Vaughan got into his first scrape at 15, when a customer refused to pay for his horse. He shot the man in the dispute. While out on bail, he shot the man who filed the original complaint against him. He was taken to The Dalles to stand trial. His family convinced the judge to allow Vaughan to enlist in the army rather than be punished. Vaughan didn't take to army life and was dishonorably discharged after a month and a half.
He hooked up with Dick Bunton, a horse trader and rustler. In April 1865, they went to Idaho to make money off the miners. They stole horses along the way, which came to the attention of the Umatilla County sheriff. A shoot-out near the Burnt River resulted in the death of Bunton and a deputy. Vaughan was arrested and tried at Auburn, the Baker County seat.
Vaughan received a life sentence at the new prison at Salem. Vaughan learned black smithing, carpentry, and bricklaying. He also learned to read and write in the prison school. After lobbying by his family and friends, he was granted a pardon by the governor of Oregon on February 22, 1870.
Upon his release, Vaughan returned to working with cattle and horses. He set up a front at Toano, Nevada. He was gentlemanly and well-liked around town. In May 1875, he married Lois McCarthy, sister of the notorious McCarty brothers. They had two children. Shortly afterward, Lois left him, taking the boys with her.
Vaughan moved to Pendleton, Oregon. Shortly afterward he remarried, despite the fact that he had never legally divorced. He married Louisa Jane Ditty on August 31, 1878, she being newly arrived from the Midwest and not knowing his reputation.
He set up his operation on the Umatilla Reservation. He had some Indian friends, who helped him round up stray cattle. He sold them in nearby Idaho territory. He ran another operation from Spokane Falls in Washington Territory, which was on the route to the cattle drives to Montana. After awhile he moved to Union, in Union County, Oregon. Shortly afterward Louisa left him due to his philandering. He gave her money only for the stage.
| Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: | View all related messages |
For a complete listing of article comments, questions, and other discussions related to Elizabeth Gibson's The Old West topic, please visit the Discussions page.