Hank Vaughan – An Unhappy Horse Thief
The saga of Henry Clay Vaughan, more commonly known as Hank, is a complex tapestry woven from threads of frontier life, brushes with the law, and a restless spirit that never quite found its peace. Born on April 27, 1849, to Alexander and Elizabeth Vaughan, Hank’s introduction to the world was a humble one, on the family farm nestled in the fertile Willamette River Valley, south of Portland, Oregon.
Life on the farm was a demanding teacher. As one of seven children, Hank’s formal education was sporadic, often taking a backseat to the more pressing needs of the family livelihood. While he gained practical knowledge of agriculture and animal husbandry, he never learned to write. When Hank was twelve years old, the Vaughan family uprooted their lives and moved to The Dalles, Oregon, where they remained for five years. Seeking greater opportunities, they once again relocated, this time to Canyon City, Oregon.
Canyon City was a town pulsating with the feverish energy of a gold rush. The Vaughans, like many others, were drawn by the promise of prosperity. Their plan was to establish a ranch, providing essential supplies of beef and horses to the burgeoning population of miners who flocked to the area in search of fortune. The rugged terrain and demanding work forged a resilience in young Vaughan, shaping him into a man of the West.
As Hank Vaughan transitioned into young adulthood, his physical stature was deceiving. He was a slight figure, rarely exceeding 130 pounds. However, appearances can be deceptive, and it would be a grave mistake to underestimate the capabilities of this unassuming man. Vaughan possessed a remarkable proficiency with firearms, honed through practice and necessity. His accuracy with a six-gun was legendary, making him a formidable opponent in any confrontation.
Adding another layer to his complex character was a penchant for strong drink. Vaughan’s enthusiasm for alcohol was as potent as his skill with a gun. The combination of these two elements often transformed the seemingly average man into a volatile and unpredictable force. A few drinks could ignite a fiery temper, turning Hank Vaughan into a gun-toting hell-raiser, eager to settle any perceived slight with swift and decisive action.
Vaughan’s first documented run-in with the law occurred at the tender age of fifteen. The incident stemmed from a dispute with William Headspot, who refused to pay for a horse he had acquired. The argument escalated quickly, culminating in Vaughan shooting Headspot. While released on bail, Vaughan further compounded his legal troubles by shooting another man who had filed the original complaint against him. This brazen act led to his prompt rearrest and subsequent detainment in The Dalles jail, where he awaited trial.
Faced with the grim prospect of imprisonment, Vaughan’s family intervened on his behalf. They pleaded with the judge, suggesting an alternative to incarceration: enlistment in the Army. The judge, perhaps seeing a glimmer of hope for rehabilitation, agreed to the proposal. Thus, Hank Vaughan found himself thrust into the ranks of the military. However, the regimented life of a soldier proved to be incompatible with Vaughan’s restless and impulsive nature. His military service was short-lived, ending with a dishonorable discharge a mere 45 days later.
In the spring of 1865, Vaughan crossed paths with a horse trader named Dan Burns. Together, they hatched a plan to journey to the goldfields of Idaho, seeking their own fortunes. However, their ambition quickly veered down a criminal path. In Umatilla County, Oregon, the pair orchestrated the theft of a large herd of horses. Their crime did not go unnoticed. Sheriff Frank Maddock and his deputy, O.J. Hart, were soon hot on their trail.
The lawmen tracked the rustlers to a campsite near the Burnt River. Under the cover of early morning darkness, they stealthily approached the camp. With a swift motion, they ripped the blankets off the sleeping men, announcing their arrest. The sudden intrusion ignited a furious gunfight. In the ensuing melee of gunfire, Burns and Hart fell dead. Maddock and Hank Vaughan both sustained wounds. Fearing the arrival of a larger posse, Vaughan made his escape on horseback. His freedom was fleeting. He was apprehended several days later and confined to the Baker County Jail, awaiting trial for his crimes.
Following his trial, Vaughan received a life sentence for his involvement in the horse theft and the deaths that resulted from the confrontation with law enforcement. He was incarcerated in the new territorial prison in Salem, Oregon. While behind bars, Vaughan embarked on a path of self-improvement. He acquired valuable skills in carpentry, bricklaying, and blacksmithing. Perhaps most significantly, he learned to read and write, overcoming the educational deficit of his youth. Once again, his family rallied to his aid, appealing for clemency. In February 1870, their efforts proved successful, and the Oregon governor granted Vaughan a pardon, freeing him from his prison sentence.
Upon his release, Vaughan returned to the world of cattle and horses, establishing a business in Toano, Nevada. He proved to be a shrewd and capable entrepreneur. His success allowed him to purchase land near Elko, further solidifying his position in the community. Vaughan cultivated an image of a respectable gentleman, earning the respect and admiration of those around him. In May 1875, he married Lois McCarty, the sister of the notorious McCarty brothers, further intertwining his life with the legends of the West.
Hank Vaughan and Lois McCarty’s union produced two sons: Alexander, born in February 1876, and Albert, born in September 1877. However, Vaughan’s domestic life was often overshadowed by his enduring vices. He possessed a strong penchant for gambling and drinking, frequently spending long periods away from home, indulging in these pursuits. While on these drinking sprees, he was known to ride his horse into saloons, discharging his firearm to shoot out the lights and blasting glasses off the bar. This behavior ultimately led to the dissolution of his marriage. Lois, unable to tolerate his erratic behavior, left him, taking their sons with her.
Vaughan’s propensity for trouble continued to dog him. He became embroiled in a gunfight in Arizona, sustaining a head wound. Though the injury was not fatal, it prompted him to relocate to Pendleton, Oregon. There, he once again engaged in the business of buying and selling horses and cattle to local ranchers. He remarried on August 31, 1878, to a woman from the Midwest named Louisa Jane Ditty.
Vaughan’s dealings in cattle and horses were not always above board. He cultivated relationships with members of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, enlisting their assistance in rounding up stray cattle from cattle drives passing through the Blue Mountains. This clandestine activity aroused suspicion among local ranchers, who suspected him of rustling. However, they were unable to gather sufficient evidence to catch him in the act.
As Vaughan’s reputation for unsavory dealings spread, he sought new pastures. He established a new operation at Spokane Falls, Washington, a strategically advantageous location situated along the cattle route to Montana. He sold horses to cattle herders and rounded up any strays that became separated from their herds. However, his reputation preceded him, and his activities soon became known in the area. Returning to Oregon, he and Louisa settled in a remote mountain cabin in Sturgill Basin. However, this union also proved to be short-lived, as Louisa eventually left him.
Hearing rumors of a vigilante committee forming to crack down on cattle rustlers, Vaughan ventured into Prineville, Oregon, seeking information. He visited Graham’s Saloon, where he sought out Charlie Long, a ranch boss employed by Colonel Thompson, the leader of the vigilante committee. Vaughan engaged Long in a poker game, which soon turned contentious. Graham intervened to break up the game. Later, Long and Vaughan encountered each other again at Til Glaze’s saloon. Vaughan bought a round of drinks for the bar, but Long refused to partake. This perceived slight escalated into a violent confrontation. Long fired first, grazing Vaughan’s head. Vaughan returned fire, striking Long four times. However, before collapsing, Long managed to hit Vaughan once in the chest. Miraculously, both men survived the encounter.
Vaughan recovered from his injuries and was tried at The Dalles. He was acquitted on the grounds that Long had fired first. Shortly after, he moved to Wood River, Idaho, where he found a lucrative market selling horses to the workers constructing a new railroad. He met Martha Robie, a widow who had inherited a substantial sum of money from her deceased husband and owned land on the Umatilla Indian Reservation.
Despite not being legally divorced from Louisa, Vaughan married the widow Robie. Martha Robie frequently traveled by train. Vaughan gained notoriety for thwarting train robberies, earning the gratitude of the railroad, which awarded him a lifetime pass. He expanded his operations into Walla Walla and Spokane Falls, Washington, becoming successful enough to hire others to carry out his illicit activities. However, as rangelands became fenced and railroads facilitated quicker pursuit by posses, cattle rustling became increasingly difficult. Eventually, he established a farm on the Widow Robie’s property, located halfway between Walla Walla, Washington, and Pendleton, Oregon.
After his divorce from Louisa was finalized in June 1883, he was able to publicly acknowledge his relationship with Martha Robie. While their relationship appeared to be more stable than his previous marriages, Vaughan continued to indulge in his vices of gambling and drinking in saloons. Although the farm proved to be successful, Vaughan remained involved in rustling activities. Operating primarily at night, he often enlisted the assistance of his ex-in-laws, the McCarty brothers, to act as lookouts. However, the ranchers began to form new vigilante committees, effectively curtailing Vaughan’s rustling activities.
In 1886, Vaughan humiliated a man named Bill Falwell by shooting at his feet, forcing him to “dance.” Falwell, understandably displeased, retaliated the following day by shooting Vaughan in the right arm. Later that year, Vaughan and his wife sold the farm for a substantial profit and relocated to Centerville, Washington, where he continued his disruptive behavior.
On June 2, 1893, Hank Vaughan traveled to Pendleton to have his horse shod. While waiting, he visited several saloons. Later, he galloped his horse up and down Main Street, whooping and hollering. Tragically, the horse slipped and fell, crushing Vaughan beneath it. He sustained a skull fracture and was taken to the Transfer House, where he remained semiconscious for two weeks. He succumbed to his injuries on June 15, 1893, and was buried in an unmarked grave at the Olney Cemetery in Pendleton, Oregon. The life of Hank Vaughan, an unhappy horse thief, came to an end.