Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1915-04-17
.EX-MAYOR VAUGHN DEAD
Passes Away at Home in St. Louis
E, After Illness that Had Extended
Over Several Weeks.
RESIDENT OF BLUFFS FOR YEARS


w. r. Vaughan. former mayor Of
Council Bluffs. and for more than twen-
ty-five years a citizen nj Council Bluffs.
died yesterday morning at his home IN
ST. Louis. after Nm Illness that developed
about the first OF the year. The infor-
nation was conveyed IN teiogrems re
ceived yesterday by Roy DeVol, hts
nephew. telegram received late IN
the afternoon announced that the funeral
would be held Sunday afternoon at 800
O'Clock and that burial would DC at 81.
Louis
Mr.. vaughsp came to Council Bluffs
about the close Of the war and soon
after wa sunited IN marriage 70 Miss
Della Devol. sister u the late p c.
Devol. founder of the DeVol Hardware
company. or eight children. three daugh-
tiers and two sons survive. The sons arc
NorInsn and Edward. beth prosperous
business men in 81. Louis. The daugh-
tiers ara Mrs Carl Reed, Monticello, III.
Mrs. Hornnett. and Miss Vaughan. st.
Louis Mr.. Vaughan had been engaged
in the publication OF fraternal and trades
union papers and magazines.
mack Into Office
Few man IN Council Bluffs had
wider acquaintance than w r. Vaughan.
In 1881 he was elected mayor, but be-
fore his term expired the city changed
its charter and he WIS iegislated out
OF oskIcs.
Aseressiveiy independent and a Fighter.
Mayor Vaughan had some powerful
enemies and It is alleged that they
brought about the change OF tho charter
se the quickest method OF getting rid OF
him. But he Immediately demonstrated
that Ne was something Of a fighter. He
dominated the city convention and Sc
cured the nomination as mayor under the
new charter form Of city government
land WAS reelected BY n majority that
WAS nearly unanimous. He had begun
TO stir up the town during bis first term.
bringing about the building OF the water
plant ana the first street paving the city
had. He renewed his activity and IN
Isss-l started an era IL public Improve
uents. More than 100000 OF the debt
then incurred IL stil being carried and
Raid BY presenf-day taxpayers. II was
anparentiy q bad time 20 begin big nli-
nicibai anterprisea. City warrants were
ceiling around % cents and bond Issue
was looked upon a. en- inpossibility.
Mayor Vaughan went ahead and had
the council order the paving Of Bread
way and South Main street with granite
blocks at cost Of $50 yard and also
got the town into contracts for many
miles OF cedar block pavcments All or
this was IN addition 20 the Main sewer
syssstn which was under way at tho same
hIme. wnen the counoh authorized big
bond issue 10 meet she demands Of the
contractors for their monsy, the financial
rnarkce spesared 10 Be closed Advertis-
ins IN ne financial jcusnais failed to
bfinesven an inquiry much less a bid for
the honda
vauehn solves Problem.
The situation looked Desperate. but enc
day Mayor Vaughan packed up the wnole
hunch 81 bonds and vent TO New York
The day after hts arrival these all Of tho
New York papers carried first-page
stories about Council Bluffs ana ite
snsyaE Interviews that left hothlns
more 70 say abnpt the future sreatness
o. cenhcil Bluffs appeared,
Little vapghnia. as he Was Affection
ately called here. had SCI Broadway
ahlaft ana when he went into Wall street
vita his grip fun Of municipal securities
he had not trouble setting respectful
hcaflns. A day ar two later he wired
hack herr his famous telegram. Il have
sola the bondA Money IN PARK National
bank"
The telegram was regarded a. . hoax
~ first but when Mayor yauehap's name
began 10 appear IN the press reports.
coupled with some stories OF the expert
ences he was enjoying on broadway. the
wiro ~as confirmed. A comihittee Of
Bluffs, men was sent with ALI speed "a
New Tork. fearful that the bonds might
have been disposed OF 20 hawkers. and tbs
money IL jeopardy. The committee found
Mayer vanshaA stiii snjoyahg himself. az
% ths municipal mooney sara n the PARK
Netionai and tao ssiii more pleading fact
that ne tenda had been cold a. par. Il
VIA Dig triumph for the mayor. The
relations Of the bondholdsrs and the cts
were 20 pleasant that the Park Nationa
bark the fsnsncisi agency through which
Mayor Vaughan Dealt. y still the city,
financial agent in New York