The Vaughn brothers (sons of Jim & Mary Vaughn) went to Texas in an ox wagon in search
of land for a home and a new life. Another example of the Vaughns moving west looking for new opportunity. George Washington
Vaughn married in 1869 and was in Texas by 1870 according to the census records
of his first child (Benjamin Wiley) . James (Capp) Vaughn went to Texas by 1875. He had
a child born (William Thadeus) in Texas in 1875. John Albert Vaughn went to Texas
around 1875 or 1876, William Marion Vaughn has census records that say he was born in
1875 in Mississippi and Texas. Joseph Warren Vaughn was in Texas in 1874 according to
census records of his child (Mary Ellis) who was born in Texas in 1874. John Ira Taylor
(the Vaughn brothers brother-in-law) went to Texas sometime around 1872 was back in
Mississippi by 1873. If you look at his daughter (Georgia) census records some
say she was born in Texas. He went to Texas to gather a herd of
cattle and drive them back to Mississippi. In John Earl Vaughn's book (Crusade in Education, chapter 2 My
Heritage) it said it took four months to make the trip to east Texas. It is
possible that John, Joseph , and James could have went together. Some of the records may be inaccurate on census dates because some of the census data show individuals living in Mississippi and Texas at the same time. One thing is for sure, the four brothers could
have come back together. George, John, Joseph, and James were all back in
Mississippi by the 1880 census. James (Cap), John Albert, and Joseph Warren
had children born in Kosse, Texas 1879. One of those children John Rufus Vaughn
was my grandpaw. The Vaughn brothers found that land was harder to buy in Texas
than it was in Mississippi.
Following are accounts that have been turned in about
the Texas trip from relatives of the Vaughn family.
Story contributed by Rochelle Higginbotham.
Ernest Higginbotham has a vague memory of his mama telling him about
hearing her grandpa Taylor talk about going to Texas, hoping to bring a heard of
cattle back to Mississippi. In the civil war days it is true that men who went
off to fight had to leave their farms and ranches and cattle behind. And the
cattle took perfectly good care of
themselves and reproduced freely. So after the war there were a lot of cattle
that were unbranded and roaming loose in Texas and therefore free for the
taking by anyone who would catch and brand them. Grandpa
Taylor did in fact gather a herd and start back to Mississippi with it. But by
the time he got home, he didn’t have many cattle with him and he was said
to have made the remark that the trip had not been worth it at all! ...... Rochelle Higginbotham, Tennessee
Story was contributed by Allen Bruton
The following story was contributed by Allen Bruton, a cousin of
the Vaughn family.
My recollection of my grandmothers story about the trip to Texas
is filled with false drawn conclusions......when she died in 1965 I
thought that her immediate family was the only ones to make the trip.
Wrong. I found out later that some of her Vaughn uncles also made the trip. (This would be the sons of Jim & Mary Vaughn). Another assumption is that they went to somewhere in East Texas near the Tyler area. But the story I remember most was the one she told about her cute little dog. Her dog followed along behind their wagon all the way out there. And when they started back the dog fell in line behind them as before. When they crossed the Mississippi River, they forgot to put the dog in the wagon and it got left on the other side of the river. They didn't realize that it was missing until after they left the ferry boat. She said that she and all the children began crying uncontrollably and wanting her daddy to go back and get the dog. Of course he didn't entertain that idea but when he pulled the wagon to the top of the hill they could see the little dog on the other side of the river running up and down in the edge of the water. Her daddy got out of the wagon and went to the top of the bluff overlooking the river and began to call the dog and clap his hands together. The dog jumped in the river and began swimming toward them. Grandma said that on several occasions he went under the water and about the time they had given him up for dead he would resurface. Each time a little closer. Finally they all ran down to the edge of the river and picked her little dog up. The dog was totally exhausted. They put it in the back of the wagon and he lay there for several days before trying to get back to his feet. She said that she was six years old when she made the trip which would mean the trip started in 1876 and the return trip was two years later. That's one thing I'm very sure about......Allen Bruton
Wrong. I found out later that some of her Vaughn uncles also made the trip. (This would be the sons of Jim & Mary Vaughn). Another assumption is that they went to somewhere in East Texas near the Tyler area. But the story I remember most was the one she told about her cute little dog. Her dog followed along behind their wagon all the way out there. And when they started back the dog fell in line behind them as before. When they crossed the Mississippi River, they forgot to put the dog in the wagon and it got left on the other side of the river. They didn't realize that it was missing until after they left the ferry boat. She said that she and all the children began crying uncontrollably and wanting her daddy to go back and get the dog. Of course he didn't entertain that idea but when he pulled the wagon to the top of the hill they could see the little dog on the other side of the river running up and down in the edge of the water. Her daddy got out of the wagon and went to the top of the bluff overlooking the river and began to call the dog and clap his hands together. The dog jumped in the river and began swimming toward them. Grandma said that on several occasions he went under the water and about the time they had given him up for dead he would resurface. Each time a little closer. Finally they all ran down to the edge of the river and picked her little dog up. The dog was totally exhausted. They put it in the back of the wagon and he lay there for several days before trying to get back to his feet. She said that she was six years old when she made the trip which would mean the trip started in 1876 and the return trip was two years later. That's one thing I'm very sure about......Allen Bruton
One thing is certain. The Vaughns and their relatives have moved west since leaving the Scotland and after arriving in Virginia they continued to move west. Texas had a major attraction to the family. A big unsettled territory full of natural resources and the hope of a better life......a better home. a big land. Today there are a lot of Vaughn relatives in Texas. I remember in the 60's my father and his twin brother (Herman & Curtis Vaughn) went to Texas to work with some of their Vaughan cousins in the Houston area. I believe the company was Tommy Vaughn Ford Motor Company. They were out there several months before returning to Mississippi. The Vaughns have always been drawn to the west in the 1600s and still today.
Information Resources for this website include;
"The Conner Family" by W. E. Conner published 1975
"Crusade in Education" chapter 1 titled My Heritage - Published 1971 by John Earle Vaughn
Hewers Of The Wilderness-1st Edition by Jack Vaughn - Published 1958
"The Conner Family" by W. E. Conner published 1975
"Crusade in Education" chapter 1 titled My Heritage - Published 1971 by John Earle Vaughn
Hewers Of The Wilderness-1st Edition by Jack Vaughn - Published 1958
Family History Genealogy Research by Lynn Till
Family Bibles
Family Bibles
Cavaliers & Pioneers Of Virginia
Ray Vaughn
Vaughn Family History Webmaster
Vaughn Family History Webmaster
I am wondering if I am somehow related to George Washington Vaughn through my grandmother. Her name was Minnie Missouri Vaughn. I have found information that George had a child born in 1880 after he returned from Texas. Minnie was in fact born in 1880. She lived in Texas when my dad was born in 1918 or 1920 (we are not sure). If anyone has information email me at gtrent7600@aol.com.
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