Richard B. Vernon was married nine months after his 29th birthday to Frances Peck, 6 years his junior. Sometime prior to October 1864, God found Richard Vernon and persuaded him to go to "Bloody Kansas" and preach for him. Kansas then really needed "preaching". Slave-holders were killing the "free-staters" and the reverse. Bushwhackers were killing them both. Only harkening to the message of the Christmas babe would have stopped this murder. Soon Rev. Vernon and his wife were situated on a farm, part of which was in Bates County Missouri, and part in Linn County, Kansas, just across the state line. They had been blessed with five children, ranging from eleven year old Mary Jane, through Anna Elizabeth, John, Rufus, James Wesley to baby Emma, three months old. Years later only the three oldest would remember that time the "whackers" came. Father Vernon came in as they were ransacking his home. He started for his rifle but an intruder seized it and struck Vernon a head blow which left him unconscious. Down he went! The bad men threw him into the yard and left him for dead. Rev. Vernon was not fully recovered from the ill treatment, before the dry October grass fires threatened his farm. Taking his wife and children in his wagon, Vernon drove rapidly to the fire front and began to fight it. His wife screamed! He turned to see a worse enemy, bushwhackers, taking his team. Again his weapon, a revolver, was out of hand - in the wagon. He ran for it, but did not reach it - he was dropped by a bullet exactly in his breast. ( "Dad always said the bushwackers fired right down between the horses when they shot him" - recalled Steve Vernon, son of Everett Vernon, in November 2003) The murderers fled, leaving the sobbing wife and screaming children to pull the dead husband and father into the wagon. She started driving home, but the end was not yet. Another group of renegades dashed across the prairie. Were they deserters from the Yankee or Rebel Army? Who can say. The Civil War was in its last year and both were in the area and needed horses. Horses they now obtained. Before Mrs. Vernon reached home they stopped her. With only a glance at the dead man in the wagon and disregarding the pleas of his wife, the scoundrels sped away, her team of horses with them. After the death of the Rev. Richard B. Vernon, a young Methodist minister, a younger brother, Dr. David A. Vernon went West and brought the widow and her children to his home in Pennsylvania. They weren't happy in Pennsylvania and soon went back to Kansas, accompanied by her father, John H. Peck. He lived with his daughter, Frances until his death in 1883, at the age of 94 years. Excerpt from "The Vernon Family" by Gladys Vernon, 1981.

By HappyHunting

Richard and Frances Peck Vernon had a daughter, Margaret Susan Vernon who was born 1 April 1863 and died 8 April 1863. Am unable to determine where she was buried.

Richard and Frances Peck Vernon also had a daughter, Mary Jane Vernon Ferson born 23 August 1853 and died in Miami Florida in 1931. Am currently unable to determine her burial site. Happy Hunting.

Regarding Masonic cenotaph and photo (posted on FindAGrave) on display at Bates County Museum, 802 Elks Dr., Butler, MO 64730. Stone found in a farmer's barn. My theory (Richard's GG Grandaughter): Richard was killed and buried in late October, 1864. This stone was awarded in honor of his position as Master Mason in the Blooming Grove Lodge of the Masonic chapter in Linn County, Kansas. It was shipped to Bates County after being made, but Richard's wife and children had moved back to Pennsylvania during this time frame and the stone was never properly delivered.

Research from Kaye Watson on Aug 21, 2010 to Victoria Durand: Civil War Pension applied for Jan 14 1868, application #186611 Certificate #?48534, Service M 6 Kans. Inf. Killed at Ft. Lincoln, Kan., Oct. 24, 1864; originally rejected as desertion/not in line of duty... Affidavit of D. Linton, Probate Judge, Linn County, KS states he has seen Francis Vernon's family Bible which states "Richard B. Vernon and Francis P. Peck were married the 28th of October 1852" "Richard B. Vernon was born the 26th of April, 1823, Francis P. Vernon was born August the 12th 1829, Mary Jane Vernon was born August 23 1853, Ann Elizabeth Vernon was born March the 2nd 1856, John Rufus Vernon was born March the 9th, 1858, James Wesley Vernon was born April 7, 1860, Margaret Susan Vernon was born April 1st 1863, died Apl. 8th, 1863, Emma Florence Vernon was born July 2nd 1864. Deaths Richard B. Vernon departed this life October 24th 1864." Affidavit of Mrs. Jane Holderman and Mrs. Sinuh Feely, state they were acquainted with Richard B. and Frances P. Vernon, were present at the marriage ceremony near West Point, Bates County, MO in 1852, lists the living children, (Jane Holderman makes her mark, Sinah Feely signed her name) Affidavit of Alexander Feeley and Sinah A. Feeley stating they were present at the marriage at the house of John H. Peck, father of Frances P. Peck in Cass County, MO on 28th day of October 1852 that the marriage was solemnized by Rev. M.W. Garrison Affidavit of Amos W. Long, stating he was Captain of Company M of the Sixth regiment of Kansas State Militia in the war of the rebillion and was personally acquainted with Richard B. Vernon who was a private. He knew Richard B. Vernon and his wife prior to enlistment. In Oct. 1864 while the command was in Camp at Big Blue in Jackson County, Missouri, Richard B. Vernon obtained a leave of absent to visit his wife and children who resided about 50 miles down the Missouri line in Bates County on account of sickness in his family. That Richard B. Vernon, while at his home on leave of absence was shot down and killed in the presence of his family by the rebels belonging to General Price's Army. That Captain Long's father resided in the same neighborhood and he was murdered the same day by stragglers from the Rebel Army. They were both killed on the 24th of October 1864 by the Rebel Soldiers of Price's Army while said army was on retreat followed by the command of General Curtis. When Captain Long reached Bates County and he learned his father had been killed and not knowing what other outrages had been committed on his family, he obtained a leave of absence to visit his family and while there attended the funeral of his father and saw the dead body of Richard B. Vernon, which was buried at the same time and in the same graveyard. Muster Roll indicates "killed on the 24th day of October 1864 while absent from duty without leave and while working on his farm about eight miles north of Trading Post, Linn Co., Kans." Note was added "At the date the muster roll was prepared the above name was omitted by mistake, the roll was returned from this office to Capt. A. W. Long about six months since, who added the name of Richard B. Vernon with the above remarks opposite his name." By Special Act, Frances P. Vernon was awarded a pension rate of $12 per month beginning 15 Oct. 1888. (Frances never received any compensation. Monies were appropriated for individual pensions by the Federal Government at the discretion of each State. Kansas decided to use the money to build a GAR headquarters in Topeka. It was formerly the Kansas State Historical Society adjacent to the State Capitol building and is now office space.)