Illustrat ion by G.R. Thornton of Stephen Townsend’s murder – From the Cynthia Thornton Collection of Fayette Heritage Museum & Archives
Footprints of Fayette
The Murder of Stephen Townsend By Jeff Messer
On Oct. 29, 1850, a man named John Haywood Vaughn rode into Round Top and was invited to a card game at Stephen Townsend’s home. The following morning, sometime between 7 and 10 a.m., Townsend, Vaughn and several other men gathered at a local grocery store near one of the blacksmith shops in town, likely purchasing supplies and possibly sharing breakfas…
