Submitted by Eddy Clark, August 3, 1997
William G. Van Hook, groceryman of Milan, Tenn., was born in Lexington, Henderson Co.,
Tenn., on the 20th of May, 1848. His parents, Dr. William G. and Julia A. (Collins) Van
Hook,were born in Virginia, in 1802 and 1826, respectively, and came to Tennessee at an early
day, settling in Henderson County, where the father was a leading physician for many years. He
died at Lexington, Tenn., in 1852. William G., our subject, is the youngest of three children, and
was educated at Bluff Springs Academy, in Gibson County, and at the Milan High School. In
1869 he began clerking for E. A. Collins, remaining with him until 1874. From that time until
1878 he was engaged in the grocery business for himself, and at the latter date engaged in the
dry goods business, continuing until April, 1886, when he began his present business. In 1873
he married Emma T. Moore, who was born in Carroll County, in 1853. They have four children:
Julia L., born August 3, 1874; Edwin C., born May 9, 1876; Earl M., born November 23, 1879,
and William G., Jr., born November 8, 1883. Mr. Van Hook is a Democrat and a member of the
K. of H. He and wife belong to the Missionary Baptist Church. Mrs. Van Hook's father, T. C.
Moore. was born in North Carolina, and came to Tennessee at an early day, settling in Carroll County.
Hon. Elisha R. Vaughan, M. D., was born in Rutherford County, Tenn., Oct. 2,1840 son of Peter
R. and Lucy (Quarles) Vaughan, who were born in Virginia, and were early emigrants to
Tennessee. Peter Vaughan was a prosperous farmer and a member of the old Presbyterian
Church. He was a Whig in politics, and lived in Rutherford County until his death in 1842.
Elisha R. lived with his widowed mother after his father's death. He attended the best schools in
Rutherford County, and began reading medicine under Dr. James E. Manson, in 1860, and
attended the courses of 1860 and 1861 in the University of Nashville. In April, 1861, he enlisted
in the First Tennessee Regiment, and served with the same three years; the last year serving as a
scout and watching the immediate movements of Sherman's army. He then joined the
Fourteenth Tennessee Cavalry as a scout, and held the rank of lieutenant. He was at Perryville,
Shiloh, Murfreesboro, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge and others. He was wounded at
Murfreesboro and was disabled for about one month. After his return home he re-entered the
University of Nashville, attending the courses of 1865 and 1866, graduating in the latter year. In
the fall of 1866 he moved to Gibson County and located about fourteen miles from Trenton,
where he remained until 1871. In 1870 he married Sophronia Bone, daughter of Dr. James T.
and Melvina (Harris) Bone. Mrs. Vaughan was born in Gibson County, in 1846, and became
the mother of three children. The only one living is Lucy N. Mrs. Vaughan died in 1875. Dr.
Vaughan located in Yorkville in 187l and there has met with flattering success in the practice of
his profession. In 1878 he married Huella Bone, sister of his first wife. She was born in Gibson
County, in 1854, and their union resulted in the birth of three children: Shelley H., Roger M.
and James R. Dr. Vaughan has been mayor of Yorkville three terms, and in 1882 was elected by
the Democratic party to represent Gibson County in the lower house of the State Legislature, and
was re-elected in 1884. He and wife are church members and he is a Mason and belongs to the I.
O. O. F. He is a Democrat. His grandfather, Roger Quarles, was elected to the State Senate
from Wilson County, and was a colonel in the State militia during the Seminole war.
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