James Benjamin Vaughn was born in Tennessee, September 9, 1830. His
     parents, Abner and Jennie Young Vaughn, who had with the four other
     children, stopped there for the occasion and a few weeks rest, as they
     traveled overland from Virginia to Illinois. Arriving in Illinois with
     their five children, they settled in Green County, a comparatively new
     country.
       People of today cannot conceive of the suffering and hardships that
     Southerners endured when they came west and settled and tried to learn
     to work. A lot of these young adults and middle-aged people who brought
     their families to the Free States had never done a day's work. These
     people came from slave holding families and had never had to do the
     slightest thing for themselves. They died and the children had to learn
     to take care of themselves. They had some Republican ideas so they would
     not bring Negroes to a free state. I've heard it said that the Vaughn
     stubborness had something to do with this, so rebellion of the young is
     not so new. Abner Vaughn's parents were slave owners, so he would not
     own any. Abner and Jennie died after a few years in Green County, Illinos,
     leaving behind eight children.
       Benjamin's oldest brother, Edward Vaughn married Martha Phillips, and
     his oldest sister, Anna Vaughn, married Benjamin Cane. These two families
     moved to DeKalb County, Missouri. Benjamin Vaughn lived with his brother,
     Edward, for two or three years, then went to work for Mrs. Martin Gentry.
     When he was 20 he married her daughter (Betty), Mary Elizabeth Gentry. 
     They were married December 25, 1850. Martin Gentry had rigged up two wagons
     and teams and loaded one with provisions for two years. With two young
     men, he crossed the plains to the gold fields of California. He died near
     San Francisco in 1850.
       Ben and Elizabeth lived at one time in St. Joseph, Missouri, where Ben
     bought stock for the St. Joseph Market. At one time they owned a meat 
     market which they hired someone to run. The last place they lived in
     Missouri was King City, where they ran cattle on the open range. Ben ran
     a freight wagon from St. Joseph to Barber County for some time. He brought
     supplies and took hides back to St. Joseph. I remember my father, Earl
     Vaughn, telling of hearing his father, John, tell about a time John was
     on one of these wagon trips with his father, Benjamin. John thought Ben
     was unreasonable for making him get out from between some of the hides
     and run along beside the wagon every once in a while. Only later did John
     realize Ben did it to keep him from freezing to death.
       Benjamin Vaughn brought his family to Barber County in 1875 and took a
     homestead south of Medicine Lodge. The farm was later known as the Coyle
     Place. They lived on this farm five years, then sold it and moved to
     Medicine Lodge. He built a two story house that still stands across from
     the old high school. He owned and operated a feed and livery stable across
     the street from his home until his death in 1903. His wife, Mary Elizabeth,
     died September 24, 1893. They are buried in Highland Cemetery.
       They had ten children: William, Zula Ann, Martha Jane, Thomas B., John
     W., Charlie, an infant who died at 7 weeks, Mary, Ida Belle and Laura
     Elizabeth.
       Zula Ann married William B. Springer and they made their home here. John
     Vaughn married Grace Springer. Their son Earl Vaughn married Stella Shanks
     and raised our family here.
                
     Source:Chosen Land - Barber County, Kansas, pg. 465