The origin of the surname STARK is probably : "In 1480 a young man, John Muirhead, bodyguard of King James III of Scotland, saved the life of the King by wrestling an onrushing bull. For this, he was awarded the 'Killermount' Estate, meaning 'strong' in German Gaul. A new coat of arms was granted 'Stark alias Fortiorum Fortia Factai1, which means 'brave deeds of brave men.

1. John Stark of Killermount Estate on the Clyde River, Scotland, was born in about 1604. In 1635 he was Bishop of Glasgow, a "zealous Covenator"; the Scottish folk having signed a national covenant to resist by force the introduction of the English Church into Scotland by Charles I.

Merchant in Glasgow, Scotland, the eldest son of the Bishop,

John Stark #3, eldest son of John Stark #2, was born in Scotland in about 1665 and also was a merchant in Glasgow. His wife was a Miss Archibald. In 1710, the family immigrated to Londonderry in the southeast corner of the Colony of New Hampshire. As a protection from the Indians, he built a stockade that became known as Starks Fort. A settlement grew around the stockade which was renamed Dumbarten after the old hometown of the Starks in Scotland. (His eldest son, Archibald, was the father of the famous General John Stark of the Battle of Bennington.)

Fact 1: Abt. 1710, immigrated to NH from Scotland

James Stark, second son of John Stark #3, was bern 1695, hence he was fifteen years of age when the family moved to America. In 1716, he married Elizabeth Thornton, of Welsh descent. In 1730,. James and Elizabeth "with their eight children moved to Stafford County, Virginia, where seven more children were born.' He died April 12, 1764 and his wife survived him.

She was the sister of Dr. Matthew Thornton, signer of the Declaration of Independence.

Thomas Stark, third son of James Stark and Elizabeth Thornton was born in 1721. Major in Rev, War. Late in his life, when he signed a deed in 1788 in Newberry County, S.C., his wife was "Rachel". The children of Thomas Stark included (1) Thomas Jr., who married Ruth King; (2) Jeremiah, who married Mary King, sister of Ruth; (3) James; (4) John; (5) William, who married Martha Morgan; (6) Walter, who married Mary Magdalene; (7). Leah, who married-a man named~Couts. Thomas Stark moved from Gilders Creek, Newberry County, S.C. to Robertson County, Tennessee. Two of his older children, Thomas Jr. and Jeremiah, who had married the King sisters remained in South Carolina. Thomas Stark, Sr. died in 1802 in Robertson County, Tennessee, and left a will. His estate was small, which he devised to his wife, Rachel and youngest son Walter, except for a yearling he left to a grandson namesake, Thomas, son of James. Apparently the older children of Thomas Stark were well established in their own homes.

Fact 1: Major in Rev War

Fact 2: Left Will

Will of Jeremiah Stark

Jeremiah spent his early youth in Stafford County, Virginia, being nineteen years of age when his family immigrated to South Carolina. They settled on Gilders Creek, tributary of Enoree, as per this portion of old 96th District that became Newberry County.

The Kings Creek Meeting House provided a place where neighbors worshipped and socialized, Kings Creek getting its name from Charles King an early settler. There, Jeremiah Stark met and married Mary King, eligible daughter of Charles King and Charity Pennington. Jeremiah's older brother, Thomas Jr., had married Ruth King, sister of Mary. The entire family connection was active in the struggle of the Colonies against Great Britain.

The Stark brothers' father in law, Charles King, was a member of the First provincial Congress of South Carolina, and later became a Captain in the army. Both sons in law, Thomas Jr. and Jeremiah joined up, Thomas becoming a Captain and Jeremiah, a Lieutenant. Later, Jeremiah received a grant of land on Gilders Creek. As stated, neither Jeremiah nor his brother Thomas Jr. followed their father Thomas Stark to Tennessee. Thomas Jr.'s accidental death in 1805 is reported in "Annals of Newberry": After purchasing a pound of gunpowder in Newberry Village, then imbibing too much, he fell asleep in front of a fireplace at the Inn, a spark igniting the gun powder. Jeremiah lived out a good span, for those early times, after removing his large family to Abbeville District, the adjacent county to the west. There, he died May 18, 1824. The following were the children of Jeremiah Stark and Mary King: (1) Charles, b. Feb. 4, 1774; (2) James, b. Nov. 26, 1775; (3) Naomi, b. Feb. 4, 1778; (4) Phoebe, b. August 20, 1780; (5) Leah, b. April 20, 1783; (6) Charity; (7) Rachel, b. March 15, 1788; (8) Mary, b. Feb. 8, 1795; (9) Ruth, b. March 5, 1798; (10) Lydia. Jeremiah Stark left the following will:

In the name of God, Amen. I, Jeremiah Stark, of the State of South Carolina

and District of Abbeville, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, but weak

in body, and calling to mind the uncertainty of life, and being desirus to dispose

of all such worldly Estate as it hath pleased God to bless me with, do make and

ordain this my last will, manner following that is to say: after my decease

and all my debts and funeral expenses be paid, I give to my beloved wife Mary

Stark one Negro woman named Sarah and one Negro Man named Samson, one Sorrell

Mare and her saddle, two cows and one bed and furniture, one spinning wheel

and cards with her clothing for and during the term of her natural life, and after

her decease I give the above named Sarah to my son Charles Stark. Then I desire

that my Executor hereinafter named may sell the above named Samson and all that

may Remain with my wife after her decease and the moneys arising from said sails

to be Equally devided amongst all my children. All the rest of my Estate both

real and personal of what nature or quality soever it may be not herein before

particularly disposed of I desire may be sold and the Moneys arising from the

sails thereof may be Equally divided amongst all my children, and I give the same

to them their heirs, Executors and Administrators and assigns forever and lastly

I do constitute and appoint my son Charles Stark Executor of this my last will

and testament by me heretofore made in testimony where I have here unto set my

hand and affixed my seal this the twenty third day of February in the year of

our Lord one thousand and Eight hundred and twenty four. ~

Jeremiah Stark (SEAL)

Signed sealed published and declared

as and for the last will and testament

of the above named Jeremiah Stark

in the presence of us William C. Cozly,

Elijah Hunt and Robert Cozly. (Will filed and recorded June 7, 1824.

Ordinaries Office, Abbeville District.)"

The widow, Mary King Stark, lived until 1827 when the Jeremiah Stark Estate

shows distribution of monies from sale of Negroes and other assets. The two

children to become my ancestors James Stark was paid $206.00 and "Charity Vernon"

paid $218.00, both on November 29, 1827 long after they had settled in far-away

Missouri. Other legacies paid were: James Neil $211.12, Thomas Oliver and

John R. Cain $422.24, Bannister Allen $211.12, Samuel Jones $206.74, Benjamin

Osborn $216.00, Thomas Smith $303.00. (The daughters' legacies paid in name of husband)

Fact 1: Lt. in Rev. War

Fact 2: left will

First, It is my will and desire that my funeral expenses and all my just debts be fully paid.

Secondly, I give, devise and bequeath to my beloved wife Rebecca Stark in lieu of her dower the farm on which I Now live containing about one hundred and nineteen acres, and all the personal estate of which I am or shall be possessed of whatsoever nature or kind it may be except what is herein after disposed of. The said land and personal estate shall be held by my said wife only during her widowhood. She shall take such of the personal estate in kind as she dispose and the rest and residue which she may not desire to keep shall be disposed of by my executors herein after named the proceeds of which shall be for the use of my said wife during her widowhood: Immeduately after the death of wife without marrying after her marriage my executors herein after named shall dispose of all my estate and distribute the proceeds equally amongst my children, and where any of my children have died or may hereafter die, the children of such children shall be entitled t9 their due and fair such portion: Any money my executors may have in their hands arising from the sale of property First above proceeds shall be disposed of in like manner as the proceeds of the sale of the property after the death of my wife unmarried, or II her marriage: my land is included in the word estate of my property.

Thirdly: It is my will and desire that my slave Bucinda be free and I do hereby fully freely emancipate and set free the said slave and her increase as I have already done by deed, and which I do hereby again do, not thereby intending to affect or impair any rights which may been confirmed by the deed of emancipation heretofore made: And it is my request that none of my children shall ever disturb Lucinda in the enjoyment of her freedom and if respect for a fathers memory or his wishes can influence them, I am sure it will not be done: I give to the said Negro Lucinda one horse to be delivered to her at my death worth not less than thirty-five dollars, and also one cow and calf.

I hereby nominate and appoint Thomas G. Stark, Isaac Stark my sons and Jeremiah Vernon my son-in-law executors of this my last will and testament hereby solemnly revoking all former wills and declaring this to be my only last will and testament. In testimony whereof I have here unto set my hand and seal this fourth day o~ June in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and forty- four.

Signed and sealed in our presence

by James Stark and by his request

subscribed by in as witnesses

in his presence and in the presence of each

other

Peter C. Clover

Hiram G. Baker

William Scott

James Stark (SEAL)

Thomas G. Stark and his wife raised their large family on Section 35, Township 44, Range 13, Cole County, Martha Stark, was the first to arrive on January 7, 1825, sixteen months after marriage; and thereafter came: Mary, Isaac, James, Nehemia, Charity, John Mulkey, Rebecca, Nancy, Ebenezer, and William Thomas.

Leah Vernon Stark, the mother of the eleven children, died in 1849 at the age of forty-one.

The 1850 census of Cole County shows the widower, Thomas Geary Stark, at age forty-nine with nine of the children still in the household, and with farm land valued at $2,000.00. The following year, November 9, 1851, he married Mary Stephens Amos, who presumably helped him raise the young children.

In 1845, a northwestern strip of Cole County was cut off to form a new County, called "Montineau," which would thereafter be between Cole and Cooper. The Thomas Geary Stark farm remained barely in Cole County, but near the new Montineau County line. There may have been some confusion, in that the will of Judge James Stark, father of Thomas Geary Stark, was filed in Montineau instead of Cole.

Thomas Geary Stark died in February, 1863. He left no will, and his estate was administered also in Montineau County. His son, Nehemiah Vernon Stark was Administrator, and the securities on his bondwere John M. Stark, 0. H. Gest and Hiram Gest. By that time, many of his eleven children had long since moved farther west.

[jhv.ged]

Betsy Stark Vernon while attending Mt Herman Church ( a small, white, Baptist Church northeast of Eldon, Missouri ) had a stroke, which left her paralysed. The family took her home,and she lived only a few days. She was buried in the Allen cemetary, just down the lane from the church.

Miller Co Autogram

14 August, 1930

RELATIVES OF THE LATE JEREMIAH VERNON WHO CAME TO MILLER

COUNTY 100 YEARS AGO............

The annual Vernon reunion of Vernon Families of Moniteau, Miller and

Laclede counties was held at Bennett Spring State Park Sunday, Aug. 10, 1930.

Over two hundred were present including friends who came from a distance

to enjoy the big dinner and a social day together. The change in the weather

the day an ideal one for the picnic and everybody was in the best of spirits

despite the discouraging outlook at home.

Uncle Billy Vernon, of Moniteau County, is now the oldest Vernon living. He

has four brothers, Harvey, John and Frank of Eldon, and George Vernon of Caney, Kansas. Their grandfather, Jeremiah Vernon, came from Tennessee in an ox wagon to Missouri a little more than one hundred years ago and settled in

the north part of Miller county near the present location of Olean. Part of

this county at that time was almost a wilderness. Mr. Vernon entered 200 acres of land, cleared it and made of it a nice farm. He built a fine house as it was

considered at that time. It was constructed of nicely hewn logs, neatly fitted

together and divided into three rooms each 18 and 20 feet square. The

chimneys were built of stone. Mr. Vernon, who was a mason, did the work

himself.

GOES ON GOLD RUSH

Mr. Vernon lived on his 200-acre farm enjoyed the fruits of his labor and

the pleasure of his family until 1850, the time of the great gold rush to the

state of California. He then joined in with several other men and they fitted

up a wagon train and started West for the gold fields. He never reached his

destiniation, but died on the way. His companions made a coffin from his

wagon bed and buried him on a little plateau at the foot of the Sierra Nevada

Mountains and there his body lies in an unmarked grave.

There are a number of the kindred of the Vernons scattered throughout

this part of the state. The family is one of the oldest in the State.

Vernon, Jeremiah

Bequest: to wife, Betsy; after her death or remarriage to be equally divided among children;

seven of the children have married and the $80.00 they have secured will be deducted from their

part; to wit, Polly Starling, Nancy Long (having died and left an heir Mary Jane) William

Vernon, Sally Henderson, Charity Simmons, Leah Roark, Rebecca Starling

Executors:

Date Written: 30 April 1858

Witnessed: John and John E. Brockman. Pvd 16 Dec. 1850

Date Proved: 24-25 [jhv.ged]

Will of Jeremiah Vernon: taken from Miller Co. Records (those prior to 1870)

Death of Jeremiah Vernon:

Jeremiah Vernon upon hearing of the gold in California, in the year of 1850 left his family (some of his children were grown at the time) for the goldfields. He and his companions, George Stubblefield, James Taylor, William Stubblefield, William Long, Tandy Moore, and others made it to eastern California. It was here Jeremiah got sick with Bright's disease (an old term refering to kidney disease) and died. Before he had left on the trip he had constructed a new covered wagon, it was the bed of this that James Taylor, Tandy Moore, William Long and the others made his coffin. They had a service and buried him along the trail.

Name : Vernon Jeremiah

Bequest: to wife, Betsy; after her death or remarriage to be equally divided among children; seven of the children have married and the $80.00 they have secured will be deducted from their part; to wit, Polly Starling, Nancy Long (having died and left an heir Mary Jane) William Vernon, Sally Henderson, Charity Simmons, Leah Roark, Rebecca Starling

Executors:

Date Written: 30 April 1858

Witnessed: John and John E. Brockman. Pvd 16 Dec. 1850

Date Proved: 24-25

[jhv.ged]

Jeremiah Vernon and Betsy Stark met 28 Jul 1824, Cole Co., Missouri.

Miller Co Autogram

14 August, 1930

RELATIVES OF THE LATE JEREMIAH VERNON WHO CAME TO MILLER

COUNTY 100 YEARS AGO............

The annual Vernon reunion of Vernon Families of Moniteau, Miller and

Laclede counties was held at Bennett Spring State Park Sunday, Aug. 10, 1930.

Over two hundred were present including friends who came from a distance

to enjoy the big dinner and a social day together. The change in the weather

the day an ideal one for the picnic and everybody was in the best of spirits

despite the discouraging outlook at home.

Uncle Billy Vernon, of Moniteau County, is now the oldest Vernon living. He

has four brothers, Harvey, John and Frank of Eldon, and George Vernon of Caney, Kansas. Their grandfather, Jeremiah Vernon, came from Tennessee in an ox wagon to Missouri a little more than one hundred years ago and settled in

the north part of Miller county near the present location of Olean. Part of

this county at that time was almost a wilderness. Mr. Vernon entered 200 acres of land, cleared it and made of it a nice farm. He built a fine house as it was

considered at that time. It was constructed of nicely hewn logs, neatly fitted

together and divided into three rooms each 18 and 20 feet square. The

chimneys were built of stone. Mr. Vernon, who was a mason, did the work

himself.

GOES ON GOLD RUSH

Mr. Vernon lived on his 200-acre farm enjoyed the fruits of his labor and

the pleasure of his family until 1850, the time of the great gold rush to the

state of California. He then joined in with several other men and they fitted

up a wagon train and started West for the gold fields. He never reached his

destiniation, but died on the way. His companions made a coffin from his

wagon bed and buried him on a little plateau at the foot of the Sierra Nevada

Mountains and there his body lies in an unmarked grave.

There are a number of the kindred of the Vernons scattered throughout

this part of the state. The family is one of the oldest in the State.

Vernon, Jeremiah

Bequest: to wife, Betsy; after her death or remarriage to be equally divided among children;

seven of the children have married and the $80.00 they have secured will be deducted from their

part; to wit, Polly Starling, Nancy Long (having died and left an heir Mary Jane) William

Vernon, Sally Henderson, Charity Simmons, Leah Roark, Rebecca Starling

Executors:

Date Written: 30 April 1858

Witnessed: John and John E. Brockman. Pvd 16 Dec. 1850

Date Proved: 24-25 [jhv.ged]

Will of Jeremiah Vernon: taken from Miller Co. Records (those prior to 1870)

Death of Jeremiah Vernon:

Jeremiah Vernon upon hearing of the gold in California, in the year of 1850 left his family (some of his children were grown at the time) for the goldfields. He and his companions, George Stubblefield, James Taylor, William Stubblefield, William Long, Tandy Moore, and others made it to eastern California. It was here Jeremiah got sick with Bright's disease (an old term refering to kidney disease) and died. Before he had left on the trip he had constructed a new covered wagon, it was the bed of this that James Taylor, Tandy Moore, William Long and the others made his coffin. They had a service and buried him along the trail.

Name : Vernon Jeremiah

Bequest: to wife, Betsy; after her death or remarriage to be equally divided among children; seven of the children have married and the $80.00 they have secured will be deducted from their part; to wit, Polly Starling, Nancy Long (having died and left an heir Mary Jane) William Vernon, Sally Henderson, Charity Simmons, Leah Roark, Rebecca Starling

Executors:

Date Written: 30 April 1858

Witnessed: John and John E. Brockman. Pvd 16 Dec. 1850

Date Proved: 24-25

[jhv.ged]

Betsy Stark Vernon while attending Mt Herman Church ( a small, white, Baptist Church northeast of Eldon, Missouri ) had a stroke, which left her paralysed. The family took her home,and she lived only a few days. She was buried in the Allen cemetary, just down the lane from the church.

[jhv.ged]

Jeremiah Vernon and Betsy Stark met 28 Jul 1824, Cole Co., Missouri.

Vernon, Ebenezer

Bequest: to wife, Nancy, in lieu of her dower, the plantation on which they resided, containing

100 acres, and all personal estate. After her death the property was devised to eight sons and

Berry Thomas Vernon, son of Ezekiel Vernon, and to five daughters, share and share alike

Executors: wife, Nancy and son, Nehemiah Vernon

Date Written: 13 Oct. 1851

Witnessed: John Brockman and George Shipley

Date Proved: 24 Mar 1852

Thomas G. Stark and his wife raised their large family on Section 35, Township 44, Range 13, Cole County, Martha Stark, was the first to arrive on January 7, 1825, sixteen months after marriage; and thereafter came: Mary, Isaac, James, Nehemia, Charity, John Mulkey, Rebecca, Nancy, Ebenezer, and William Thomas.

Leah Vernon Stark, the mother of the eleven children, died in 1849 at the age of forty-one.

The 1850 census of Cole County shows the widower, Thomas Geary Stark, at age forty-nine with nine of the children still in the household, and with farm land valued at $2,000.00. The following year, November 9, 1851, he married Mary Stephens Amos, who presumably helped him raise the young children.

In 1845, a northwestern strip of Cole County was cut off to form a new County, called "Montineau," which would thereafter be between Cole and Cooper. The Thomas Geary Stark farm remained barely in Cole County, but near the new Montineau County line. There may have been some confusion, in that the will of Judge James Stark, father of Thomas Geary Stark, was filed in Montineau instead of Cole.

Thomas Geary Stark died in February, 1863. He left no will, and his estate was administered also in Montineau County. His son, Nehemiah Vernon Stark was Administrator, and the securities on his bondwere John M. Stark, 0. H. Gest and Hiram Gest. By that time, many of his eleven children had long since moved farther west.

[jhv.ged]

Married by Justice of the Peace Hugh Gartin, Book A, Page79 of Miller Co. Records.

[jhv.ged]

Mary Stark Vernon had a sence of humor. It was very much demostrated in a picture that Allen Vernon sent to Eliza Cunningham, his sister. It was a picture of Harvey, Allen's baby but standing to the side of the child is Allen very much unaware. He wrote on the back of the photo, "this was a trick plade on me. I didn't know my picture was there until they was dun. Mary had the picture man do that."

Cause of Death: diabetes

[jhv.ged]

The marriage ceremony was performed by E.M. Lumpkin, Preacher of The Gospel.

Cause of Death: Stroke

Fact 1: Buried in Allen Cemetery, Miller Co., MO

Fact 1: Buried in Allen Cemetery, Miller Co., MO

Fact 2: Donated Land for Allen Cemetery

[jhv.ged]

Justice of The Peace, Ludwell Bacon, performed the service. Book A, Page 378 of the Miller County records.

Miller Co. Autogram

Dec. 1922

ISAAC T. VERNON

Isaac T. Vernon, son of Wilburn and Sarah Vernon, was born in Miller County, near Pleasant Mount, Dec. 6, 1855 and died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. J. H. Babcoke, Dec. 9, 1922; age 67 years and 3 days. He was married to Martha J. White, August 31, 1882. To this union twelve children were born, all of whom are living, except two.. One died in infancy and one daughter, Mrs. Charles Gouge, died March 14, 1917. He leaves to mourn his loss, his wife and children and five brothers and one sister. The ten children are; Arthur E. Vernon, of Eldon; Mrs. T. E. Lake, Marvin, Mo.; Mrs. Roy Kelsay, Bartlesville, Okla.; Mrs. Maude Babcoke, of Eldon; Mrs. J. W. Artz, Cole Camp, Mo.; Edgar Vernon, Carl Vernon, Mrs. J. H. Babcoke, Truman Vernon, Mrs. James Wrye, all of Eldon. The children were all at his bedside at the time of his death, except Mrs. Roy Kelsay, who was kept away because of other illness. He was converted and united with the Aurora Springs Baptist church at the age of twenty-seven years. Later he was ordained deacon and was a consistent, active member of that church until about two years before his death, his health failed and on Dec. 29, 1921, he was stricken with paralysis and was in a helpless condition until his second stroke, Dec. 8th, 1922, which resulted in death the following day. He was a very patient sufferer for almost a year, but leaves a bright assurance to his bereaved ones that he was prepared to go. Funeral services was onducted by his paster, Rev. Howser, at the home of his daughter, Mrs. J. H. Babcoke, Dec. 11, 1922, at 1;30 p. m. before a large gathering of friends and relatives. His body was laid in the Allen Cemetery to await the coming of his Lord. We assure the family of our heartfelt sympathy in this time of bitter grief and may He, who doeth all things well, comfort their hearts.

Cause of Death: Stroke

[jhv.ged]

Taken from: The Journal of James Harvey Vernon

My sister, Adaline, died in 1882. She had married a fellow by the name of Evans. A sort of gangster, he had a gang down on the Saline Creek. He was in the Jesse James outlaws too. Jesse James hid out there for a while too. Evans kept trying to see Adaline and one day he and Bob Letteral rode up and took her on a horse and ran as fast as they could, were away before mother or the folks realized, but Isaac and I got on horses and rode after them. We sighted the gang and they fired several shots at us. Adaline was only 17 years and was a pretty girl. Father went to the Justice of the Peace and told him if they came there for him to marry them and say he gave his consent. He didn't want her to marry him but thought under the circumstances it would be best. They did go there and were married. He took her with the gang down in the southern part of the state and into Kansas. We heard from her through a neighbor. She was then at Fort Scott, Kansas. She told her neighbor to write to father to come after her. Father went. It was a long journey for him but he found her, she had a baby about a year old. It was sick and so was she. She slipped away without letting Evans know she was leaving. He had beat the baby. It died not long after Father got them home. Adaline died shortly after, when she was only about 26 years old.

[jhv.ged]

Thomas Howell performed the service. BookB, Page 75 in the Miller County Records.

[jhv.ged]

Reverand R.C. White ,Baptist minister performed the service.

[jhv.ged]

In James Harvey Vernon's journal he says his brother married Molly Grandstaff. The Miller Co., MO records list her name as Mollie M. Hale.

[jhv.ged]

Lowell Maples ordained minister performed the ceremony.Book C, Page 275 in the Miller County records.

[jhv.ged]

J.t. Hunter Justice of the Peace performed the ceremony. Book C, Page 578 of the Miller County records

[jhv.ged]

From James Harvey Vernon's Journal:

My sister, Elizabeth, married Tom Smith. He had two children. They lived near Lathan unil afer Tom died. She later married Joe Merriott. They had to sell their home and move to Latham. They bought a little house there. Joe died and Elizabeth lives there alone. She isn't well and is all crippled up with arthritis. She can hardly walk, uses a cane to get around.

[jhv.ged]

Justice of The Peace , Elihu Gregory performed the service. Book A, Page 35, Miller County Records.

[jhv.ged]

This is a copy of the obituary that appeared in the local paper.

JAMES HARVEY VERNON DIED FRIDAY-

James Harvey Vernon was born June 13, 1853, and departed this life May 2, 1941. If he had lived one month and eight days longer he would have been 88 years old.

His parents Wilburn and Sarah Vernon, were among the early settlers of this county.

Mr. Vernon's entire life was spent in Miller county.

The last 56 years he had lived on the same farm. The old homestead where he reared one of the largest families in the county has been made dear to the entire countryside by his gracious hospitality and his friendly greetings to all, and especially dear to his children, his grandchildren, his great grandchildren and his great-great grandchildren.

He was married in 1871 to Sarah D. Jones who preceded him in death Dec. 10, 1881.

On June 14, 1885, he was married to Racheal Salina Cox who preceded him in death on April 20, 1932.

Since her death, he had remained at his old home except for a few months visit with some of his children in the state of California.

At an early age, Mr. Vernon was converted and united with Aurora Springs Baptist Church. He lived a long and beautiful christian life. His influence in the church where he held an office as deacon and his influence in the community has meant much for the building of the Kingdom of God.

Mr. Vernon was loved by everybody. There never was a family in need of a neighbor or a friend that he wasn't ready and willing to help.

In his declining years, he did not lose interest in the welfare of his country. His radio and his good eyesight, enabled him to read, helped him to keep up with all the latest events of the world.

At the time of his death, ten of the children were at his bedside and the other four arrived later, Cecil and Gertie coming from California, Amy from Colorado, and Eliza from Arkansas.

Besides his fourteen children, he leaves 55 grandchildren, 75 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren most of whom are here.

He also leaves one sister, Mrs Elizabeth Merriott, of Latham Mo. and one brother, Frank Vernon of Eldon. Both were able to attend the funeral.

That he was loved by all was made manifest by the large crowd of 348 people who rushed to his bedside, all anxious to be of service to him and the family.

Like the Apostle Paul, it can be truly said of him that he fought a good fight, he has finished the course, he has kept the faith and there is laid up for him a crown of righteousness.

Perhaps the largest funeral ever held in that community was at the Aurora Springs Baptist Church. About 40 of his grand-children and great-grandchildren carried the flowers and his six sons were pallbearers. Rev. N.E. Williams made a very consoling talk on the 23rd Psalm. The Aurora Springs Baptist Church Chior, assisted by Will Enloe and Floyd Loving, sang "The Pearly White City", "It Won't Be Long, It May Be Soon" and "Where We'll Never Grow Old."

Burial was at the Allen cemetery with the Kays funeral home of Eldon in charge.

[jhv.ged]

Sarah D. Vernon died in childbirth, along with the baby.

Cause of Death: Complications of Childbirth

[jhv.ged]

The Marriage ceremony took place at the home of Sarah's grandfather, William Miller. He was living, at the time, two miles north of Mount Pleasant, Missouri. The ceremony was performed by Ludewell Bacon, Justice Of The Peace. It was attended by the families of both the bride and groom and several relatives. A Large dinner was given by the family of the bride following the service. The next day the guests were entertained with a dinner (called an infair dinner) at the grooms house. It was the custom at the time.

[jhv.ged]

The wedding took place at the home of John Sidney Cox and Sarah Esther Downing Cox, the bride's parents. They lived on the Samuel Harrison farm in a house on the east side of the road near a spring. Several people, along with the family, attended the wedding. Guests, Mr. and Mrs William Harrison was the offical wittnesses. The ceremony was performed by Reverand John N. Anthony, a Methodist minister. The next day the bride and groom went home where they were greeted by the groom's father, mother, and children from his first marriage. A celebratory dinner was prepared by the grooms mother, Sarah Vernon and his two oldest daughters, Eliza and Fanny . The bride was made welcome by her five new stepchildren; Eliz