My Genealogy Hound

GEORGE C. VAUGHAN, stock-dealer and farmer of Antelope township, Harlan county, Nebr., was born in Washington county, N. Y., September 9, 1855, and is a son of Julius and Sarah (Stevens) Vaughan. Julius, also a native of the State of New York, was in early life a boatman on the Champlain canal, later became a farmer, and died about the year 1863, leaving a very small estate. Leonard Vaughan, father of Julius, was a farmer through life in New York State. To the union of Julius and Sarah Vaughan were born two children — G. C. being the elder and Herman the younger. Mrs. Sarah Vaughan is a daughter of William and Clarissa Stevens, both New Yorkers, and the former somewhat of a local politician. She is now residing in Nebraska, on a farm adjacent to that of her son, George C., having come in 1884, and homesteading a quarter section of land. Herman Vaughan, subject’s brother, drifted first to Rutland, Vt., passed a few years there as clerk in a hardware store, and then went to Boston, and in 1882 was transferred by his employers to New York city and is still in the employ of the firm.

George C. Vaughan was about eight years of age when he lost his father, and since that time has been compelled to take care of himself. He acquired the use of tools and followed carpentering in New York State until 1878, when he came to Nebraska and was first employed by George M. Roberts, then attorney-general of the state and the owner of a ranch near Orleans, and on this ranch our subject remained about six months, when he came to Antelope township and homesteaded the northeast quarter of section 19, township 4, range 17. At that time there were no improvements on the place, and Mr. Vaughan was compelled to haul water for domestic uses four miles, but after awhile wells were dug in his neighborhood, from which he obtained the needful fluid, and in course of time dug a well on his own premises. His first dwelling was of sod, and soon after he commenced farming, in 1880-81, his crops were destroyed by the drouth, so that, in the latter year, he was obliged to seek employment at Kearney, where he was engaged in the post-office about a year, when he returned to his farm and has ever since succeeded in raising bountiful harvests. About this time the Union Pacific Railroad Company built a branch of its road within a mile of his place, and the town of Ragan was also started, and these facts led to his engaging in stock dealing, which he has successfully pursued in conjunction with farming. He gives especial attention to the improvement of horses, and has now some high-bred fillies, from which he intends to breed better stock. His place is well supplied and adorned with orchards and groves, and his crops are of a mixed character, and he is altogether prosperous.

The marriage of Mr. Vaughan took place to Miss Emma Dailey, daughter of Warren and Sarah Dailey, who came from New York State in 1877 and settled in Franklin county, this state, and to this union has been born one child, Sarah E., a bright little Miss, now aged about nine years. Warren Dailey was a blacksmith by trade, and died in Frontier county, Nebr., in 1889, in good circumstances. Politically, Mr. Vaughan is independent.