Andrew Jackson Vernon

Andrew Jackson Vernon was the fourth of seven children born to Cynthia Moody and William Vernon in a little one-room shack, that had been put up temporarily on their farm.

They lived on their farm at the head of Raccoon Creek for five years, at which time they purchased a tract of land on Brushy Fork (Steel Branch). They lived here until 1892. Andrew started school at the age of six. He had to walk a mile and a half to the little board schoolhouse. It was one room and there were about thirty-five students that attended.

He wore his first factory-cloth shirt and a pair of pants that his mother made for him. The legs of these cotton pants were so large that Andrew made a seam at the back of each leg. This suited him much better. He also had a pair of shoes that his father had made for him. His school lunch consisted of fried apples that were prepared before he left home in the morning and some molasses or sugar to put on them at noon.

After the day's work was done, William brought his tools out and he either made or mended shoes for his family, neighbors and anyone else who needed them.

When Andrew was eight, he fell off the fence and hurt his leg, which laid him up all winter. The doctor could find nothing wrong with it; but years later it was believed that he had broken a blood vessel just above his ankle. His father made him a pair of crutches so he could get around a bit. This leg bothered him all his life. Later in life, he went to Salt Lake City, Utah for two major operations on it.

Andrew's father wanted to move to Utah with the Saints, but could not sell his place so he sent the three older kids and that left Andrew, at the age of twelve, to take over all the hard work of driving oxen to turn the ground and of walking twenty miles behind the oxen to take produce to market. After he sold the produce, he bought salt, flour, and other family supplies. It took another three days to return home.

Andrew's father told Andrew and his brother, Tom, they could cut and sell all the cross ties the railroad would buy. They received nineteen cents for each one that the railroad bought, which was about one-half of what they cut. The rest they took back home and made a corn crib to store corn in. It was a granary-type room about eight feet square.

After they cleared the ground of timber, they planted corn and tobacco which they raised and sold. Andrew's share for the cross ties and the corn and tobacco amounted to about $107. He took $47 and bought his own ticket to Utah and with the balance he bought two acres of land in Vernal, Maeser, Uintah County, Utah. This is where the first house was built for the Vernon family.

Andrew married first Ada Allen August 22, 1900. They had six children: Stella Vernon, Ethel Mary Vernon, Bertha Lillian Vernon, Alton Jay Vernon, Nellie Idonna Vernon and Joseph Arlin Vernon

Ada Allen and Andrew Jackson Vernon divorced. Andrew next married Grace Burton October 8, 1940.

Grace Burton was the daughter of Matilda Jane Thompson and Allen Burton. Grace married first Richard Cyrus. He died and Grace decided to stay with her Aunt Mary Cordle in Ohio.

Andrew Jackson Vernon, divorcee, had gone to school with Mary Cordle in Kentucky. Many were the times that he carried her books home for her. Mary later married and moved to Ohio. When Andrew was elected to the school board, he sent a clipping out of the Vernal Express to his niece, Lorrie, in Kentucky, who then sent it on to Mary Cordle. Andrew and Grace began corresponding in January 1940. When Andrew went back on a visit in September 1940, he met Grace.

Andrew was in Kentucky for his birthday, October 3rd, and it seemed everyone had a birthday dinner for him. He had three birthday dinners in one day. During the birthday supper which Grace had prepared for him, an aunt of Grace's told her if she didn't want Andrew, to let her have him.

They were married on October 8, 1940 in Kentucky.

After Andrew and Grace were married, they left immediately for Vernal and arrived on October 10, 1940 on the bus. No one knew they were coming and so there was no one to meet them at the bus station. They called Andrew's sister, Lillie Singleton, and she went to the station and brought them to her home where they stayed overnight. This was the first that Andrew's family in Vernal knew of his new marriage.

Andrew and Grace lived with their daughter, Ethel Palmer, for six months while their home was being remodeled.

In the fall of the year after Andrew and Grace were married, while they were outside cleaning up, Andrew stepped in a hole and fell, breaking his arm. Charles Palmer took them to town where Doctor Hansen set it for him. Then again on February 12, 1952, Andrew went outside for a bucket of coal. He slipped on the slick snow and fell again, this time breaking the other arm just below the wrist joint. He didn't go outside the rest of the winter.

In April, Lloyd and Bertha Richards decided to go to California for a vacation. They wanted to take Andrew and Grace but were afraid Andrew wouldn't want to go that far. They told him they were going to Salt Lake to visit their son, Vernon Richards, and his family. Andrew consented to go with them and when they got to Heber, Lloyd turned off to go down through Provo and just kept going to California. They were gone fifteen days and everyone enjoyed the surprise trip immensely.

When Andrew and Grace made a trip back to Kentucky in 1947, they were privileged to visit the old schoolhouse where Andrew's father had taught school. A family had bought the place and made a home out of the school. Andrew slept in his home overnight. The people were using the old hand-carved chairs from the school and the legs were worn just about half way down until they were very low chairs. He also visited with a former student of his father's, a Mrs. Garl Moore.

-Adapted from Andrew Jackson Vernon history that Nancy T. Goddard and Marilyn W. Thacker edited in 1999.
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ANDREW J. VERNON, MAESER PIONEER, HAS HAD LIFE OF MANY EXPERIENCES

A hardworking life with many interests has combined to make Andrew J. Vernon, Maeser pioneer, look as healthy and spry at nearly 80 years old as many a man 20 years younger.

Mr. Vernon first saw the light of day October 3, 1875, in the little township of Blaine, on the eastern border of Kentucky, nudging West Virginia.

EARLY SETTLER
He came to Vernal at the age of 17, when the area had been settled only 12 years. Attending Maeser School, he graduated from the Uintah Stake Academy with the class of 1899. For two years he taught school in Maeser, two years in Manila and a year in Uintah, now Ashley Ward.

After entering the livestock business Mr. Vernon had a ranch of 60 acres in Ashley Creek.

I have never had time to hunt or fish but bees have been my hobby since I was six years old," Mr. Vernon explained. At one time he had as many as 250 hives. "At one time I sold honey for $2.50 for 60 pounds, but now that much would cost $12.00," he contrasted.

STUNG
During the war when sugar was rationed the price went up to $14.00," he disclosed. "I've been stung lots of times but I'm used to it now,"

During 1910 to 1925 Mr. Vernon operated a saw mill business in Windy Park and also was president of the old Acorn Company, a general store located across the highway from the Post Office.

Entering the oil business, he was a director of the Emerald Oil Company and then the president for 15 years. The company later was disolved due to increasingly heavy taxes.

Always interested in education problems, Mr. Vernon was a member of the school board from 1934-1938.

WAGON HIDE
It was in August of 1900 that the Maeser School teacher decided to embark on the adventure of matrimony. As the ceremony was to take place in the Salt Lake Temple, the trip itself in those days was an adventure.

Another prominent local citizen, Don B. Colton, was to be married at the same time, so the two couples, accompanied by Mrs. Colton's mother, and a Mrs. Gerber rigged up a team for the 14-day journey into Salt Lake.

On the return journey they had anothr passenger, Miss Jasperson, who was coming to Vernal to teach school. She is Harold Davis' mother's sister.

Believing that Maeser had a great future, Mr. Vernon invested substantial sums in the water line for that community and was director of the water company for 30 years.

WATER LINE
"All I had was a hand plough, a drag harrow and a home-made marker and I took care of 60 acres which was a 15 hour a day job." "Yes," he smiled, "It took a long time to do a day's work then."

"It's an easier life today," he commented. "The standard of living is much higher. There's really no comparison."

Mr. Vernon has three daughters and a son living: Mrs. Stella Thacker, Vernal; Mrs. Ethel Palmer, Mrs. Bertha Richards and Alton Vernon of Maeser. He has a brother in Baggs, Wyoming, who is two years his junior.

ANCESTRY
The pioneer sorted through his memories. "My father's people were English. My mother is of Scotch and Irish descent. My father was from Virginia. He lived on the dividing line between the North and South and was drafted into the Confederate Army during the closing stages of the Civil War. He was not exactly in sympathy with the South but he didn't want to fight against his brothers."

Mr. Vernon sighed contentedly. "This is a good place to live. I wouldn't change it for any town that I know of and I've been back to Kentucky 30 times."

-Vernal Express, August 4, 1955, transcribed by Rhonda Holton
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A. J. Vernon Honored at Rites Here Saturday.

Funeral services were held Saturday afternoon at the Maeser Chapel for Andrew Jackson Vernon, age 86, who died Wednesday at 3:15 p.m. in the Uintah County Hospital of causes incident to age.

Mr. Vernon was born October 3, 1875 in Blaine, Kentucky. he married Ada Allen August 22, 1900 in Salt Lake City. They were later divorced. He married Grace Cyrus, October 8, 1940 at Catlettsburg, Kentucky.

He was past president of Emerald Oil Company, was a past member of Uintah District School Board, served as a land appraiser for many years and was a bee inspector and a school teacher. He was a high priest in the LDS Church at the time of his death.

Mr. Vernon is survived by his widow son and daughters, Alton J., Mrs. Leslie (Stella) Thacker, Mrs. Charles (Ethel) Palmer, Mrs. Lloyd (Bertha) Richards, all of Vernal; four stepchildren, Al Cyrus, Allegan, Michigan; Mrs. John Butler, Phoenix, Arizona; Mrs. Buell Lyon and James Cyrus Louisa, Kentucky; 15 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren and a brother, Thomas B. Vernon, Baggs, Wyoming.

The funeral services were conducted by Bishop Leo Hacking of Maeser Second Ward. Prelude and postlude music was played by Ruth L. Jones. Invocation was given by Glen Oaks. A quintette composed of Arza Adams, Keith Adams, Clydie Adams, Eloise Adams and Danna Dee Smith sang, "Oh My Father," accompanied by Mrs. Jones.

The first speaker was Harmon S. Sowards, Glade and Elizabeth Sowards sang "That Beautiful Land" accompanied by Mrs. Aaron Jolley. The concluding speaker was Martin W. Curtis. Dorothy Luck sang, "The King of Glory," accompanied by Eva Hatch. Bishop Hacking Hacking spoke, followed by a duet by Glade and Elizabeth Sowards, "Going Home," accompanied by Mrs. Jolley. Benediction was by Harvey McKee. Prayer at the home was by Elmer Lind.

Pallbearers were ten grandsons, Vernon, Shirley and Gordon Richards; Dale and Ted Thacker, Francis and Blaine Palmer and Deloy, Glen and Ray Vernon. Lena McCarthy and Mildred Mansfield were scribes for the services.

Those attending the services from out of town included Marie and John Butler, Phoenix, Arizona; Cora Lyon, Louisa, Kentucky; Cora Roberts, Ashland, Kentucky; Al Cyrus, Allegan, Michigan; Thomas B. Vernon, Fort Lewis, Washington ; Deloy Vernon, Los Angeles, California; Lew, Charlene Cheney and family, Mr. and Mrs. Clinton Vernon, Esther Powell, Mr. and Mrs. Gordon Richards and family, Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Allen, Mr. and Mrs. Van Fullmer, Carl, Ada and Gary Curtis, Mr. and Mrs. Keith Shosted, Mr. and Mrs. Vernon Richards and family, Mr. and Mrs. Lyman Anderson, Mr. and Mrs. Jesse Haws, all of Salt Lake City.

Mr. and Mrs. Weston Timothy, Kaysville, Sharon Combs, Logan; Mrs. Ruby Gray, Ephraim; Mary Tobinson, Mary Justice, Mr. and Mrs. Allie Justice, Mary Jarrell and Ethel Taylor, Lapoint; Mr. and Mrs. Morley, Vernal, Mr; and Mrs. Arson Vernon, Provo; Mr. and Mrs. Delyle Richards and family, Rupert, Idaho; Roy Thacker, Altamont; Mr. and Mrs. Presley Timothy, Mr. and Mrs. Lynn Timothy and Mrs. Allie Rasmussen, Roosevelt.

Burial under the direction of the Vernal Mortuary was in the Maeser Fairview Cemetery. Dedication of the grave was by Weston Timothy.

-Vernal Express, April 19, 1962, transcribed by Rhonda Holton
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FORMER SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER TAKES BRIDE

With the return of Andrew Jackson Vernon, former Uintah Districe school board member on Saturday from a months vacation to his old home in Kentucky, his many friends were surprised he was accompanied by a bride.

On October 8, he was married to Grace Cyrus of Louise, Kentucky at Collettsburg County seat of Boyd County.

Mr. and Mrs. Vernon enjoyed a trip visiting relatives and friends in Kentucky and Virginia.

This is Mrs. Vernon's first trip to the western atates and was intrigued with the vast spaces and the wonderful mountain scenery. (the rest is unreadable.)

-Vernal Express, October 17, 1940, transcribed by Rhonda Holton, great granddaughter of A.J. Vernon