VAWTER/VAUGHTER NEWSLETTER September 1, 1977 Issue No. 1 Wordna Wicker, Editor P.O. Box 360 Pototoc, Mississippi 38863 Once upon a time, as all good stories begin, in Stokes Co., N.C. lived a man named John Vawter. By his first wife, _____, he had three sons, James, Richard and John, Jr. (John Vawter married a second time, moved to Elbert Co, Ga., and had additional children who do not fit into our story at this point.) The descendants of James Vawter, son of John, lived in Georgia, Texas and Oklahoma, a n d ca m e to s pell th eir n a m e Va u gh ter . The descendants of Richard Vawter, son of John, lived in Georgia, Tennessese, Alabama, Mis s is s ippi a n d Texa s a n d con tin u es th e Va wter s pellin g. The descendants of John, Jr., lived in Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi and Oklahoma, spelled their name Vawter, Vaughter, Vauter, Votter, Vatter, Vorters, but even tu a lly s etled down to Va wter , For 175 years, the families of the three brothers were scattered throughout the southern part of the U.S. A few years back the descendants of James Vaughter began to meet periodically at Lake Murray Lodge, Ardmore, Oklahoma, for family reunions. On July 28-30, 1977, they were joined by descendants of Richard Vawter and John Vawter, Jr. for a get-a cqu a in ted en cou n ter . 55 cou s in s , in -laws, and guests registered during the 3-day event. Broken down, the figures showed 26 from the tribe of James, 26 from the tribe of John and 3 from the tribe of Richard. A second reunion was hastily scheduled for noon on Sunday, July 31, in Oklahoma City, for the benefit of cousins unable to make it to Lake Murray. 48 registered this time, composed of the tribes of John and Richard. Also joining the group on Sunday were Mr. & Mrs. Billy Mack Vawter. He, a descendant of Russell Vawter, brother of John, the elder. These latter friendly cousins extended an invitation to join their family reunion held at Sulphur, Okla, in June of each year. History will record that the Vawter/Vaughter Reunion of July 28-28-31, 1977 was a success. After 175 years, it appears that at least four of the tribes of Vawter will become reunited. Editor s Note: As a s pa ce-s a vin g device, th e in itia ls V/ V will h ea ra fter designate the names Vawter/Vaughter. As with any sucessful project, credit for the V/V Reunion should be given to a number of individuals. Toward this end, the following list of awards and recipients has been prepared. VISIONARY AWARD to Paul Vaughter, Sr., whose efforts initiated the family reunion chain-reaction several years back. Page 2 KISSIN'COUSINS AWARD - to Hazel Vawter McCandless, whose Vawter Family History proves that they really are. Y'ALL COME AWARD - to Ora Wicker, whose letter-writing campaign to the tribe of John resulted in a turn-out, exceeding all expectations. OKLAHOMA OR BUST AWARD - to Emery Mayer, who, when accomodations were not available at the Lodge, purchased a camper in order that his wife, Clarice Vawter Mayer, could be present. PRECEPTION AWARD - to Bill Va wter, wh o recogn ized th a t n a m e-ta gs were a n eces s ity and made a special trip to Ardmore to get them. GOTTA HAVE ROOM AWARD - to Fred Wicker, who arranged for use of the ballroom after the influx of V/V's threatened to paralyze operations at the Lodge. YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE AWARD - to Anna Baker, whose home-made cake was hungrily devoured by early arrivals. LOAVES AND FISHES AWARD - Mary Vaughter Oxford and her cohorts, who stretched a picnic supper planned for 25 Vaughters, and fed 50 ravenous V/V' s. GENTLEMAN FARMER AWARD - to Dennis Davis, who brought home-grown canteloupes to feed the hungry clan. SMALL WORLD AWARD - to Ray Murray, who accompanied his wife, LaVerna, to the reunion, and was greeted by his former boss from Tinker AFB, Lt. Co. (ret.) Paul Vaughter. LOOK-ALIKE AWARD - to Ca rm en Ca ldwell, for h is a m a zin g res em bla n ce to th e Caldwells of Pontotoc, County, Mississippi. ROUND ABOUT AWARD TO Paul Vaughter, Jr., who spent 2 years on the faculty at the Univ. of Mississippi, moved to Minnesota , travelled to Oklahoma for the reunion, and finally met the Mississippi Vawters. 0IL ON TROUBLED WATERS AWARD - to the Manager of Lake Murray Lodge, who served complimentary coffee and cokes during the interval when Ora Wicker's lost shoes were being tracked down. GUNG-H0 AWARD - to Geneva Vawter Short and Arlene Vawter Cardwell, who secured a dining room and whipped up a crowd of 48 people for the reunion in Oklahoma City on Sunday, in the space of 24 hours. CONGENIALITY AWARD - to all V/V's, in-laws, and guests. VAWTER/VAUGHTER (S) NEWSLETTER December 1, 1977 Issue No. 2 Wordna Wicker, Editor P.O. Box 360 Pototoc, Mississippi 38863 Response to Issue No.1 of the Newsletter has been gratifying. Word has gotten around and 17 new V/V's have been added to the mailing list since the reunion(s) in Oklahoma in July. In order to properly introduce and identify the newcomers, a bit of review is necessary. Hopefully, you will recall, the brothers, Richard, James, and John, Jr., sons of John Vawter, Sr. by his first marriage, who were in Stokes Co., N.C. and Elbert Co., Ga. ca. 1780-1820; and whose descendants met at Lake Murray in July. From descendants of these three brothers, the following additions to the Newsletter mailing list have been made: From the tribe of Richard: (1) James Lanier (Jim)Vawter, E1 Campo, Texas (2) Jesse L. Vawter, Houston, Texas (3) Jesse Franklin Vawter, Eagle Lake, Texas (4) Mrs. Faye Tennyson Davidson, Bolivar, Tennessee (5) Mrs. Elizabeth Ervin, Jackson, Tennessee From the tribe of James: (1) James C. Vaughters, Aurora, Colorado (2) Douglas Vaughters, Athens, Georgia From the tribe of John,Jr. (1) Hubert B. Vawter, Little Rock, Arkansas (2) Lester Vawter, Little Rock, Arkansas (3) Clifton Reid, Iuka, Mississippi (4) Mrs. Willard Nixon, Iuka, Mississippi AT THIS POINT, A BRIEF TIME-OUT WHILE WE ISSUE NEW NUMBERS TO OUR PLAYERS IN ORDER TO CO-ORDINATE WITH THE VAWTER FAMILY HISTORY OF HAZEL McCANDLESS. HEREAFTER JOHN,JR. WILL BE KNOWN AS JOHN IV, AND JOHN, SR. WILL BE KNOWN AS JOHN III. THE NECESSITY FOR THE NUMBERS WILL BECOME APPARENT AS WE TRAVEL BACKWARD INTO TIME. It is now our pleasure to present the second wife of John III (alias John, Sr), who was Joanna Vernon. By that marriage, there were the following-offspring: William, Richard II, Elizabeth, Nancy, Lindsey, and Russell. Proceeding with the introduction of the new subscribers to the newsletter, from the tribe of Russell., son of John III and Joanna Vernon, we welcome: (1) Robert (Bob) Vawter, Tampa, Florida. Moving backward into time one generation from Elbert Co., Ga., we find that John Vawter III had a brother in Stokes Co., N.C. whose name was Russell. From the tribe of Russell, brother of John III, we acknowledge: (1) Billy Mack Vawter who joined the V/V's in Oklahoma City for the second of the reunions. Russell and John III were the sons of Richard Vawter and Frances Towles of Essex, Madison, and Culpeper Co., Va. Page 2 Moving backward into time one additional generation, we note that Richard Vawter (father of Russell and John III) was the son of John Vawter, II, and Margaret Noel1, of Orange, Essex, and Culpeper Co., Va. In addition to Richard, their offspring were: Winifred, Bartholomew, Margaret, Angus, and David. From the tribe of David, brother of Richard and son of John II and Margaret, we welcome: (1) The Rev. Bruce Vawter, DePaul University, Chicago, Ill. Four additional V/V's have been welcomed, but not yet positively identified: (1) Vernon Vawter, Rt. 1, Box 335-C, Hot Springs, Ark. 71968, whose forebearers were Roy A., James Harvey, James M. and James M.; and who were in Indiana and Missouri before coming to Arkansas. From the VAWTER FAMILY HISTORY, "David Vawter (son of John II and Margaret Noell) had three sons, Philemon, Jesse, and William, who migrated to North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and Indiana". It is documented that Rev. Bruce Vawter is a decendant of the above named Jesse. It is quite likely that Vernon Vawter descends from either Jesse, or one of the other two. Proof of Vernon's line is needed. Also unidentified are: (2) Woodford C. Vawter, 207 Virginia, Ponca City, Oklahoma 74601 (3) Helen Vawter Carr, 107 N. Springfield, Berryville, Ark. 72616 (4) Mrs. Dave Wells, 1719 So. Tyler, Little Rock, Ark. 72200 brother and sisters, descendants of Dr. Fred Loomis Vawter and Rev. Beverly P. Vawter, of Kentucky, Illinois and Indiana. ON THE SUBJECT OF NEWSPAPER EDITORS: James Wesley Vawter, of the tribe of John IV, was probably the editor of the WILBURTON GAZETTE in 1899. A family history states that one of his daughters was born in Wilburton in 1899. James Wesley Vawter was a minister and teacher in Oklahoma in Territorial and early statehood days. His biography will appear in the next issue of the Newsletter. The V/V who was editor of the OKMULGEE DAILY TIMES ca.