Pioneers of Marshall County, Illinois

R.J. Vaughn Mr. Vaughn is a citizen of Woodford county, residing near the line between Woodford county and Bennington township, marshall county.  He is a farmer by occupation, and was born in Marshall county, June 18th, 1837.  In 1858 he married Annett Sweet and two children have been born to them, Alva and Cora.  Mr. Vaughn served one year during the war, in Co. D, 11th Inf., and was in the battle of Mobile and several other engagements. From  "The  Record of Olden Times or Fifty Year on the Prairie" embracing sketches of the discovery, exploration and settlement of the country. by Spencer Elsworth,   Lacon, IL Home Journal Steam Printing Establishment Copyright Date MDCCCLXXX (1880), Bennington Township, Page 740

Our Members - Hons. G. F. Wightman of Lacon and Charles Fosbender of Sparland August 21, 1879 Taken From the Henry Repblican E. H. Phelps, who was a committee clerk in the late legislature, is writing short personal sketches of the members for his paper, the Toulon Herald, and we copy his "impressions" of our members. He writes: "The republicans of the 20th district could not well have made better selections to represent them in the house than they did in the persons of Hons. G. F. Wightman of Lacon, and J. A. Ranney of Cazenovia. Col. Wightman is a civil engineer of high repute, and will be remembered as the surveyor of the proposed Keithburg, Lacon & Eastern railroad through Stark county. Few men were more popular than he in the house. He had no "jobs" on hand, was in no ring, but was an honest, hard-working member. We can endorse him all through. Personally he is a man whose acquaintance is pleasing, and one whom to know is to respect. He should be returned, by all means. The minority member is Hon. Charles Fosbender of Sparland, a democrat about 35 years old, and an old member of the house. Mr. Fosbender is a genuine wit, and he deals in sarcasm liberally. Not only did republicans suffer, as when he somewhat aptly called Col. Sherman "the nitro-glycerine member from Cook,; but brother democrats were also targets for some well-directed shafts of wit, as for instance when he designated Mr. Snigg, as "the ground hog of Sangamon". But his powers as a mimic are wonderful. He could repeat all of Mr. Barry's speeches, with all the Irish brogue and modulation of tone peculiar to that gentleman, and often did it to the infinite amusement of those who enjoyed it. He was a member of the special committee on grain inspection, and his minority report against the Chicago inspection contained some plain language. Mr. Fosbender is an active, hard working democrat, and posted on the current questions before the people.

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