V. T. VAUGHN

The following bio was taken from page 419 of the book entitled “Rusk County History” compiled and edited and used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Gloria Riley

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

Wyatt Vaughn came to Texas sometime before the Civil War. Wyatt came from Greene County, Georgia and settled in Rusk County. He had one half-sister, Rebecca Astin. Wyatt bought land in the Stockman League in October of 1854 from Clinton D. Holleman, and again in February 1860 from James King. Wyatt Vaughn married Eliza Jane Parker while he was living in Georgia. Wyatt was born January 11, 1820, and Eliza was born February 22, 1829. Rebecca Astin married Edwin S. Parker, a brother of Eliza. Eight children were born to Wyatt and Eliza: John W., December 1, 1845; Susan E., March 5, 1851; Vincent Thornton, November 10, 1848; Olenza Burma, June 5, 1851; Nancy Jane, February 24, 1854; William Thomas, May 1, 1856; Marshall Lewis, May 24, 1858; and Jabez C., February 26, 1861. Wyatt and his son, John, died at Galveston during the Civil War. Eliza Vaughn died January 8, 1887 and was buried in the Shiloh Cemetery. The church was the center of interest for many of the Vaughns. The children of Wyatt and Eliza were active members of the Smyrna Baptist Church in the Oak Flat Community. V.T. and M.L. were ministers, and W.T. (Bud) was a deacon. W.W. Vaughn, son of V.T.; Raymond R. Scruggs, son of Olenza (Vaughn) Scruggs; and Roe T. Holleman, son of Nancy Jane, were Baptists. John F. Vaughn, son of W.T., is still a deacon at Smyrna. Benjamin L., the son of M.L. Vaughn has two grandsons who are deacons at Smyrna and one grandson who is a Baptist preacher. There are also two great-grandsons who are Baptist ministers. V. T. Vaughn is buried at Shiloh Cemetery. Nancy Jane, W. T., M. L., and Jabez are buried at Holleman Cemetery. It is unknown where the others are buried. The oldest living descendant of Wyatt Vaughn is Simeon Levi Vaughn, son of M. L. The youngest Vaughn is Zechariah Timothy, great-great-grandson of M. L. Vaughn. He lives in Henderson, Texas Written by Robert Vaughn