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Note: N4420 Lexington Intelligencer (Lexington, Missouri), 15 December 1888
THE TOMB
Died—In this city, December 8, of general debility, Gen. Richard C. Vaughan, aged 75 years.
Gen. Vaughan was born in Goochland county, Va., July 30, 1813. He grew to manhood in his native county, where he received a liberal education, and imbibed that love for literature which ever after marked his life. He read law under Judge Archibald Brice, and was licensed to practice in the highest court of his state. He practiced his profession for a few years in Virginia, after which, in 1839, he came to Missouri. Just before his removal he was married to Miss Margaret McNaught, near Richmond, Va., on September 4, 1839. Miss McNaught was a native of Scotland, and her husband met her while she was in Virginia on a visit to relatives. She was the daughter of John McNaught and a lady of most excellent social and personal qualities. The general was always proud of her as a woman, and proud of her lineage, which boasted men as bold and women as fair as were ever sung by the Ettrick Shepherd.
Gen. Vaughan first settled in Howard county, where he remained two years, practicing law. He then removed, in 1842, to Saline county, where he abandoned the law and went to farming. In 1857 he came to Lexington, where he has ever since resided. From 1858 to 1861 he edited the Lexington Express, a paper devoted to the advocacy of Whig principles. Gen. Vaughan brought to his editorial life rare qualities. Thoroughly versed in the history of his own country, well read, also, in the general history of the world, with a vigorous literary style, fearless and honest, the influence of his journal was more than state-wide.
In the civil war Gen. Vaughan espoused the union side, and early entered the federal army. At the battle of Lexington he acted as aid to Gen. Mulligan. He was paroled by Gen. Price, and went to Washington City. On his return in 1862 he was appointed clerk of the circuit court, and in August of the same year he was commissioned a brigadier-general of volunteers for the tenth military district, which position he maintained to the end of the war.
In 1866 he was appointed United States assessor of the revenue for the territory embraced at the time in the seventh congressional district. At this time his naturally lovable and forgiving disposition alienated him from those with whom he had been acting, and rendered him a conservative in politics. In consequence the United States senate refused to confirm his nomination as assessor, and he held the position but for a short period. It was during this time that Gen. Vaughan had the controversy with Gov. Thomas C. Fletcher, which resulted in the celebrated open letter in which he excoriated that official from head to heel. The biting sarcasm of that paper has never been excelled in a public document in Missouri, and probably no publication since the was has won more general attention and approval.
Of late years Gen. Vaughan has been what might be termed an independent in politics, generally opposing the republican party as being too radical, yet not giving his adhesion fully to democracy. The general was a warm person friend of Edward T. Bates, attorney-general under President Lincoln, and his son, John, was at one time that gentleman's private secretary. He was also a very warm personal friend of Gen. Hancock, and supported him twice, ardently, for nomination for the presidency. The writer is under obligation to him for an autograph letter from Gen. Hancock, which he prized highly, as a souvenir of both gentlemen.
Gen. Vaughan came from revolutionary stock. His great-grandfather on the paternal side settled in Kent county, Va., about forty years before the American war for separation from the mother country. His grandfather and grand uncle served through the war, the former being a captain, and present at the capture of Cornwallis at Yorktown. General Vaughan's father was Nicholas M. Vaughan. His mother was Miss Ann R. Pleasants, the daughter of Isaac W. Pleasants, an old revolutionary veteran, and the founder of a very prominent Virginia family. Mrs. Vaughan's brother, James Pleasants, was once governor of Virginia and was also for a number of years a member of congress and United States senator, being the colleague and friend of John Randolph.
General Vaughan leaves behind him four sons, John M., who resides in Johnson county; George M., and Edward Bates, who live in Lexington, and Dr. Robert Randolph, whose home is in Fulton, Mo.; and three daughters, one the wife of the Reb. M., who live at the old homestead.
In 1859 Gen. Vaughan united with the Presbyterian church, of this city, under the pastorate of the Rev. B.M. Hobson, and has always since then been an attentive and consistent member of that body. He had a very friendly side, too, for the Episcopal church, the history of which was familiar to him, and he could often be found an appreciative participant in its worship. He was a most loving and tender husband and father, an intelligent and patriotic citizen, a kind and considerate neighbor, and a good friend. If one trait of his character was more marked than another it was that of charity. Positive in his convictions, bold to express them, he was ready to do battle for the right as he saw it, but more than all he was filled with those grandest of all attributes, forgiveness and sympathy for suffering or oppressed fellow beings. He loved to forgive and to be reconciled to those who from whatever cause, had been estranged from him, and he was ever ready to meet more than half-way those who desired his friendship. As he passed through the dark days of the war, whenever an opportunity presented itself to serve the distressed, no matter what their attitude toward him, he did so heartily, and many who thought him a foe found him a friend. In his manners he was courtly and graceful, a gentleman of the old school, and the writer has to remember gratefully many acts of politeness at his hands, and many words of counsel from his lips.
Warned some years ago by a paralytic stroke he has for a long time been merely awaiting the summons, and at last he has peacefully passed over to the majority, there to enter those mansions not made with hands, eternal in the heavens, to which have preceded him, his beloved wife, two sons and a daughter. Careless of this world's [peril?], he was ever alive to considerations of courtesy, of right and honor.
His life was gentle; and the elements
So mixed in him, that Nature might stand up
And say to all the world, "This was a man!"
His funeral took place, last Saturday, from the residence, many friends of the family having assembled to pay the last tribute of respect. The religious services were conducted by Rev. E.C. Gordon, D.D., assisted by Revs. J.W. Keeble and G.W. Hyde.
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