St. Clair County Missouri
Biographies
V
VAUGHAN, James B.
James B. Vaughan, a native of Coffee County, Tennessee, was born in 1840,
his parents being Obediah and Nancy Vaughan. The former was born in Culpeper
County, Virginia, in 1821, and early emigrating to Tennessee, was married
there in 1839. He continued to live in that state until James was two years
old, when, in 1842, he came with the family to St. Clair County, Missouri.
He was a hardy pioneer, and endured many hardships in his new home. Being a
great trapper and hunter, he found ample time here to engage. in this sport.
Young Vaughan spent his early life in this county, tilling the soil in
summer and hunting during the winter months, and he well remembers when the
hide of the deer, wolf, etc., was the currency of the day. In 1858 he
married Miss Martha Lord, daughter of James Lord, one of the oldest settlers
of St. Clair County. To them were born nine children, eight of whom are
living: Nancy E., Sarah, Mary, Maudy, Daisy, Emma and Eddy. Sarah F. died
when two years old. Mr. V. is a Republican in his political preferences, and
he is a member of the Baptist Church at Bear Creek. -- History of St. Clair
Co., Missouri, 1883
VICKERS, John L.
Rockville Township - John L. Vickers, attorney at law, was born in
Washington County, Pennsylvania, April 15, 1841, and was the fifth of seven
children. His father, John Vickers, and also his mother, whose maiden name
was Elizabeth Lushy, were both natives of Maryland. When John was sixteen
years old his parents removed to West Virginia, where educational advantages
were quite limited, so that his education after he left the Keystone state
was considerably neglected. At the age of twenty he secured a position with
the civil engineer corps on the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad at which he worked
one year. He was then employed by the same company for four years in a
different capacity and stationed at Cumberland, Maryland. During this time
he was married September 20, 1857, to Miss Mary S. Garton, a native of
Virginia. In 1858 he came to Missouri and until 1861 worked at the carpenter
trade at Georgetown, Pettis County. He then obtained employment as clerk in
a mercantile establishment at Sedalia, where he continued for nearly three
years, when he started for himself in the mercantile practice. He remained
in Sedalia two years when he located at Taborville and embarked in the real
estate business. Mr. V. commenced the study of law just after the war and
was subsequently admitted to the Pettis County bar. In 1868 he was the
representative of St. Clair County in the legislature. In 1870 he located at
Rockville and has since continued hte law practice. He now owns considerable
property in and near Rockville including the Rockville mill. He is a notary
public and is connected with the A.O.U.W. fraternity. Mr. Vickers is a
gentleman of intelligence and culture and is in the whole what might be
styled a self made man. His family consists of six children: Samuel B.,
Edward E., Elizabeth J., Ellen, John Jr., and Thomas. One son, Winter D., a
promising young man of nineteen years, died February 3, 1882. -- History of
Bates County, Missouri, 1883