SEVENTH GENERATION

2256. Thomas Benton VAUGHT was buried on Apr 27 in Post, Garza County, Texas. He was born on Dec 21 1858 in Caddo Gap, Arkansas. This information is from the book "My Folks" Vol 1 by Thelma Sargent.

Sketch of Thomas Benton Vaught, by Rosa M. Vaught Boucher

Thomas Benton Vaught was the third child of Silas Perron Vaught, son of Benjamin Franklin Vaught and Sarah McAnally, born in Alabama: and Lucinda Carolina Tweedle, first child of John and Katie Tweedle. Thomas was born in Caddo Gap, Montgomery County, Arkansas 21 Dec 1858. He married Mary Clementine Rainwater, daughter of Reason Rainwater and Julia A.C. Britt. She was born in Noonen, Carroll County, Ga. She came to Arkansas with her parents and his brother's families about 1870. Tom and Clementine were married in Caddo Gap, having procured their marriage license at Mount Ida, the county seat of Montgomery Co., Ark., on 8 Dec 1878. For some reason they both gave their ages as 20 years. (Clementine was one and a half years older, guess that was embarrassing.)

Tom Vaught owned a farm across the Caddo Creek from the town now known as Norman, Arkansas. When he lived on this farm there was a school house, used for a church also, several residents, a blacksmith shop and a cemetery. He owned and operated a grist mill located on the Caddo Creek. This mill was run by a water wheel.that furnished the power to run it. Here is where all the neighbors had their flour and meal ground. He sold the farm and moved to this little berg known as Poor Horse. He lived here a short time. This is where their youngest daughter was born.

After leaving this place, he and wife moved with their family of eight children to Black Springs, Ark. Here he was employed as a freighter or drayman by a mr. Gross or Grace, Mercantile Company. The trip was to Hot Springs, Arkansas, about 65 miles, round trip was 130 miles.

He held this job until he moved to Texas in 1896. While living in Black Springs, his youngest, Baltimore Maryland was born 29 Aug 1895, and Sarah Ida died on 16 July 1896. She was buried on a hot day in the little cemetery in Black Springs. She was a twin to Julia Ada, and they were born 8 February 1884. This year he left Black Springs and came to Texas, making the trip by way of covered wagons. He had two wagons and Uncle George Haddaway who was married to Alice Vaught, sister of William Elijah Vaught and Thomas Benton Vaught.

An article appeared in a Gorman, Texas paper, called "Co-op Power" in September 1979 that described Grandpa and Grandma arriving in Gorman: "The Little College On The Hill". Such a college was Hankins Normal beginning its history when Tom Vaught, his wife, eight children, and a dog named Jim arrived in a three-wagon caravan from Black Springs, Arkansas. It was in 1896 that the Vaughts unloaded their household goods in Eastland County, Texas.

"When it was called to his attention that Leon Springs School trustees had been unable to secure a teacher, Tom Vaught suggested that they contact an educator he had known in Arkansas. The school administrators did so and were delighted with the man who took charge of their school.

Grand View trustees, experiencing the same problem, decided to follow the same procedure. They asked Vaught to contact a teacher. He wrote J.H. Hankins, who accepted the job. A year later, J.H.'s twin brother, J.F. Hankins, began teaching at Breckenridge.

"In a short time, Gorman hired the Hankins brothers as superintendent and principal of the school. Evenually the brothers realized a dream and opened Hankins Normal College in 1905.

Tom Vaught household was among others that rented rooms to the women students. The board was $10-12 monthly." He operated the rooming house for the college students who attended Hankins until 1912 when the college closed. Then for two years part of the house was rented out to families as apartments.

The Vaughts rented land and farmed in the Leon Community in Comanche and Eastland Counties for four or five years. I think it was 1901 when he bought 160 acres of shinery land about 4 miles north of Gorman, Tex. He did carpentry work and farmed. Cleared out the shinery, on this farm he built two houses. The last one is still standing and in good shape. Here we lived until Jan 1906, sold the farm and moved to town (Gorman).

He was a cotton weigher for several years, then went into the Tinners business for himself, later his son, Silas W. helped or worked for him, also, his son-in-law, Lee J.A. Pritchard worked for him. They built everything in the Tinners line from coal shuttles, bath tubs and wind mills and cellars.

In Jan 8, 1908, his wife was stricken with paralysis.

In Dec. 1914, he moved to Post, Texas and bought a farm near Clothis City and farmed until his death April 26, 1946.

After his wife died in 1931 on Feb 26, his daughter Mattie still kept house for him. Mama lived 23 years after having the stroke. Aunt Mattie of course kept house for them all this time.

He died on Apr 26 1946 in Post, Garza County, Texas. This information contributed by Shelia Bachelder 9-10-1999.

He was married to Mary Clementine RAINWATER (daughter of Reason RAINWATER and Julia A.C. BRITT) on Dec 8 1878 in Caddo Gap, Arkansas. This information contributed by Shelia Bachelder 9-10-1999. Mary Clementine RAINWATER was born on Jun 12 1857 in Noonen,Carroll County, Georgia. This information from the book "My Folks" by Thelma Pritchard Sargent.

Following is a letter to Thomas Vaught and Clementine Rainwater Vaught from her father, Reason Rainwater, dated 5 May 1889:

Dear Childern it tis with geate plasure that i seate my self to anser youre kind and welkum letter that i recd of you a few day a go it come safe to hand and found urs as well as common. I was more than glad tp jear from you all, thus seems urs all as well as could be expected. We have another fine boy at our house. It happened April 24. His name is John Newton, he made 10 pounds so that is all on that. I have no news that would interest you all eney way eney more than the wagon wheel ran over my foot yesterday with 10 bushel of corn on it and crippled me very bad tho i hope it will be all rite in a few days. If not it will be gon up, for me and the little boys has in cultivation 27 acors on corn and coaton and when I am well it takes me all day to do half day work. I was cripeld in the firs pairt of the spraing for 3 weeks tha i was not able to doe eney thing. Well Clementine I want you to write as often as you can as Georg is mad with me and he dos not write, but it is all (right) if he dos not want to. I wish I could see you and talk with you I could tell you more in a houer than I could write in a week so I must close for this time so write soon and fill not. My pen is bad my ink is pale my love to you shall never fale. Write soon and often and fail not. R Rainwater to Tomes and Clementine Vaught (taken as is from original).

Clementine was semi-invalided by Paralytic stroke about 1908l. She died on Feb 26 1931 in Post Garza, Texas. This information contributed by Shelia Bachelder 9-10-1999. Thomas Benton VAUGHT and Mary Clementine RAINWATER had the following children:

+3327 i. Silas Winton VAUGHT.
+3328 ii. Charles Reece (Reason) VAUGHT.
+3329 iii. Julianna Ada (twin) VAUGHT.
3330 iv. Sarann Ida (twin) VAUGHT was born on Feb 8 1884 in Black Springs, Montgomery County, Arkansas. This information is from the book "My Folks" by Thelma Pritchard Sargent. She died on Jul 16 1896 in Black Springs, Montgomery County, Arkansas. This information is from the book "My Folks" Vol 1 by Thelma Sargent.

Sarann Ida Vaught died of Typhoid Fever July 16, 1896.
3331 v. Mattie Gertrude Bell VAUGHT was born on Oct 10 1887 in Black Springs, Montgomery County, Arkansas. This information is from the book "My Folks" by Thelma Pritchard Sargent.

Authors Note: She never married. She died on Jan 11 1974 in Tahoka, Texas. She was buried on Jan 14 1974 in Post, Garza County, Texas.
+3332 vi. Rosa Melvina VAUGHT.
+3333 vii. Susan Elizabeth VAUGHT.
+3334 viii. Katherine Myrtle VAUGHT.
+3335 ix. Baltimore Maryland VAUGHT.

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