The Goodspeed Publishing Co., History of Tennessee, 1887
Biographical Sketches, Shelby County TN
Transcribed by Helen Rowland
V Surnames
Gen. Alfred J. VAUGHAN, clerk of the criminal court of Shelby County, was born in Dinwiddie County, Va., May 10, 1830. In 1851 he graduated from the Virginia Military Institute, and then adopted the profession of civil engineering. Locating at St. Joseph, Mo., he surveyed the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad, and was afterward appointed deputy United States surveyor of California. November 6, 1856, he was united in marriage with Miss Martha J. Hardaway, of Mississippi, and to this union there are five living children—three sons and two daughters. After his marriage he settled in Mississippi, where he resided until the late war broke out. He at first opposed a dissolution of the Union, but finally went with his adopted State, Mississippi. He raised a company in Marshall County, of that State, but they could not be received, owing to lack of military equipments. He then joined a company at Moscow, Tenn., and was elected captain. He followed the fortunes of the grand army of Tennessee, fighting gallantly at Belmont, Shiloh, Richmond, (Ky.), Murfreesboro and Chickamauga, and rising steadily in rank and in the confidence of his superiors. At the bloody battle of Chickamauga he was made brigadier-general by President Davis, on the field, for conspicuous gallantry. In the fight near Marietta, Ga., on the 4th of July, 1864, he unfortunately lost his leg. After the war he engaged in farming in Mississippi. In 1872-73 he was connected with the Grange movement, and was located at Memphis. In 1878 he was elected, on an independent Democratic ticket, clerk of the criminal court. In 1882 he was unanimously nominated for the same office by the Democratic convention, and was, at the election following, again elected. He was not a candidate in 1886. In this election his majority over is opponent was 5,701, one of the greatest ever given for any candidate in the county. He is a very popular officer, and is the soul of honor, and accordingly no citizen stands higher in the estimation of the public. He is a Royal Arch Mason, and a member of the K. or H. and the R. A., and himself and wife are members of the First Methodist Episcopal Church of Memphis.
Rev. Father John VEALE was born October 2, 1846, in County Waterford, Ireland. He received instruction at the national schools, the Christian Brothers’ school and then began his classical studies under the famous Mr. Dwyer of Dungawan, who had educated over 400 priests. He then attended Mt. Mellary Seminary and graduated from this institution in 1865. After this he entered the Foreign Missionary College of All Hallows, Dublin, being ordained priest in 1870. The same year he came to America and located at Nashville. After acting assistant of the late Very Reverend M. Riordan for a time he was sent to Jackson, Tenn., where he remained three years as pastor. In 1876 he was recalled to the cathedral at Nashville where he served in various capacities till 1881 when he came to Memphis and assumed the duties of pastor of Patrick’s Church at that place.
A. J. VINCENT is manager for C. W. and S. G. Boyd, dealers in pine and hardwood lumber, making a specialty of walnut, ash and poplar lumber. Their offices are at No. 1 Madison Street, Memphis, and No. 91 Water Street, Cincinnati, Ohio. Our subject, the manager of this branch of their business, is a native of Michigan and a son of W. H. and Rachel (Shimmel) Vincent, both natives of Watertown, N. Y. Mr. Vincent has devoted many years of his life to the lumber business, trading in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, Arkansas and Mississippi and is not only one of the most energetic and thorough-going business men of this section of the country but has the respect and esteem of all who know him. In 1879 he married Jennie Snodgrass of Metropolis, Ill., the daughter of David and Annie Snodgrass. To this marriage were born two children: Harry S. and Gertrude. In October, 1885, our subject permanently located in this city and engaged with C. W. and S. G. Boyd, one of the largest hardwood lumber firms in the United States. Later—since the above was first put in type the lumber firm has failed in business and is succeeded by Charles C. Boyd & Co., who occupy the same offices here and at Cincinnati and transact the same business. Mr. Vincent remains with the new company.