Georgia and Georgians - the Digital Library of Georgia

GEORGIA AND GEORGIANS 2991after the war he bought a farm in Newton County near Conyers, and wassuccessfully engaged in farming until his death in July, 1910, at the age ofseventy-six. He wa§ an active member of the Masonic fraternity, a goodcitizen, and personally of high character. The mother of Rowland B. Vaughndied in 1863. He was the oldest of her children. His sister Rebecca marriedJohn B. Whittacker, who was for many years county treasurer of RockdaleCounty and died while holding the office. His brother James I. Vaughn isa farmer arid mill bwner in Floyd County, Georgia. After the death of hisfirst wife the" father married Sarah Ann Hayes, whft died in June, 1910, leaving four ^children: David, a manufacturer at Conyers; Hiram, who is deceased'; Elizabeth, wife of Dr. ~W. S. Butler of Conyers; and Ernest R., wholives at Oconee County, Georgia.Rowland Bennett Vaughn learned to read and cipher at home, and didnot enter a school until he was nine years of age. For several summers heattended school in Rockdale County, but from books he turned to the practical and serious work of life at the age of sixteen, taking charge of a cottongin for Colonel Peek. This gin was operated with four mules as power. Healso taught school for three terms. Early in life he took up farming on hisown account, and the community soon came to regard him as one of the risingand progressive young men. Before he married he had bought a fine placeof 212 acres, including the old Turner homestead, at that time one of thefinest country homes in the county. On that farm Mr. Vaughn erected sawmills, and combined milling with his farming operations. To that place hebrought his young bridge, and since then for many years she has been hisfaithful assistant and is largely responsible for the business prosperity aswell as the happy home which they have enjoyed. Many years of successfulmanagement have placed Mr. Vaughn in the ranks of the largest and mostprosperous land owners and business men of Rockdale County. At the present time he owns and operates about 700 acres. His farming is done in apractical manner, and his land is devoted to farming and stock raisingon the diversified plan. During 1914 he ginned 1500 bales of cotton from hisown and other's land. He also owns and operates sawmills, one of themlocated on the old homestead and the other at Conyers. Mr. Vaughn andfamily now reside in a modern home in the little City of Conyers.Mr. Vaughn is a business man who has never neglected his duties to churchand society. He is now holding the office of county commissioner. He has beenan active Methodist, served the church as steward and superintendent ofSunday school, and for fifteen years has been a trustee of the Salem campgrounds. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias and the ImprovedOrder of Red Men.On December 20, 1882, in the Methodist Church at Conyers Mr. Vaughnand Miss Lucy Anderson were united in the bonds of matrimony. Mrs.Vaughn was born in White County, Georgia, February 24, 1862, a daughterof Samuel Henry and Sarah (Nichols) Anderson, who in 1865 removed toConyers. Mrs. Vaughn's maternal grandmother was Mary Adair, a nativeof Ireland. Samuel Henry Anderson was a son of Robert Anderson, wholocated on a small farm in White County, Georgia, in the early days. SamuelH. Anderson during the Civil war was in the railroad service and after thewar was for many years station agent at Conyers. During the latter part ofhis.life he engaged in farming in Rockdale County, where he died in 1891at the age of sixty-three. He took an active part in the Methodist Church,and served both as a steward and class leader. His wife died in 1902 at theage of seventy-three. Mrs. Anderson first married a Mr. Ward, and the onechild by that union, Margaret, is now the wife of J. P. Longshore of NewtonCounty. Mrs. Vaughn was one of six children: Mary, wife of W. E. Maddoxof Conyers; Martha, wife of W. G. Alexander of Conyers; William Lafayette,who died in Greensboro, Georgia, in 1904; Lucy, Mrs. Vaughn; Emma, who