JOHN THOMAS VERNER

JOHN THOMAS VERNER (3rd Son Of David Derrick Verner and Judith ....) born Dec. 11, 1858 died Oct. 27, 1952 Married Mira Lucretia (Norris) Verner born 1870 died 1958 on July 3, 1891 in Decatur, Texas. Both buried in at the Meadow Memorial Cemetary located outside of Meadow, Texas. John Thomas Verner and Mira Lucretia (Norris) Verner had 8 children: William Franklin Verner born 1892, Thomas (Tom) Edward Vermer born Dec. 12, 1893 James David Verner born 1897, Annie Mabel (Verner) Wrenn born 1898, Howell Gardener Verner born 1892, Martha Elizabeth (Verner) Mackey born 1903, Allie Odesasa (Verner) Story born 1904, and Laura Gladys (Verner) Vanwinkle born 1907.

John Thomas operated a wagon freight line from Hillshore to Cleburn for several years. In the early 1800 the Denver-Fortworth railroad construction began. These three worked together operating a commissary and cooking for the crew. They returned to Wise County where John Thomas fell in love and married Mira Lucretia Norris in 1891. Here they remained until 1894 and then moved to Fort Sill Indian Teritory where he took up construction work again. They soon moved on to Bandera county in South Texas, by wagon train. In about six months they moved again to a few miles west of Fort Worth. Here he engaged in farming and stock raising until 1909. His next move was to Wichita Falls to the oil boom country. Another oil boom attracted him to Hogtown after he had left Wichita Falls for a short stay in Stephensville. This was called the boom of Desdamonia. These different moves helped him to pick up extra cash. At the age of sixty-two he headed west and settled in Terry County. Because of circumstances John Thomas Verner did not have the privilege of acquiring an education but his keen sense of value and cost managed to keep his family from want. He was a grand old Christian character who spent his last years doing the thing he loved most, farming. In 1952 he passed to his great reward at the age of 94.