Biography
    William Hatcheet Vaughan
    Sumitted by Virginia Payne
       
      From "Reflections of Oregon Pioneer Families"  edited by Jeannie Sharp Phillips

      William Hatcheet Vaughan-1843 Arriving in Oregon in 1843
      with the first wagon train, 21-year- old bachelor William Hatchette
      Vaughan worked as a fence and barn builder for the Hudson Bay
      Company. In 1844, he hoisted his wagon over the Oregon City
      bluffs and traveled south to the Molalla Prairie where he became
      the first permanent non-Indian to settle in the area.

      Construction of a log house was Vaughan's first priority, and in
      anticipation of trouble with the Molalla Indians, he re-inforced
      the house for additonal protection. He was quite lonely and
      apprehensive in his new surrounding as demonstrated by an
      event that took place one dark evening.

      Vaughan went to the spring and when he stooped down to bail
      some water, he felt something touch the back of his shoulder.

      Feeling great fear, he was certain an Indian was behind him
      and about to do him in. Much to his relief he discovered only
      a low hanging branch of a tree. When skirmishes with the
      Indians, occurred, Vaughan always immediately returned to
      his claim. Over a period of time, he established a trusting
      relationship with the Molallas. They respected Vaughan's
      fatherly figure as an expert hunter, builder, horseman, and
      farmer and came to depend on him to mediate disagreements
      among the tribal members.

      Vaughan became known as "Uncle Billy" and the Sage of
      Molalla" to both the Indians and the pioneers.

      Descendant, Champ Clark Vaughan From:"Marriage Records,
      Lane County, Oregon, 1852-1869" Compiled by Oregon Pioneer
      Research Bureau, 1991 Madison Street, Eugene, Oregon 97405,
      in 1968

      The index contains these Vaughns-
      Amanda page 29;
      Floyd page 33;
      J. W. page 34, 38;
      John page 42;
      W. page 29
      (these are from page 63 of the book's index, there could be more that I did not copy).
      I only copied page 34 and 38 for J. W. Vaughn, as he is my ancestor.

      J. W. Vaughn married Sinai Russell on 3 JAN 1867 at house
      of T. C. Keizer, married by Nathan Martin, witnessed by S.
      Hamilton and F. M. Keizer.
      (This was a second marriage for both the bride and groom, my note; vp)

      John William Vaughn (my ancestor) is also listed as a Justice of
      Peace in this publication.

      John William Vaughn was md. 1st to Mahitable Orline Daniels.
      They went to Oregon in 1853, and were on the wagon train that
      took the Elliott Cut-Off; which became known as the Lost Wagon
      Train, even though later it was determined that they weren't as
      far off course as previously thought. There are Immigration
      Rosters of the various wagon trains that have been published.
      These list all the people who were in the train, including children
      and the captain of the train. The sources I have posted here were
      found at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne.
       

      Any questions, corrections, suggestions, and/or additional
      information contact me, Linda CONAWAY Welden at:
      Linda_Welden@Vaughan-Vaughn.org

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