Albion Interactive History / People
Lige H. Vaughn, 1891
Died 1982
Lige J. Vaughn, 90, Scottsdale, Ariz., a long-time resident and Albion merchant who was active in community affairs here, died Thursday evening at his residence in Arizona.
He was born August 18, 1891, in Elkton, Mo., to Katharine Williams and Hood Vaughn. He married Blair Cox on January 17, 1917, in Springfield, Mo.
He came to Albion in 1929 and established headquarters here for the Vaughn and Ragsdale Company clothiers, which included eight stores in Michigan and two in Montana.
He was president and co-founder and general manager of the company. He was president of Duck Lake Golf Clbu in 1935 and a past president of Boosters and Knockers.
Mr. Vaughn was vice president of Albions Duck Lake Improvement Association. He was finance committee chairman of the Albion City Representative Committee, a director of the Albion Rotary Club and a member and treasurer of the Calhoun County Board of Health.
During World War II he was appointed to the food panel board of the War and Price Rationing Board and was active locally in the war rationing effort. He was a member of the Battle Creek branch and Board of Directors of Michigan Childrens Adi.
He graduated from central Business College, Sedalia, Mo., and attended Southwest Baptist College, Bolivar, Mont.
Before coming to the Albion area and establishing the clothing chain, he worked as a farmer and had a farm loan and investment business in Montana. He also served on the school board in Columbus, Mont.
In 1941, he retired as president and general manager of Vaughn and Ragsdale.
In 1954 he moved to Phoenix, Ariz, but maintained a summer residence at Duck Lake until several years ago.
Mr. Vaughn is survived by his wife, Blair; a son, Jack H., Washington D.C.; three daughters, Mrs. Glendon (Kathryn Swarthout, Scottsdale, Ariz., Mrs. Stephen (Billie) Johnson, Marquette, Mrs. Dale (Janyth) Sheldon, Piedmont, Calif.; 13 grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
A daughter, Betty Thronson, is deceased.
Friends may call at the Chapel of Tidd-Williams Funeral Chapels, Inc., after 9 am Tuesday. A Funeral will be held at 11 am Wednesday at the chapel with Dr. Wayne H. Fleenor officiating. Interment will be at Riverside Abbey.
Source: Lige H. Vaughn, Obituary. Albion Recorder. May 8, 1982.