REV. JOHN J. VAUGHAN. ROBERT PUGH. BANGOR, LACROSSE COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
REV. JOHN J. VAUGHAN, a contractor and builder at Bangor, Wisconsin, a son of John and Jane Vaughan, deceased, was born in North Wales, Great Britain, April 19th, 1826.The father of the subject of this sketch brought his family to Oneida county, New York in 1831, settling on a farm in Remsen township, and was a labourer during the building of the New York Central railroad, between Troy and Scheneetady, Our subject's early boyhood was spent on a farm, and received his education at Whitestown Seminary, New York, and he attended the Biblical Institute, which was then a part of said seminary. He afterwards pursued a theological course in the Baptist Theological Seminary at Morgan Park, near Chicago, Illinois.
He helped raise several companies for the Union army. He took an active part in the campaign of 1860, and also in the campaign of 1864, in electing Roscoe Conkling to Congress; he likewise used his influence to secure Roscoe Conkling's first nomination to Congress in 1858.
Mr. Vaughan taught school many winters both before and after the war. He received a State certificate from the Department of Public Instruction at Albany, New York, when the Hon. V. M. Rice was the State Superintendent. A great number of his former pupils enlisted in the Union army, and every one acted his part well in service of his country.
He came to Wisconsin in 1865, and located at Bangor, where he resided ever since, except three or four summers which he spent in Brown and Clarl counties, South Dakota. He taught three winters at Bangor, and also eight terms in the Prairie school, two miles southeast of Bangor village, and six winters at Rockland, Wisconsin.
He was pastor of the Baptist Church at Bangor, four years, and has acted as a supply for several years besides. He has followed the carpenter's trade at different times since he came to Wisconsin, except while he was in Dakota, where he was employed as a missionary, and while there he helped organize three or four churches, paying much of his own funds in erecgting church edificies etc.
Mr. Vaughan was twice married. He was married the first time to Miss Mary A. Thomas, a native of Oneida county, New York, daughter of Richard E. and Mary Thomas. There were three children born to them - two survive : Richard M. and Jennie, his first born. Mrs. Vaughan died September 27th, 1873. On December 31st, 1885, he was married the second time, to Maggie E., daughter of John T. Edwards, of Leon, Monroe county, Wisconsin. They have two children : John J., born November 18th, 1888; their little daughter Margretta May was born May 7th 1891.
Mr. Vaughan serves as a Justice of the Peace for two years. He is a Republican politically, and was present at one of the first conventions when the Republican party was formed in 1853. He was one of the first to oppose the "Know Nothing" party in his locality.
Biographical History of La Crosse, Wisconsin.
REV. JOHN J. VAUGHAN. ROBERT PUGH. BANGOR, LACROSSE COUNTY, WISCONSIN.
Pastor of the Baptist Church of Bangor, was born in Llanuwchllyn, Merionethshire, North Wales, April 19,1826; he emigrated with his parents to the United States in the spring of 1831, and settled at Remsen, Oneida Co., New York; he received a common-school education in Remsen, and afterwards took a partial course in the Whitestown Seminary, near Utica, New York. He remained at home with his father, working on a farm, till he was 17 years old; then he spent several years in learning the carpenter's trade; he took a course of instruction in the science of architecture and in the art of drawing, under Prof A. B. Stone and the late A. J. Jiathrop, of Utica, New York. At the close of his studies, he passed an examination, and received a diploma from the above-named gentlemen; he was engaged in manufacturing lumber for several years; he has followed the business of house-buUding for a large portion of time during a period of thirty-five years.His parents were members of the Congregational Church at Steuben, New York. His mother died April 13th, 1841, and his father died February 5th, 1854.
He commenced preaching with the M. E. Church at Remsen, in the winter of 1863. After the lapse of a few years, he left that church, not from any ill feeling toward any of the brethren, but for the following reason : Early in the summer of 1863, he was drawn into the baptismal controversy, which led him to a carefull study, and a patient investigation of the doctrine of Christian baptism. The result was, his former views and belief upon that subject were changed; he became a Baptist in sentiment. On the llth of October, 1874, he was baptized by Rev. Wm. T. Bunker, and became a member of the Baptist Church at Bangor. The church employed him to preach, and on the 22nd of March, 1877, he was ordained, and settled as a Pastor of the Baptist Church of Bangor, and continues to serve in that office to the present time.
In September, 1877, he entered the Baptist Union Theological Seminary, Chicago, Illinois, where he pursued a special course in theology, which he intends to complete during the next ensuing year. He came to Wisconsin in the fall of 1865, and settled at Bangor, where he has since resided, variously employed as a preacher, house builder and school teacher.
On the 25th day of December, 1867, he was married to Miss May A. Thomas, of Steuben, Oneida Co., New York; she was born in Boonville, Oneida Co., New York, December 25th, 1841; they have had three children; two are now living — one daughter, named Jennie, born September 24th, 1868, and one son, named Richard Miner, born August 28th, 1870; the youngest child was born September 18th, 1873, and died October 5th, 1873.
After a few years of happy union, his beloved wife died, at Bangor, September 27th, 1873, and was taken to Oneida County, New York, for burial.
In 1860, he was elected Supervisor of the town of Remsen, Oneida County, New York, and in 1861 was re-elected to the same office; he performed the duties of that office in a satisfactory manner.
In 1871, he was elected Justice of the Peace at Bangor, Wisconsin, and served but one term. Perhaps one of the most noted things in the history of the subject of this sketch, is the fact that he has been a common-school teacher for a long period of years, both in New York State and in Wisconsin. He has taught twenty-three winters; eight of the above number he has taught in District No. 2, Bangor. He received, August 12th, 1865, a State certificate from the late Hon. V. M. Rice, who was then State Superintendent of Public Instruction in New York State.
Among the thrilling reminiscences of his past life, there is none, perhaps, which will touch his feelings any more than some of those incidents that occurred in connection with his experience as a school teacher. At several different times during his past life, he has experienced severe reverses and sore disappointments in business matters which blasted his most cherished plans and hopes. But amid all trials and troubles he has endeavored to exemplify those good principles which he has taught and inculcated in the school-room and from the pulpit, regarding the building up and preserving good character, as one of the dearest, highest and noblest objects to be attained in the present life.