Vernon Homestead
about 1889
Information submitted by Luanne
This farm was eleven miles east of the Oberlin Cemetery, 3
miles north and half a mile east. The Vernon family, less the babies in the
picture, traveled from Washington Co., OH to Iowa Co., IA in 1881 and then
to the Decatur Co., area in 1884. This Soddy was their home until a frame
house was built not far from it. (The frame house burned down in 1950).
Left to Right:
Standing: LEOTA "MAE" VERNON (1875-1959), RUTH "ETTA" VERNON
(1869-1938)
Sitting: FRANK HADEN (1862-1937), LAURA VERNON HADEN
(1868-1946), CLARISSA "CLARA" DEW VERNON (1850-1943), BESSIE VERNON
(1881-1969), MARY "OLIVE" VERNON (1883-1958), WILLIAM "WILL" VERNON
(1845-1919)
Laura is holding her daughter, MABEL CLARE HADEN (1888-1889),
Clarissa is holding my grandfather ROSCOE DELL VERNON (1888-1958)
The boy laying on the ground is RUTHERFORD B. "R.B." VERNON
(1877-1941)
They had another child ZELLA VERNON (1891-1987) who was born
after this picture was taken. They had twelve in all but they lost four in
OH at very young ages and one in KS. DAVID LEONARD VERNON is said to be
buried on the homestead property.
When I asked my dad, RUSSELL D. VERNON, about the reason
behind Grandma Clara's adamant wish not to move to Kansas, he wrote this "As
I remember what I was told, Grandpa (William Vernon) wanted to come to
Kansas not long after the war (Civil War) but Grandma refused because of the
raids of the Missouri ruffians and outlaws into Kansas. Also she was afraid
of the Indians. After the last Indian raid in 1878, he talked her into going
to Nebraska. He knew all the time he was going to Kansas.
He came from Iowa (1884) all the way into Nebraska and when
he came to the Sappa Creek, he followed it into Kansas so Grandma wouldn't
know he had turned south.
When he did turn south from the creek, he couldn't go any
farther or she would know.
After Grandma Clara succumbed to senility shortly before her
death, she would lay in bed and argue she wasn't going to ("No - No - I will
not, I am not going to, NO") over and over again. We always thought she was
not going to move to Kansas but nobody knew. (His letter to me was dated 4
Jan 2002.)
Vernon Family
Information submitted by Luanne
Henthorn
|
Standing Left to
Right:
Benjamin Vernon
(1852-1923), David Vernon (1835-1920), James Vernon (1839-1926)
Sitting Left to
Right:
Elizabeth Vernon
Swayne (1849-1912), William Vernon (1845-1919), Mary Vernon Wood
Lambert (1837-1914)
|
|
Benjamin and Eva
Chappell Vernon had a homestead on the south end of Norcatur, on
the side of what is now Highway 36 at Main Street.
David and Mary
Haddow Vernon lived half a mile west and half a mile north of
William Vernon's Homestead.
James and Sarah
Lambert Vernon lived one mile straight West of William Vernon's
Homestead.
Elizabeth and Eli
Swayne lived half a mile West, one mile South, one mile West and
half a mile South from William Vernon's Homestead.
Elijah
Wood is buried in the Ault Cemetery but we are not sure where
Mary is buried.
|