This was posted by his daughter, Esther Vaughn Kirk on our family site.
RAMBLINGS OF AN OLD MAN
Joseph Harmon Vaughn Born November 18, 1927
Written: March 7, 2015
I will try to tell some stories from memory. I have a family history but cannot find it.
Found notes on the internet. March 10, 2015
Generation No, 1
1. Lord Robert Vaughan:
The King of England (George III 1769-1820) ordered the eldest son, Clayton, age 18, into the Revolutionary War (1776) with the American Colonies. The old Father, Lord Robert Vaughan, refused, sold his castle on the Isle of Wight, and his livestock, divided his estate between his three sins and sent them to America. His wife was given a small cottage to live in. Lord Robert Vaughan was declared a traitor and shot. The three sons got on a French trading vessel (from the Island of Wight. It is supposed) and came to the colonies. The youngest was then 16. The second son volunteered in war with the Indians and Kentucky. (In 1886 Virginia had organized into a county a portion of what later became the state of Kentucky.) Our descendants are from the second son-named, James Cornelius Vaughn who remained in the Kentucky area. He evidently changed the spelling from Vaughan, dropping the “a” and so today it is spelt this way. Nothing is known of the third brother.
Children of Lord Vaughn are:
2. I. James Cornelius Vaughn, born 1735, Isle of Wight, England died 1837, Fayette Co, Ky
II. Clayton Vaughn, born 1758; died Unknown
III. James Vaughn, born 1760; died Unknown
Generation Number 2
2. James Cornelius Vaughn (Lord Robert Vaughan) was born 1735 in Isle of Wight, England, and died 1837 in Fayette Co, KY. He married M. Adeline Chowen November 13, 1833. She was born 1759 in Fayette Co, KY, died November 02, 1838 in Fayette Co, KY;
Notes for James Cornelius Vaughn;
Vaughan records from University of Kentucky, Fayette Co, KY:
James was with General Washington, battles of Brandywine-Trenton. He was the brother of Lord William Vaughan and Lady Rachid Rushnell Russeell.
**NOTE FROM ME** Cousin Joe, skipped the generation with Cornelius Vaughn, Sr, who was the father of Cornelius Vaughn, Jr. You can read about him and his line, here.
Joseph Thomas Vaughn son of Cornelius was born 1845 in Ohio, and died 1865 in Richmond, MO (Ray County) He married Mary Louise Hand, daughter of George R. Hand. She was born November 5, 1845, and died November 3, 1871 in Richmond, MO (Ray County). Joseph Thomas Vaughn Born in Richmond Missouri. His early home was in or near Hardin Missouri. Until his parents died from TB, and was taken in and raised by his parental grandfather Cornelius Vaughn the 2nd whom was married to Mary Brewer.
Age 20
Joseph George Vaughn born March 22, 1864 Richmond, MO (Ray Co.) died November 20, 1943, Entiat , WA (Chelan Co.)
Cornelius had many children. Among them he named one “Cornelius.” This man had many children, one boy was named Joseph known as Joe. When Joe was 18, he wanted to get married. The preacher said he had to be over 21. He wrote 21 on a piece of paper and put in his shoe. He then told the preacher he was over 21. This was in Missouri.
He married Ella Hand, daughter of Elder Hand. Elder Hand started more Christian Churches in the San Diego area. Joe Vaughn died 3 months after the marriage. He died from TB. The baby boy was named Joseph G. Vaughn , born about 1868. When Joseph was about 3 ½ the mother Ella died of TB. The burden of raising this boy fell on the grandfather Cornelius.
We will refer to the boy as Joe. Joe was quite talented in music. While living with his grandfather he made a stringed instrument. His grandpa said, “Joe if you play the Lord’s music all will be well. If I catch you playing the devil’s music, I will put that instrument in the pot belly stove.” The difference between the Lord’s music and the Devil’s music, was what grandpa likes and did not like. Young Joe would pay the Lord’s music while grandpa was in the house. When he went out to plow, Joe played the popular songs of the day. One day grandpa came into the house and Joe did not hear him. Of course Joe was playing the songs of the day. True to his word, the instrument went into the stove.
Joe caught a large turtle. He said chopping off the head was like chopping a rubber hose into. Joe then made a stew out of the turtle. He then invited 3 teenage girls for dinner. The girls could really eat. After eating 2 helpings, they started on a third helping. One of the girls asked what kind of meat was in the stew. The first dish tasted like beef, the second dish tasted like pork. When Joe said turtle, the girls threw up. When he was 0ver 70 years old he told me this story. He laughed till tears came to his eyes.
One day Joe was walking and noticed a bunch of quail. Since he did not have his gun with him, he went to a nearby neighbor to borrow a gun. The old man loaned him a old musket. He went back to where the quail were, took aim and pulled the trigger. His own gun did not kick. The old musket kicked him back into the brush. He did not get any quail. When he took the musket back, the old man asked what happened. When Joe told him, he was filled with laughter.
Joe moved to Medical Lake, Washington. When he was 21 in 1889 he cast his first vote to have Washington to be part of the United States. I read some place when the issue if Washington would be part of the U. S. or Canada, it won the U. S. by one vote.
Joe fell in love and was planning on getting married. As it turned out, the woman married someone else. He then met Eva Stanley. She was going to marry someone else.
I was told by one of my cousins, Dottie DeRosa in about 2004 that Eva Stanley bore a daughter out of wedlock. **her name was Daisy Roma Stanley. You can read about her within the hyperlink** She was going to marry the father of the child but did not. My dad never mentioned this event. Eva Stanley was an exceptional beautiful woman. Joe married her about 1895 in Medical lake.
Their first child was Uncle Stanley, who was born in 1896. Their second child was Flora Vaughn. born in 1898. Joe moved his family to central Washington. He went up the Entiat river to Ardenvour. His homestead was 40 acres. Years later Eva said to me in about 1939, “What are young people going to do?, there is no more land to homestead. Since Joe had become a carpenter he built a school house. Bill Vaughn was born in 1900, David was born August 31 in 1901. *there was a baby named Charley that died in between here in 1903. Followed by Eveleen, a baby that died in 1906. Another baby, Clarance that died in 1907. Then there was Dan, Elmer, Herbert, Alfred, Oct 18, 1914.
Eva in about 1938 had cataracts and became blind. She had diabetes, eventually bedfast, dying in July 6, 1940. Joe said she wanted him to remarry. He was about 71. He told her was not interested in getting married again. He told me, Eva was bedfast, blind, but determined for Joe to be able to marry again. When Joe was out of the house, she managed to get out of bed, get the marriage certificate document which hung on the wall and put it in the potbellied stove. In this was Joe would be free to remarry.
Joe moved to live with his son, Bill. Bill had an apple orchard in Wentachee. When Joe was about 74, he came to visit his son David in Bellingham, Washington. I was about 15 or 16. He told me many stories about when he was younger. When his children were growing up, he made a holster for his harmonica so he could play the fiddle. He was paid $1.00 to play for the dance. Of course someone brought some strong drink. Then there was a fight over a women. A days wages was $1.00 for a carpenter. Joe told them he would no longer play for them. They promised there would be no more fighting. So the next time they had a dance, Joe played again for a dollar. They finally told Joe, “You take care of the music and we will take of the fighting.” Again there was a fight. Joe said it was not a good influence on his growing family and quit playing for good. Joe said he only made one bet in his life. He bet $1.00 that one horse was taller than another horse. The other man had measured the horses, so he won the bet. Joe was a unbeliever for a number of years. The Seventh Day Adventist started an argument with Joe. Joe knew they were wrong. He sent a dime to Montgomery Ward to buy a Bible. Joe, by reading the word was converted and was baptized. My sister Velma has the old family bible. In it many of the dates of the family are recorded. I was told when Joe and Eva had their first child, Eva wanted the baby to be sprinkled. Joe said if she could find a scripture for this then he would permit it. She went to her preacher and found out there was no such
scripture.
While Grandpa Joe Vaughn was visting us in Bellingham in about 1943, his grandson Joe had a couple of bikes. We went for a short ride. Grandpa said “It has been forty years since I rode a bike. It will be forty years before I ride again” He said the first bike he rode had a large wheel in front and a small wheel in the rear. Then they came out with the safety bike. It had no brakes. There was a place to put you shoe on the tire for brake purpose. The problem was it gave you a hot foot. There was no way to coast as the peddles kept rotating. This was a great visit in early 1943.
Joe went back to his son’s home in Wentachee. In 1943, Joe’s son Bill took him to him to a medical doctor. The doctor examined Joe. While Joe was getting dressed, the doctor took Bill aside. He said, “ Tell your dad to get his things in order. He is not going to live very long because his kidneys are failing.” Bill’s reply, “I don’t want to tell him. You do it.” When the doctor told Joe, his reply, “What do you mean young man. I will still be around when you are pushing up flowers”. However the doctor was right. It was not long before Joe got sick. My dad (David) went to his beside to take care of his father until he died. Joe told David about much of the family history. David wrote it down.
Here is a copy of the document.
Joseph George and Eveline Jennie Stanley Children
approx 1915
i. Stanley George Vaughn born May 10, 1896m medical Lake (Spokane) died February 15, 1969 Seattle, WA (King County). Stanley and Florence had 5 children. James, Mary, Homer, Carolyn and Lowell. Carolyn was born in 1927 and Lowell was born in 1930. Lowell died in 2015
ii. Flora Louise Vaughn
iii. William (Bill) Vaughn
iv. David Robert Vaughn Born August 31, 1901 and Died July 13, 1965. David married DOROTHY HARMON, May 1924 in Seattle (King Co), Washington. She was born May 18,1900 and died September 1980.
Wedding photo
David and Dorothy had 4 children. Joseph Harmon Vaughn Born November 18, 1927 in Garibaldi, Oregon. Dorothy was 7 ½ months when she lost her water. The doctor was determined the child be born. He pulled while David pushed. The baby weighed less than 2 pounds. The doctor took a cloth and blew into the babies lungs to get him to breathe. The first night a nurse slept with the baby in her arms. Two times the baby stopped breathing but she was able get him going again. It was touch and go for the first year and half. Many of the relatives said he will never make it. Here I am now 87 years old. The second child born was named Edward Earl Vaughn. He was know by Earl until his second grade. We had moved to Tacoma. He went to school and told them his name was Edward. He had to hurry home during lunch hour to find out how you spell Edward. The third child, PAUL GARDNER VAUGHN was born at Twispt, Washington . His birth date was 1-2-34. The fourth child was born named Velma, she was born in Glasgow Montana. More history will be written.
In the fall, David decided to move back to Grand Coolie where he found work. I spent the third grade there. The school had 2 shifts because of the numbers working on the dam. I was in the second shift so Earl and I would take a sled to school. When the bell rang I would go to class and Earl (Ed) would take the sled home. One morning just as we started down the hill, the school bell rang. We could not stop, hit a girl walking up the hill, wrapped a dog up between the sled runners, of course I was late for class.
When work ran out at the dam, we moved to Entiat.. Dad had bought a 1927 Buick in Glasgow Montana to move back to Washington. It had wooden spokes in the wheels, two spare tires in fender wells, mounted on rims. Dad bought 2 recap tires for the trip. The first one blew out at 5 miles, the second on blew out at 165 miles. The old Buick ended up on blocks in the church yard in Entiat. We lived in the back of the church where Dad preached. When Dad had an evangelist meeting by a man named McQuistion.
He had a boy, 5 years old. They told the boy they went to the orphanage and picked him out. He was so proud of his daddy, he would walk up to strangers and say, “I’m adopted. Are you?” My brother Paul was 6, this boy was 5, sister Velma was 4. Our cat had four kittens. They were about six weeks old. Since the 5 year old boy had seen his daddy baptize people, he figured the kittens needed to be baptized. The 3 children, ages 4, 5, and 6 tool the kittens out to the edge of the road. We had a culvert where water ran under the drive way. They would drop the kittens in one end, fish the out at the other end. When we found the 3 children engaged in this activity we put the kittens in the warming oven over the cook stove.
While going to school in Entiat, we had to take the school bus. One day I tool a snow ball aboard the buss. There was a boy I did not like. He was seated several rows ahead of me. When we were almost home I raised up, threw to snowball and hit in the neck. At the same time the bus driver’s eyes went up to the mirror. He saw the action and made me walk the rest of the way home. We wadded in the cold river to catch periwinkles to sell for fish bait. We also sold worms to some fishermen. It was a great time to be a kid.
In 1940 we moved to Tacoma. We lived on 34th street on McKinley Hill. I started the 7th grade. During this time I advanced ½ a grade in English and Math. Then we moved to Bellingham. I started the 9th grade. At mid term, I had a choice to go to high school. There were two of us. The other kid chose to stay in Jr. High. I was the only one to advance in mid term. They said I could not graduate in 2 ½ years. I did not argue with them. I found out the number of credits I would need, took 5 classes a day, ending up with enough credits to graduate in 1945. I also carried 2 paper routs. Getting up at 5 in the morning rain or shine. During my senior year it was 4:00 in the morning. Good thing I was young. In my junior year I took welding. Spent the summer between my junior and senior year, was employed welding in the ship yard. Of course, all transportation was done by bicycle. By doubling up on some classes I graduated in 3 years thus it was 1945, I then went to San Jose Bible college at the age of 17. I had nothing but my ability to work to pay for room and board.
Now for some history about my mother. She was born May 27, 1900 to Edward Harmon and his wife. Edward Harmon was born in San Francisco about 1865. His birth records were destroyed in the fires that resulted in about 1908. Edward Harmon lost an eye due to a chemical explosion while in High School. After Dorothy, Velma was born in 1901. Then Edward, Nomrah. Howard and then Madge.
The dad, Edward Harmon was in the furniture business a number of times. He had a severe drinking problem. He came home drunk, the table was set with food, he went to the table and flipped it upside down. I was told he drank his business down the tube 3 times. I did not know him until about 1940.
Velma and Nomrah married brothers. Velma married Paul Perry. Nomrah had a son in about 1925 named Robert. Nomrah died shortly after, leaving a husband and a young son. The dad soon married again and had several children. Dorothy (my Mother) finished high school in Tacoma. I believe there is a brick in the wall of the school. After graduation, she and her aunt Madge (6 days older then Dorothy) went to Nomah school in Ellensburg to become school teachers. When Dorothy applied for a teaching job in Entiat, Washington, her mother was very much against it. She said, “You will fall in love with one those hill billies and marry him.” “No way” was Dorothy’s reply. While at Entiat, she stayed at the Vaughn resident. Of course after 3 years of teaching she had fallen in love with David. It was doomed from the start to have much unhappiness. Here was a woman, raised in the city, good transportation, good social life, her dad was a furniture dealer. David was raised a family of 7 boys and two girls. They often sat on apple boxes for chairs. Hardly had enough dishes and never enough silverware. They had to go down to the creek to get a bucket of water. Also the out house was used as needed. What a change for a city girl to meet an out door man. But David was hard working, honest and loving. They were married in 1924.
Dorothy’s sister Velma married Paul Perry. He had been a pilot in World War 1. He worked all his life as a machinist for Great Northern Railroad. Paul and Velma did not have any children.
May 21, 2015 Just received some more information about my mother’s family. Our grandfather was Francis (Frank) Edward Harmon. His father was Edward (Edd) Harmon. His first son was therefore named Edward Francis Harmon, our Uncle.
Our great grandfather came to California because of having TB hoping the warm sun in California heal him. His sweetheart, Jennie
Rich, stayed in Maine for a time and then moved to California and they married. Our grandfather F. E. Harmon was born and Jennie was pregnant with George when their father died. Jennie moved to Washington and married Alfonzo Staples who was the only father our grandfather and his sister Georgia know.
Francis Edward Harmon born June 17, 1874, died December 17, 1947. He was crossing a street in the cross walk. An old man 80 hit him and drug his some distance before stopping. Edward Harmon woke up in the hospital When informed where he was said he would be out in a few days. However he died. Edward Harmon married Effie Maude Reynolds on January 28, 1899 in Tacoma, Washington.
They had 6 children all born in Tacoma, Washington.
1. Dorothy born May 27, 1900 Died August 1980. Married David R. Vaughn June 20, 1924. Their 4 children:
1. Joseph born November 18, 1927 in Garibaldi, Oregon,
2. Edward Earl Vaughn in Wenatchee, Washington.
3. Paul Gaduner Vaughn born January 2, 1934, in Twispt, Washington.
4. Velma Vaughn in Glasgo, Montana.
2. Velma Harmon born April 23, 1902 died November 1984, Married Paul D. Perry June 17, 1920. They did not have any children. Paul was a pilot in WWI. They lived in Spokane, WN.
3. Nomrah Harmon born January 17, 1904. Died May 10, 1927. Married Willis Perry April 4, 1923. They had one son Robert.
4. Edward Francis born December 8, 1905. Died April 14, 1977. Married Lois Morrill June 19, 1940. They had 4 daughters, Suzanne, Carolyn, Lois Ann and Merry. Merry was born on Christmas day.
5. Howard Staples Harmon born August 13, 1908, died January 13, 1982. Married Mary Betzier September 26, 1926. Thay had 3 children, Leona, born in 1927, Howard Earl born 1930, Philip. Mary Harmon was known as Henryett for years. Changed her name to Marry. Lived to be 101 years old.
6. Madge born October 12, 1913. Died May 19, 1980. Married Authur Groering and had one son, Stanley.
Our Grandfather F. E. Harmon lost an eye in high school due to a chemical explosion. He had a glass eye but never wore it. During WW2 he worked in the ship yards handing out tools. He had a gold mine in Idaho. When I (Joseph Vaughn) was about 13, cousin Robert and I went on our bikes up to grandpa Harmon. Robert and I were going fishing. Robert borrowed a fishing pole from Grandpa Harmon. Grandpa lived on 50th just off McKinley avenue. When we had departed, Robert said at the top of the hill he could build up speed and coast down to his home on 38th and McKinley. At the top of the hill at full speed he let his fishing pole get into the spokes of the front wheel. This locked up the wheel and Robert went over the handlebars on his nose. A car stopped and took the bleeding Robert to his home on 38th. Of course this broke his nose and it was crooked the rest of his life. I was left to get the 2 bikes down to his home. The forks of the bike had bent back so we had to turn them around to make the bike rideable.
I want to say some things about my Mother, Dorothy Harmon Vaughn. She was born in Tacoma, Washington on May 27, 1900. She lived to be 80. She grew up in Tacoma, graduated from High School about 1918. She and her Aunt Madge went to Normal school in Ellensburg, Washington in order to become school teachers. Aunt Madge was born May 21, 1900 thus she was 6 days older then our mom. The two women were together. Madge said “I get to make the decision since I am the older one. After graduation Madge married a denist named Dean Norton. They had two children, Bill and I think Merry Anne. Bill Norton worked for the Washington Highway Patrol. He lived on Whibby Island and Cle Elum. He retired here in Yuma. About 3 years ago he moved back up to the Northwest.
Back to my mom. After graduation from Normal school she made an application to teach school in Entiat, Washington. Her mom said, “I do not want you to go there, you will end up marring some hill belly.” “No way was the reply.” So about 1921 she started teaching in a one room school house. She taught for 3 years. She stayed at the Vaughn resident. Joseph G. Vaughn was a carpenter and had built the one room school house. All 8 grades were taught. They got their water in a bucket out of the river. They had a dipper. All of the children drank out of the same dipper. David R. Vaughn was one of 7 boys. Dorothy taught some of the younger Vaughn boys. Of course she fell in love With David. They married in 1924. This was a great contrast. Dorothy, city raised with running water and indoor plumbing. David raised with water taken from a river and of course they had an out house. David followed crops and made apple boxes. He was fast with his hand. Some days he made 1000 apple boxes. He did not finish high school. He attended Eugene Bible College for 2 ½ years. This is where he learned to preach. In the fall of 1927 he was working in Garibaldi, Oregon. When mom was 7 ½ months, she lost her water. The doctor determined the baby had to be born. He pulled and dad pushed. On November 18, I was born. I was premature, thus had hearing difficulty all of my life. The first night, the nurse slept with me in her arms. Two times that night I quit breathing but she got me going. I was so weak, they could not hear me cry. Other relatives said he will never make it. How ever I have been very healthy and stronger than most men. In 1930 they moved to Malaga, which is 9 miles from Wenatchee. On May 11, 1930 (Mother’s Day) she gave birth to Edward Earl Vaughn. By 1933-34 they had moved to Twispt, Washington. Stanley and Florence live a couple miles away. On January 2, 1934, she gave birth to Paul G. Vaughn. This took place at home. They had sent me, age 6 and Earl age 3 ½ to stay with Uncle Stanley and Aunt Forance. Of course they had 5 children all older than me. My cousin Carolyn and I we outside. Florance went to the river to get water. A root she had stepped on broke and she fell into the cold, cold, cold water. She managed to get herself out. But to two 6 year old cousins, this was very funny. To the person that fell in. it was not funny. I do not know when we moved to Tacoma. I was in the first grade. Grandma Harmon was the school cook. Dad must have been working at Grand Coolie Dam. Uncle Howard mom’s brother furnished us a house. Dad built a house at Grand Coolie. We moved there so I could start the 2nd grade. During this 1935 winter I spent the 2nd grade in Grand Coolie. Dad got laid off work. He had credit at the grocery store.
He left to go to Ft Peck because they were building a dam there. He took the train to Glasgo Montana. Arrived there with 25 cents in his pocket. Ft Peck was 20 miles away. He started walking. It was cold, cold, cold. He tried running to get warm. This did not work. He would have frozen to death but a car stopped. Told him he would never make it. Gave him a ride, saving his life. Dad got work welding. It was in the spring he sent for mom to come to Glassgo.
Mom must have been 6 0r 7 months pregnant. How she managed 3 boys, 8 ½ , 6, 2+ on the train. Velma was born June 2, 1936. I finished the 2nd grade in Montana. When we got to the depot, Dad was suppose to meet us. He was not there. So mom with 3 sleepy little boys hired a taxie. We went to a school that had been converted into apartments. She went up to where a light was on. Knocked on the door and was greeted by a very sleepy husband. This building was full of bed bugs. I remember finishing the 2nd grade there. Velma was born on June 2. We had no basket for her so we used my little red wagon. After school was out we moved to a house in the country. Soon after Velma was born, the folks had to shopping. They hired a young woman to look after us. She go busy, a house was being moved down the street. Earl and I followed it for a ways. Paul about 2 ½ tried to keep up with us. He could not so he set down to cry. An old man took him from door to door trying to find who he belonged to. One woman recognized him as the preachers son. She then brought him home.
Dad was afraid to try to stay for the winter. He bought a 1927 Buick 4 door. Packed us all in and started for Grand Coolie. It had two spare tires in the fender wells. He bought 2 recapped tires. Put them on the front, Packed everything we could and started for Washington. The first recapped tire blew out at 65 miles. The second recapped tire blew out at 165 miles. As I remember it took us 8 days to get to Spokane where moms sister Velma lived. After a brief lay over we continued on to Grand Coolie. I went to the 3rd grade and Edward Earl went to the first grade. When work ran out we moved to Entiat. Dad was the preacher so we lived in the back of the church building. I went to the 4th, 5th, and 6th grade. We had to take the school bus to school. One summer we husked black walnuts. It stained our hands and could not be washed off. This was a delight to us boys. Edward Earl and I learned to ride a bike while living there. Dad as the minister had a man come hold a gospel meeting. He had a boy 5 years old. They informed him they had gone to a place, picked him out and adopted him. He was so proud of his daddy, he would go up to strangers and say, “I’m adopted. Are you?” Since our Velma was 4 and Paul was 6, this boy fit in very well. Seeing his daddy baptize people so they could go to heaven, he reasoned the 4 little kittens had to be baptized in order to go to cat heaven. With Velma and Paul, the 3 children took the four little kittens out to the culvert which was in the drive way. They would drop a kitten in one end and fish them out at the other end. They were very busy doing this as each kitten had to be baptized 3 times. We rescued the kittens, put them on a dry cloth, put them in the warming oven above the wood cook stove. The kittens recovered. Since was in 1940, I suppose all the kittens have lived out their life and have gone to cat heaven. In the summer of 1940 we moved to Tacoma as dad got a job in the ship yards. We rented a large house on 34th street on McKinley Hill. The rent was $25.00 per month. I started Gault Jr. High School 7th grade. Ed Earl was in the 5th grade. He was called Earl. When he started school, he told them his name was Edward. He had to hurry home to have Mom show him how to spell Edward.
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