Matilda Swan Peterson

Matilda Swan Peterson
Born	July 1855 Sweden
Died	Sep. 11, 1915
Resting place	Platte Valley Cemetery, Phelps County, Nebraska
Spouse	August J. Vaughn (m. 1877) «Did not recognize date. Try slightly modifying the date in the first parameter.»"Marriage: August J. Vaughn to Matilda Swan Peterson" Location: (linkback:http://jimlindstrom.com/mediawiki/index.php?title=Matilda_Swan_Peterson), Illinois
Children	Oscar Albion Vaughn (1878-) Ira Clarance Vaughn (1882-1969) Alice Irene Vaughn (1884-1925) Edward Phillip Vaughn (1886-1975) Henry Carroll Vaughn (1888-1974) Fred Walter Vaughn (1890-1955) Alvin August Vaughn (1893-1986) Ernest Harold Vaughn (1896=1983) Togue Thedford Vaughn (1898-1976)
Parents	Carl J. Peterson (1825-1894)

Overview

Matilda was born in Sweden in July 1855. Two of her siblings, Anna and Frederick, were also born in Sweden. Between 1862 and 1866, Matilda's family immigrated to the US and settled in Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois. In 1866, Matilda's youngest and only US-born sibling, Mary, was born.

On December 31, 1877, Matilda married August Johnson, another Swedish immigrant in the area. In 1878, Matilda and August had their first child, Oscar. In July of 1878, the three of them moved to Phelps County, Nebraska and changed their last name to Vaughn.

Dean Randall Lindstrom tells, "This is the story that my mother, Aline, and my uncle, Lee Vaughn, have told me about the origin of the Vaughn name taken by their grandpa, August J. Vaughn, sometime in the 1880's when he came from Illinois to Phelps County, Nebr.: At age, 18, my great grandfather, August Johnson came from Sweden in the early 1880's and worked for a few years for a Swedish farmer in Illinois with a last name of Vaughn. He appreciated the job opportunity in Illinois and admired his employer, Mr. Vaughn. August Johnson was later convinced by someone to move to Phelps County, Nebraska and homestead 160 acres about 2 miles south of the pioneer cemetery, which we now call Platte Valley Cemetery. Upon arriving in Phelps County and doing the homestead claim he discovered that the county had many families with the name of Johnson who were not related to him and made it confusing. (or maybe there was another reason or two) I have not examined the real estate title or homestead document at the Phelps County Clerk's office to see how the name is recorded, but, at some time during the 1880's when he first came to Phelps County, he assumed the name of A. J. Vaughn. His wife, 8 sons, and all of male offspring have used the Vaughn name ever since. A.J. and his wife, Matilda, and 4 of their sons, Togue, Fred, Ernest, and Carroll, are buried at the Platte Valley Cemetery. A.J. & Matilda had 4 other sons and a daughter who were married were buried with their families in Holdrege & Overton, Nebr. and near Akron, Colo. My grandfather, Edward P. and wife, Ethel A. are buried in Moses Hill Cemetery northwest of Holdrege where my parents are buried."

Historical Records

• Matilda (age 13) lived with parents Swan (age 40) and Sophia (age 35) and siblings Anna (age 12), Frederick (age 8), and Mary (age 4) in Galesburg, Knox, Illinois in the 1870 Federal Census. Swan is listed as a RR Laborer, Sophia is listed as "keeping home", and all four children are in school. Mary was born in Illinois, but the rest were born in Sweden. That means the family (including Matilda) must have immigrated 4-8 years earlier (between 1862 and 1866). Swan is included as "a male citizen of 21 years or older".
• Matilda (age 22) married August in Galesburg Illinois, on Dec. 31, 1877.
• August (age 24), Matilda (age 24), and Oscar (age 1) lived in Williamsburg, Phelps County, Nebraska, in the 1880 Federal Census.
  • The Agricultural Schedule says the Vaughns owned 40 acres of tilled land, and 120 acres of unimproved land. They valued their farm (buildings & land) at $400, their equipment at $20, and their livestock at $400.
  • They spent $50 building and mending fences in 1879.
  • They had 4 horses. 3 milk cows, 5 poultry.
  • 20 acres of Indian corn produced 200 bushels. 5 acres of oats produced 100 bushels. 10 acres of wheat produced 80 bushels.
• Matilda Vaughn (age 28), husband A.J., and children Oscar (age 6), Ira (age 3), and ? (age 1) lived in Westmark, Phelps County, in the 1885 Nebraska Census.
  • That census's Schedule 2 (Agricultural Production) lists the Vaughns as having 110 acres of improved land and 50 acres of unimproved land.
  • It values their farm (land and buildings) at $3,000, their equipment at $85, and their livestock at $580. In 1884, they spent $50 on fences, $200 on farm labor (for 32 weeks of help). Their farm productions for 1884 were $1,500.
  • As of June 1885, they had on hand: 20 horses (compared to the 3-5 each neighbor had), no mules, 7 milk cows, and 18 other animals. During 1884, they "dropped" 4 cows and sold 5 (living). They made 300 lbs of butter. They had 115 swine and 35 chickens. During 1884, they produced 100 dozen eggs.
  • 5 acres of barley produced 100 bushels. 38 acres of Indian corn produced 1800 bushels. 16 acres of oats produced 660 bushels. 25 acres of wheat produced 500 bushels. 8 acres of broom corn produced 4,000 lbs. 3 acres of Irish potatoes produced 300 bushels.
• August J Vaughn (age 46), Matilda Vaughn (age 44) live with children Ida (age 18), Alice (age 16), Eddie (age 14), Carol (age 11), Fred (age 9), Alvin (age 5), Ernest (age 3) and Taggie (age 2) in Williamsburg, Phelps, Nebraska in the 1900 Federal Census
• August J Vaughn (age 56), Matilda Vaughn (age 53) live with children Eddie (age 23), Fred (age 19), Alvin (age 16), Ernest (age 14), Tagon (age 11), and Alice (26) in Williamsburg, Phelps, Nebraska in the 1910 Federal Census