A Cosmopolitan Place – Vaughan Family

In 1857 Hugh Vaughan, together with several other families, left Wales seeking a better life. They left with a plan, but plans do not always work out.

The Welsh, like the Irish, wanted more political, economic, and religious freedom from English rule. Emigration was one solution, and America was seen as the best place to go.

Hugh planned to colonize with other Welsh immigrants in Tennessee. But that venture fell through, leaving him and the others with no place to settle and no place to farm. Consequently, his plans to marry were also delayed.

Hugh was a young man when he arrived in the U.S. in 1857. He was eager to marry his sweetheart and fiancé Ellen Jones.

Ellen Jones was engaged to Hugh Vaughan when she and her family arrived from Wales with the Davies and Evans families.

Black and white portrait of an old man with a silver mustache and long beard in a black suit with a black bow tie. He is looking straight at the camera with a serious look. — Hugh Vaughan

Black and white photo of a white woman. She is wearing a pair of round wire spectacles and a black dress with lace trim. She's smiling subtly and tilting her head. Her hair is parted down the middle and pulled back. — Ellen Jones Vaughan

In 1858 Hugh and the other Welsh families came to northeastern McLean County. In an area located between Chenoa and the Mackinaw River, they established a rural farming community similar to the Welsh community they left behind.

This group of families depended on each other for help, practiced their faith together, and shared in family events.

The Welsh settlers purchased land (highlighted in purple) that had rich soil where prairie grass grew “as high as a horse’s shoulders.” It was also close to the Chicago & Alton Railroad. With the influx of more Welsh immigrants, the neighborhood grew.

Photograph of a 3-story frame with men standing and sitting all over the frame, and on the ground. Two men are even on the very top of the roof beam... They must have confidence in their construction, that's for sure! There are approx. 25 men in the photo. — When the Rowland family needed a new barn, all the men pitched in to get it done. The women did their part by making sure everyone was well fed.

The Vaughans were founding members of the Congregationalist church in Chenoa, but they desired a church that was closer to home. In 1879 Hugh and Ellen joined the area’s Methodist congregation and donated land for the Salem Evangelical Methodist Church.

Black and white photo of a single-room wooden church, painted white, with two doors at the front. — The Salem Evangelical Methodist Church was part of the Selma circuit, which included four Methodist churches served by one preacher, the Reverend John Rogers.
The Fort, Lexington.

two goblet cups and one tall pot with lid and handle. They are relatively simple in design. — View this object in Matterport

Members of the Salem Evangelical Methodist Church purchased this pewter communion set. It was used by the congregation until 1946 when the church, by then the Salem Presbyterian Church, merged with the Lexington Presbyterian Church.

Donated by: Janice Elder
2012.48

Hugh and Ellen finally married in 1860 and started a family.

Black and white photo of 17 members of the family, dressed formally. — By the time of this circa 1905 extended family portrait, Hugh Vaughan’s family had grown.
Front row left to right (seated): Elizabeth “Lizzie” Vaughan (Robert Vaughan’s daughter), Robert Vaughan (Hugh Vaughan Sr.'s brother), Ellen Jones Vaughan, Viola Vaughan, Hugh Vaughan Sr., Grace McIver, Kenneth B. McIver Jr., Mary E. Vaughan. Back row left to right: Grace Vaughan Starkey, Earl A. Starkey, Grigola Elliot Vaughan, Robert Vaughan, Kenneth B. McIver, Viola Vaughan McIver, Angus McIver, John G. Vaughan, Margaret Vaughan Thayer. Not pictured: Hugh Vaughan Jr. who died in infancy, and Edward Vaughan who died in 1892 at the age of 28.

Black and white illustration of a farmhouse with many trees, three barns, and a windmill. — Hugh and Ellen’s family did well. By 1875 they had a large home, and the farm was well established. Their children attended the neighborhood school, called the “Prairie School.”
1874 lithograph of the Hugh Vaughan homestead.

In 1900 many of the Welsh immigrants and their descendants, including the Vaughans, still lived and farmed where they had originally settled. They celebrated with a reunion.

Group photo of over 70 people outside a two-story home. — 1. Edith Breese Johnson
2. Ora Jones
3. Roy Jones
4. Paul Hughes
5. Rachael Breese Watson
6 Annie Breese Elder
7. Litta Breese Sron
8. Dwynwan Williams
9. Ed Williams
10. Lizzie Williams
11. John Williams
12. Rebecca Jones
13. Hugh Vaughan
14. William Johnston
15. Jonah Breese
16. ? Smith - Prairie School Superintendant
17. Dave Jones
18. Emlyn Jones
19. Howell Rowlands
20. Bertha Rowlands (Caldwell)
21. ? Vaughan
22. Rose Jones
23. Russell Cochran
24. Annie Williams Farmer
25. Rena Jones
26. Ralph Jones
27. Jessie R. Jones
28. Edwyn Jones
29. Richard “Dick” Jones
30. Robert Jones
31. Lizzie James
32. Florence Chochran
33. Lizzie Chochran
34. Sarah Wolf Elder
35. Emerson Rowlands
36. Nell Carnahan
37. Ann Rowlands Elder
38. Velda Elder
39. Rob Vaughan
40. Essie Cramer
41. Gomer Jones
42. Mae Jones Nettleship
43. Howell Elder
44. Clinton Elder
45. Russell Cochran
46. Dorothy Jones
47. Emry Jones
48. Dick Williams
49. Florence Jones
50. Catherine Rowlands
51. Nina Jones
52. Ellen Jones Vaughan
53. Margaret Veir Jones Cuthbertson
54. Mary Jane Myers Rowlands
55. Anna Richardson
56. Mrs. Davies
57. Mrs. Hughs
58. John James
59. Hugh Rowlands
60. Lucy Daugherty
61. Rowland D. Jones
62. Ben Rowlands
63. Gladys Breese
64. Jeannie Cuthbertson Breese
65. Jeannette Jones
66. Trevor Jones
67. Hugh D. Jones
68. Lillian Jones
69. Margaret Vaughan Thayer
70. Minnie Jones Rowland
71. Grace Vaughan
72. Evan Hughes
73. John Vaughan
74. Mamie King
75. Margaret Jones
76. James Jones
77. Grace Jones