Shaver, F. A., Arthur P. Rose, R. F. Steele, and A. E. Adams, compilers. "An Illustrated History of Central Oregon." ("Embracing Wasco, Sherman, Gilliam, Wheeler, Crook, Lake, & Klamath Counties") Spokane, WA: Western Historical Publishing Co., 1905. p. 892. THOMAS BENTON VERNON ever since his advent into Lake county, has taken a most active part in the religious and educational progress of the county. He came here a poor man, financially, but he is now a well-to-do farmer and stock raiser residing on a two hundred and twenty-acre timothy and alfalfa farm five and one-half miles south from Lakeview. His land is all well improved, irrigated by water taken from Crane creek, and his farm buildings are of the latest and best models. Mr. Vernon was born December 13, 1851, in Laclede county, Missouri. His father was Andersen Perry Vernon, of English ancestry, a native of Tennessee and a son of Col. Miles Vernon, an officer in the War of 1812. Col. Miles Vernon also served in the state legislature of Missouri, representing Laclede county, for sixteen years. He died at St. Louis at the age of eighty years. The father of our subject settled in Missouri when a young man, and a few years later went to Texas, thence to Benton county, Arkansas. He came to Surprise Valley, California, in 1876 and the following fall located a homestead near where Lakeview now stands. Here he engaged in farming and stock raising until his death from cancer in 1901, aged seventy-eight years. While a resident of Missouri he enlisted in General Price's army, serving during the Civil war. The mother of our subject, who is now living on the old homestead near Lakeview, aged seventy-four years, is Dollie (Leathers) Vernon, and a native of Tennessee. Both parents have always been devoted members of the Baptist church. They reared a family of thirteen children, ten of whom are now living, nine sons and one daughter. Their names follow, Miles, Thomas B., Richard W., Sterling P., Elliott, Mrs. Grace Stanley, the latter two being twins, Stonewall J., Flint, Hurley and Lester. Mr. Vernon went with his parents to Texas and to Benton county, Arkansas, in 1866. He received a thorough common school education, and spent some time in college, and he taught school some years in Arkansas. He came to Siskiyou county, California, in 1875, and here engaged in school teaching until returning to Arkansas several months later. He was married January 6, 1876, to Mary F. Duckworth, a native of Benton county, Arkansas, and daughter of Johnathan P. and Nancy (Alexander) Duckworth, natives of Missouri and Bowling Green, Kentucky, respectively. The father of Mrs. Vernon emigrated to Arkansas when young and is now living in that state at the age of eighty-seven years. The mother died in August, 1902, aged seventy-six years. Mrs. Vernon is a member of a family originally comprising nine children, six of whom are living; Rev. Joseph Duckworth, Tahlequah, Indian Territory; Mrs. Vernon Gideon, and George W., Benton county, Arkansas ; Johnathan P., Lakeview; and Andrew J., Benton county, Arkansas. Mr. and Mrs. Vernon went to Surprise valley California, in 1876, and the following year they came to Goose Lake valley, Oregon, where Mr. Vernon followed school teaching for several years. He was later appointed to fill a vacancy in the office of county school superintendent of Lake county, which then included Klamath, and was elected on the Democratic ticket to succeed himself upon the expiration of his term. He now owns his handsome home, referred to above, and a quarter section of grazing land besides. He has some stock, consisting principally of cattle, with some horses, hogs and sheep. Mr. and Mrs. Vernon have been parents of eight children: Perry Johnathan, deceased; Gertrude May, a graduate from Monmouth college, and now a teacher in the Moro, Oregon, schools; Minnie Ethel Rilla Ann, deceased; William Pulaski, Harry, Grover, and Agatha Beryl. Mr. and Mrs. Vernon are actively affiliated with the Baptist faith. ******************* Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in March 2011 by Diana Smith. Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.