History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

210 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
reposed in him is ever betrayed iu the slightest degree, his loyalty
standing as one of his salient characteristics.
Mr. McMahan was united iu marriage October 10, 1895, to
Eunice E. Thompson, a daughter of James H. and Catherine J.
(Swarthout) Thomj^son, prominent pioneers. Mr. McMahan is
active in fraternal circles being a member of Friendship Lodge,
No. 7, A. F. & A. M., and a charter member of the Elks lodge of
which he was the first secretary, serving for four years. He is
past exalted ruler of the Elks lodge and served for three years on
the executive committee of the State Association of Elks. He
represents one of the old families of the county and has himself
been for a long period of years one of the interested witnesses of
the growth and progress of this section of the state.
FRED N. VAUGHAN.
Fred N. Vaughan, whose name figures prominently in connec-
tion with the business development of Amboy, has, since March 17,
1906, been president of the First National Bank. His record
stands in contradistinction to the old adage that a prophet is
never without honor save in his own country, for he has always
lived in this city, where he has carefully directed his efforts and
guided his business interests, luitil he now stands at the head of
one of its foremost financial institutions. He was born February
1, 1865, and is a son of C. D. and Louise M. (Balch) Vaughan.
The family is of Welsh lineage and was foimded in America dur-
ing the seventeenth century, Benjamin Vaughan, the great great-
grandfathei" rif our subject coming to this country from Wales.
His son and namesake, Benjamin Vaughan, at the age of seventeen
years joined the New Hampshire state troops and Inter served
in the continental army during the "Revolutionary wai'. C. T).
Vaughaii was a pioneer merchant of Amboy, dealing in furniture
for many years and was also mayor of the city and treasurer of
Amboy township for an extended period. His worth was widely
acknowledged by all who knew ought of his history. He died in
1886 at the age of fifty-six years, while his mdow still survives
and yet makes her home in Amboy.
Fred N. Vaughan attended the public schools of Amboy to the
age of seventeen years, when he secured a position as messenger
for the Hlinois Central Eailroad. Subsequently he acted as clerk