IMPORTANT HISTORICAL GRAVE
RECEIVES MEMORIAL MARKER
IN CLOVER CEMETERY

by Jay Fitzwater

"Vernon and the stream of water on which it is located derive their names from the circumstances that a man by the name of Joseph Vernon was shot by an Indian, Tabby Weepup, on the creek while cooking by his campfire in 1858, about half a mile southwest of the present Vernon center."
   from History of Tooele County - Daughters of Utah Pioneers p350

(Editor's Note: As the below article indicates, the date of the shooting incident is now set as 1857. Also, although historical accounts often have interchanged the names: John and Joseph in relating this story, at least one researcher stresses that the young man killed in Vernon was John Venables Vernon.)

John (Joseph) Venables Vernon, was born in England in 1834. He immigrated to Utah in 1852 and eventually onto the Vernon bottoms, where he and some companions were looking for land to settle and farm. When Vernon was killed, his companions hurried back to Johnson settlement on Clover Creek to report the incident. A posse was organized and returned to the south end of the valley, and retrieved Mr. Vernon's body which they returned to the Johnson Settlement, and buried him on a knoll overlooking Clover Creek.



















The date on the headstone is marked July 1857 makes this the oldest grave in the Clover Cemetery, and possibly the oldest non-indian grave in Rush Valley.

The unmarked grave was lost to memory for eighty-five years until it was accidentally opened by the Ambrose and Lillian Green family while opening a grave for their son, Keith, who was killed in November of 1942, during WW2.

Mrs. Lillian Green told me the story, and showed me the location of the grave in 1970 when I first moved into Rush Valley.

I have passed the story on to anyone who was interested. Now, through the efforts of a number of people, the information is finally in the hands of the Vernon family.

I am pleased that the family of Joseph Vernon was able to place such a beautiful marker on the old grave, and honor the man, and the name, which has figured so prominently in Rush Valley history for the past 145 years.


by Jay Fitzwater



Editor's Note:Jay Fitzwater, shown left, is a long-time resident of Rush Valley(Clover) and lives adjacent to the Clover Cemetery. His ancestral roots go back to the early settlers of the community which he has served in many ways including holding the office of mayor.