The intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1887-1891, 1888-12-15

he joined the o. s. Presbyterian church. at
this place, of which he was a member at the
time Of his death, During the last few years
of his life he WAS a great sufferer from Il COM
bination of ailments. all painful and Distress
ing to his physical nature, and yet he never
complained. Blessed with q strong will, he
endured without a murmur sufferings that
would have wrung cries of anguish from
many of u different nature. DIR. Young wasa
man OF sterling worth and unblemished char.
acter. True to all his engagements he won
and continued to hold the confidence and
friendship of all who knew him best. His
positive nature and firm adherence 10 the
truth sometimes made him appear obstinate.
Tina; he had faults none can deny. Who has
not? But his good qualities so far outnum-
bered and ovsrshadowed the bad that the
writer hereof is inclined to forget and over
look his errors and TO say, DIR. Young was
altogether u good man. For nearly d half
century l knew him and esteemed him rs a
friend. and 1 am glad to say, as he said to
me a few years ago, "Our friendship has
never been disturbed or broken bv a single
incident" One of his old servants said to me
on the day of his burial, He was my best
friend" A good citizen has passed away.
The friend of my whole life has gone to his
rest. l shall meet him again, l trust, in a
brighter and better world than this. Until
then. l say farewell, old companion and
friend. a long farewell. X.
In this city. December s. Of general
debility, Gen. RICHARD G. VAUGHAN,
aged 70 years.
Gen. Vaughan was born in Goochland
county, Va, July 80, 1918. He grewt TO man.
hood in his native county, where he receiysa
a liberal education, and imbibed thatJove 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 profes.
sion for a few years IN Virginia, after which,
in 1889, he came to Missouri. Just before bis
removal he was married to Miss Margaret
Mcknight, near Richmond. Va. on septenl-
Der 4. 1889. Miss Mcknight was a native Of
Scotland. and her husband met her while she
was in Virginia on o visit to relatives. She
was the daughter of John Mcknight, and a
lady OF most excellent social and personal
qualities. The general was always proud of
her as q woman, and proud of her lineage,
which boosted men as bold and women as fair
as were ever sung by the Ettrick Shepherd.
Gen. Vaughan first settled In Howard coun-
ty, where he remained two years. practicing
law. He then removed, In 1912, to Saline
county, where the abandoned the law and
went to farming. In 1857 he came to Lex
ington, where he has ever since resided.
From 1858 to 1861 he edited the Lexington
Express, a paper devoted to the advocacy Of
Wing principles. Gen. Vaughan brought to
his editorial life rare qualities. Thoroughly
Versed In the history Of his W 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 commIs-
stoned q 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. Al
this time his naturally lovable and forgivinR
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 rs assessor, and he held the
position but for a short period. 1t was during
this time that Gen. Vaughan had the CONT o.
versy 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 q public document In Mis-.
souri,. and probably no publication since the
war has won more general attention and ap.
prOVal. or late years Gen. Vaughan hal
been what might be termed an independent
In politics. generally opposing the republican
patty as being too radical, yet not giving hi
adhesion fully to democracy. The genera
was q warm personal friend of Edward r
Bates, attorney general under President Lin.
coin, and his son, John, was at one time tina
gentleman's private secretary. He was aIst
Q very warm personal friend Of Gen. Han.
cock. and supported him twice, ardently, fol
nomination for the presidency. The writel
Is under obligation to HIM for an Autograph
letter from Gen. Hancock, which be prize,
highly. as a souvenir of both gentlemen
Gen. Vaughan came from revolutionar,
stock. His grea~t-grandfather on the paterna
side settled in Kent county. Va, about forty
years before the American war for separation
frnpn the rnofhar nn,ptru u;, n..~Ir.l..
and granduncle served through the war, thu
former being q captain, and present at thu
capture OF CORVALLIS at Yorktown. Genera
Vaughan's father was Nicholas M. Vaughan
His mother was Miss Ann X. Peasants, tn,
daughter OF Isaac w. Pleassnts, an old revo'
lutionsrY veteran, and the founder of q yer,
prominent Virginia family. Mrs. Vaughan'
} brother. James Peasants, was once gov,
ernor OF Virginia and was also for . mum,
Der OF years a member Of congress ant
United States senator, being the ~eolleagu,
and friend Of John Randolph. Genera
Vaughan leaves behind him four sons
John M, who resides in johnson county
} George N. and Edward Bates, who live II
Lexington, and DIR, Robert Randolph, who's,
: home Is in Fulton, Mo. ; and three daugh
J tiers. one the wife Of the Rev. John b. Ruby
Q Presbyterian clergymen, now in Henri,
county, Mo-. and Misses Ann r. and Eilel
NJ, who live at the old homestead. In 1876
, Gen. Vaughan united with the Presbyterian
church, OF this city, under the pastorate o
the Rev. B. NJ. Hobssn, and has al ways sine
I then been sn attentive and consistent mem
her OF that body. He had q very friendl
side, too. for the Episcopal church, tho his
tory OF which was familiar to him. and h
' gould often be found an appreciative partici
pant In Its worship. He was q most loyin
s and tender husband and father, an intelligep
and patriotic citizen. a kind and considerat
. neighbor. and a good friend. II one trait q
his character was more marked than anothe
1t was that OF charity. Positive in his con
Victions, bold to express them. he was read
g TO do battle for the right as he saw It, bu
! more than all he was filed with those grand
: est of all attributes, forgiveness ard synps
d. thy for suffering or oppressed fellow beings
{ He loved to forgive and to be reconciled {
t those who. from whatever cause, had bee
estranged from him, and he was ever read
TO meet more than half way those who de
( sired his friendship. As he passed throug
{ the dark days of the war, whenever an on
!. pOrtunity presented Itself to serve the dis
= tressed, no matter what their attitude towar