John S. Vaught, son of Joseph and Nancy (Goodwin) Vaught, was born in Johnson county, June 16, 1810, and became a large landowner and slave owner, while he and his son, Joseph L., operated a forge, manufacturing “hammered” iron. A public-spirited man, he donated the land for the Pleasant Grove Baptist church, organized January 20, 1845, in Vaught’s schoolhouse. He was a prominent member of the church and provided most of the funds for the erection of a new brick church in 1853. This building was torn down in 1912 to clear the site for a larger and more modern building which was erected that year, the material in the old building being used in the new. While he owned many slaves, John S. Vaught believed in emancipation and used his influence in that direction. He married Rebecca Shoun, who was born June 4, 1813, a daughter of Leonard and Barbara (Schlemp) Shoun, the former born November 10, 1773, in Loudoun county, Virginia, and the latter in Washington county, Virginia, May 3, 1775. The descendants of Leonard Shoun have erected a monument to his memory at Shouns, Tennessee, which town was named in his honor. John S. and Rebecca Vaught had three sons and five daughters, all of [p.419] whom married and reared families save a daughter who died at the age of twelve. John S. Vaught passed away May 18, 1885.

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