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Note:
Missouri’s Confederate Home in Higginsville, Mo., was a
place where needy and incapacitated former soldiers and
sailors of Southern service could live after proving their
service record, financial need and Missouri residency. Read
more about the Confederat Home at http://www.mostateparks.com/confedmem/geninfo.htm
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Paris Mo, June 20th 1918.
Col
George P Gross
Higginsville
Mo.
Dear Friend:-
I am herewith enclosing you the application of John W.
Vaughn, who is desirous of entering the Home. I will say
that he went through the war with me and I know all about
his career and know that he made a good soldier and I think
is in every way worthy to be in the Home.
He has no means of support and has lost the sight of one
eye, but he can see pretty well out of the other one, and is
able to look after himself in good shape. He is in very good
health at the present time and his mind is all right. He has
been away in Colorado several years but always kept this as
his home and had never lost his citizenship, as he has been
back and forth every few years. He has always borne a good
character, and has made a good citizen. I hope you will use
your influence to have him admitted as I feel satisfied he
will not give you any trouble.
With kindest regards, and best wishes for your success, I
remain,
Very Truly Your Friend,
Signed W.M. Farrell
-------------------
April
27, 1928 – John William Vaughn was born January 4, 1845,
being therefore 83-years, 3-months and 2-days old at the
time of his death which occurred yesterday. Among his
application papers we found a statement from W.M. Farrell,
an old Confederate Comrade, which testified in glowing
language to his service as a Soldier in Major’s Company of
Pindall’s Regiment in which he served as a Private.
This
same old Veteran spoke very highly of Comrade Vaughn’s
character and refinement, and to these letter statements
those of us who have lived with him since July 1918 can
testify. Though practically blind and not inclined to mix
much with his fellowman, he was a gentleman in all that that
word implies.
Perhaps no one of the Veterans have been more appreciative
of the constant entertainments which are brought to this
Institution by so many interesting friends, and many has
been the time when he felt unable to go to a meal and would
miss it rather than to put forth the effort to come down
stairs and return to his room but when the music started in
the parlors he always came and always tried to find
opportunity, though blind, to express his appreciation to
the entertainer.
Another
quiet, peaceable, appreciative comrade is gone and we are
met here to pay our last respects to his good memory as best
we may, taking the place of his relatives none of whom find
it possible to come today.
Little is known of his past life, but we learn over long
distance that a crippled sister, Mrs. W.T. Brown who lives
in Kansas, another sister Miss Bell Vaughn lives at Paris,
Mo. and a nephew James Sproul also lives in Paris.
Letters have in the past come to him from nieces, whose
names and addresses are unknown to the writer.
-----------------
Paris Mo, June 20th 1918.
Col
George P Gross
Higginsville
Mo.
Dear Friend:-
I am herewith enclosing you the application of John W.
Vaughn, who is desirous of entering the Home. I will say
that he went through the war with me and I know all about
his career and know that he made a good soldier and I think
is in every way worthy to be in the Home.
He has no means of support and has lost the sight of one
eye, but he can see pretty well out of the other one, and is
able to look after himself in good shape. He is in very good
health at the present time and his mind is all right. He has
been away in Colorado several years but always kept this as
his home and had never lost his citizenship, as he has been
back and forth every few years. He has always borne a good
character, and has made a good citizen. I hope you will use
your influence to have him admitted as I feel satisfied he
will not give you any trouble.
With kindest regards, and best wishes for your success, I
remain,
Very Truly Your Friend,
Signed W.M. Farrell
Source:
Biography by unknown author and recommendation letter from
W.M. Farrell form the John W. Vaughn file at Higginsville,
Missouri State Archives. From the files of Brad Taylor;
transcribed by Lisa Perry. |
