of Joseph Klein of Healdsburg Cal., Emma is the wife of
J.W. Shumate of Walterville Ore; Jeremiah is located near his father's
farm; Alta G. died in 1888 and LIzze is the wife of P.I. Barber.

Pioneer Biographies, History of the Williamette Valley.

Submitted by Elizabeth Burns <burns@asu.edu>

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