Joseph C. Mast, son of Adam and Elizabeth (Cable) Mast, was born May 10, 1808, devoted his life to farming and was a devout Christian man of the Baptist faith. He married Celia Campbell, a granddaughter of Zachariah Campbell, of Scotch-Irish ancestry, who emigrated from County Tipperary, near Cork, Ireland, settling first in Virginia, where he married before removing to Carter county, Tennessee, where he was very prominent in early days, being a member of the county court when the county was organized July 4, 1796. He was one of the commissioners appointed to locate the county seat of justice. He was present and participated in the organization of the court of pleas and quarter sessions, July 4, 1796. Previous to his removal to Carter county he had served in the Revolutionary war. Two of his sons, Isaac and Jeremiah Campbell, were also soldiers of the Revolution and Isaac likewise participated in the War of 1812. Isaac Campbell enjoyed the well merited reputation of being a good citizen and just man. He married Susie Smith, daughter of Edward and Catherine Smith and they settled on the Watauga in Carter county, Tennessee. It was his daughter Celia who became the wife of Joseph C. Mast and the latter’s daughter, Louise Mast, became the wife of Joseph L. Vaught. They had a family of thirteen children, William McDonald being the seventh in order of birth. Those who reached adult age were Jacob S., Sarah C., Cordelia A., Celia Ella, William M., Nannie I., John M. and Edward J. Mrs. Louise (Mast) Vaught united with the Pleasant Grove Baptist church, January 2, 1854, and [p.420] has lived a consistent Christian life. She had one sister and six brothers and two of the latter were Confederate soldiers of the Civil war. While her husband was giving the best years of his young manhood to the Federal cause Mrs. Vaught underwent many hardships. She had three small children to protect, feed and clothe. She personally carried on the farm work and she raised flax and wool, from which were made the garments that clothed her little family. She still lives on a part of the original tract of land secured in 1792 by John Vaught, the pioneer of Johnson county. The post office of Vaughtsville was named in honor of the family and her husband was postmaster from the time of the establishment of the post office in 1886 until his death, which occurred May 16, 1897, since which time the daughter Ella has acted as postmistress. One son, Jacob S., is a prominent farmer and stockman, interested in sheep and cattle. He is also active in religious affairs, serving as treasurer of the church to which his father and grandfather belonged. John M. was also a successful farmer and business man, but met an untimely death June 16, 1912, having been kicked by a horse. His funeral was conducted on the day he would have been forty years of age. Another son, Edward J., attended the public schools of Johnson county, also Holly Springs College and Carson and Newman College, graduating from the last named with honors in May, 1897. After completing a course in the Lebanon Law School he began practice in Johnson City, Tennessee, and has a large clientele. He is also United States commissioner and he was presidential elector in 1916, supporting Charles E. Hughes for the presidency.

Transcribed from: Tennessee, The Volunteer State, 1796-1923 by John Trotwood Moore and Austin P. Foster published by S.J Clarke Publishing Co., 1923.