He resided in Idaho where he was reared, educated, and graduated from Salmon High School in Salmon, Idaho. He joined the U.S. Navy serving in World War II aboard the USS Wasp Aircraft Carrier in the Pacific Theater. He was employed at Defense Depot Ogden and Hill AFB, retiring in 1979. He was an active member of the Farr West 3rd Ward of Ogden, Utah. He was a high Priest and had served as financial clerk, executive secretary and counselor in the High Priest Group, and in the Sunday School Presidency. He was a dedicated home teacher and was involved in the Spanish name extraction program. He dearly loved music and was extremely talented in piano, accordian and harmonica. He operated his own piano tuning business and served a three-state area. He loved the outdoors, fishing, hunting, raising flowers, gold panning,, camping, and being with his family.
Vernal was from a farm family. He was working on a farm when he met Amy in Burely Idaho. Amy loved horses and was good at horsemanship. She was helping the family drive a herd of horses back East to sell, when Vernal heard she had gone. He rode till he caught up with her in Peterson, Utah where he helped drive the horses to Grand Junction, Colorado. There is where he and Amy were married. Vernal and Amy lived in approximately 28 different places in 23 years, all between Idaho, Utah, and Colorado. Because it was during the great depression, much of that time they lived with their 6 children in shacks, tents, and once in a chicken coop. Most places had no electricity or outside toilets. They bathed in a washtub. Soap was homemade with lye, lard and wood ashes. Food was plain and simple. They kept chickens, pigs, and a cow. With no refrigeration, all meat had to be salt-cured or dried. Much of the food was wild meat, such as fish, deer or rabbit. They ate lots of homemade bread, boiled beans, and drank lots of milk. Some days the main meal was just bread and milk. Vernals favorite was buttermilk. Once, after a delightful "rabbit" supper, Mother Amy informed the children they had just eaten Porcupine! Vernal loved music and played almost anything, including a musical saw, a violin, and "honkey-tonk piano. On Saturday nights he played for the miners dances at Gibbonsville. One good night, he made $10.00. All in silver coins. His son Vernal VeRoss (Ross) would play the accordian and the harmonica with him. Places where Vernal lived in cronological order: 1. Tropic, Utah Vernal lived most of his life here. 2. Basalt, Idaho In 1910 Vernals family moved here. 3. Burley, Idaho Amy lived here and met Vermal. 4. Peterson, Utah Vernal overtook Amy at Peterson, while her family where driving horses to Colorado. 5. Grand Junction, Colorado Vernal and Amy were married. 6. Onyx, Idaho Family moved here in 1928 7. Portneuf & Inkom, Idaho Some places they lived. 8. Tyhee, Idaho Lived inside Fort Hall Indian Reservation 9. Gibbonsville, Idaho Vernals dairy job. 10. Ogden, Utah Harrisville brickyard was the last place Vernal worked and retired in Ogden, Utah He died of Emphysema.
SHORT SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF JOHN ALMA JOLLEY SR.
Written by Orvella Y. Jolley
John Alma Jolley was born of real pioneer parents. He was the sixth child
of William Jackson Jolley Sr. and Serepta Curtis. He was born in a small
town in southern Utah valley, Grape Vine Springs (later called Leeds), just two
years after his father had answered a call from President Brigham Young to go
there and help form a settlement.
When John was about two years old they moved to Mt. Carmel, Utah, but the
Indians were so bad they had to flee back to Leeds. When the Indians were
subdued they moved back to Mt. Carmel where John grew to manhood.
When he was twenty years of age he married Francis Alice Keele. They made
their first home at Mt. Carmel, where five of their children were born.
In the year 1895 they moved to Tropic, Utah, a beautiful little community at the
foot of Bryce Canyon. They had only lived there about two years when
Alice passed away, being buried with a babe in her arms. Only those who
have passed through such an ordeal would know how John felt, five small children
to raise by himself. One of his children has often said how grateful he
was to his father for keeping the family together. Alice was the daughter
of Mary Angeline Jolley and Thomas Keele. She was born at Mount Carmel,
Utah.
John married Lydia Ann Johnson, a dear sweet girl who came into the home to be a
mother to John's children, a position she filled to the high st degree.
He was in the sheep raising business. Soon after his marriage to Lydia he
sold the sheep and bought cattle. They had a ranch on the East Fork of
the Sevier River, where every summer they would go and milk cows and make
cheese.
Aunt Lydia was an expert at making cheese. Every fall they would take
loads of cheese to market, where they would sell and trade for other goods.
The ranch on the East Fork fell under the reserve, so John and Lydia decided to
move to Idaho. They had six children of their own by now.
In 1909 they moved to Idaho buying an 80 acre farm at Shelly, Idaho. They
farmed there until John's health failed and he was unable to do the farm work
and the irrigating. By now there were two more children. From
Shelley they moved to Blackfoot, Idaho for a few years, but John's health was no
better. It was then they decided to move to
Provo, Utah.
It was there that John passed away. He was a wonderful father, a kind
considerate man, a family man. His family always came first. He
loved to have his family come home and all join in a musical feast. After
each one had taken part then he would take his turn playing the violin.
He loved music and his large family are all musically inclined.
He held many positions in the L. D. S. Church, also served a Stake Mission in
the Shelley Stake at Shelley, Idaho. He was loved and respected by all
who knew him.
Reuben was the son of Henry Jolley and Frances Manning. He was born in Pitt county, North Carolina, probably on the family plantation located on the North side of Grendil Creek. They were slave owners. He was the second child of eight, and the oldest boy. His father moved the family to Weakley county, Tennessee, in 1825. He married Sarah Pippin 13 January 1829 in Weakley county, Tennessee.
One early spring day in 1842 Reuben, his father and brothers, were working their fields. Two men came and spoke with them. They were missionaries from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The men were interested in what they heard and stopped work to return home and tell their wives about it.
Reuben and his wife were baptized 18 February 1842. Soon afterward, the family, including his parents and others, decided to move to Nauvoo where the Saints were gathered. They sold their plantation and slaves and set off for Illinois. They were subjected to ridicule and scorn when people along the way heard where they were going. As they neared Nauvoo the people became friendlier.
. . . we settled first in Nauvoo and lived there about a year, My father worked on the temple during that time.
Father moved his family out on a farm I think North East of town and raised one crop. We then moved back to Nauvoo and was living there when the Prophet Joseph Smith and his brother was assassinated. We lived in a house perhaps half a mile west of the temple, that house my brother Joseph Loftus was born.
While living there I distinctly remember going with my father to meeting and hearing the Prophet Joseph and his brother Hyrum, Parley P. Pratt, Orson Hyde and others speak at the meeting.
I remember the time of the assassination of Joseph and Hyrum, after the martyrdom, when the bodies were laid out in the mansion house Joseph's home I had the privilege of going with my parents to view the remains. When I got there I could see Hyrum's face and I became frightened and my father took me up in his arms and carried me through the room.(1)
we lived through the troubles while Joseph an Hyrum was murdered at Carthage Jail my husband an self was there to behold that bloody seen I was one that was in the company that followed the corps to the mansion when we all went home an came an to morrow to see them which was a site to behold then the word was build the temple to all my husband an boys worked on the temple until it was done many days he worked an had nothing to eat but corn bread an water but it was good I don't complain I had the privilege going through the temple with my husband so I am paid for all of my trouble (2)
The 1842 tax list for Nauvoo has the location of Reuben's land at 6N 8W. Reuben received his endowments in the Nauvoo Temple 5 January 1846. In 1846, Reuben and the rest of the church were forced out of Illinois into Iowa.
in 18 46 we left Nauvoo crost the River on the 6 of may in iowa vanburon Co there we lived little over 2 year we all was working to get something to come up to the church we had traveled A Round until we had not much to travel with but A large family we were geting Ready to start to Salt Lake when my husband was took sick and was sick 20 days an died on the 29th of April 1849 there I was left with 9 Children no house nor home Among strangers my babe in my arms 5 months old I was broke up when he was on his death bed he would talk on tell me what he wanted me to do a little at the time until he told me what he wanted he said he was going to leave me for A while but he wanted me as soon as I could to come to the valleys of the mountains to the bosum of the church an bring the Children all with me so I strove to do so I have ever bore it in mind I buried him the first day of may at Keasock way grave yard vanburan Co iowa in 1849(3)
Reuben died from Typhoid Fever. His wife buried him in the Keosauqua Cemetery, now called the Oak Lawn Cemetery. Many of the older stones were destroyed in 1967 by a tornado but Reuben's survived. The Harris Grove Branch in Pottawattamie county, Iowa, has the only record of Reuben's death. "Reuben M. Jolley Died April 29 1849 at Keosauqua Vanburen Co Iowa with typhus fever" He was forty-six years old and a member of the Seventh Quorum of Seventies. His family continued to Utah and settled in the Payson area.
1- Sarah Ann Jolley Hatch as told to Wallace A.
Jackman
2- "History of Sarah Jolley's life", by
Sarah Pippin Jolley
3- Sarah Pippin Jolley
© Copyright 1997 Elaine Johnson. Descendants of this person may copy this history for their own use and the use of their families.
Database: Full Context of Treasures of Pioneer History
Treasures of Pioneer History: Vol 3
We Remember Their Stories
Sarah Pippen Jolley
page 185
(In Reference to Reuben Manning Jolley as told by Sarah Pippen Jolley)
I was born in North Carolina, Franklin County twenty five miles east of Raleigh
on the 28th of May, 1812. My parents lived there until I was fourteen years old,
when they moved to Tennessee. There I married Reuben Manning Jolley on the 13th
of January, 1829. We were blessed with ten children, seven boys and three girls.
We lived there until 1842. My husband and myself embraced the Gospel and were
baptized on the 18th of February, 1842. The 21st of April, that same year, we
started for Nauvoo. We lived through the troubles while Joseph and Hyrum were
murdered at Carthage jail. My husband and I were there to behold that bloody
scene. We were in the company which followed the corpse to the Man[p.185]sion.
Then we all went home and came on the morrow to see them—which was a sight to
behold. Then word was to build a temple. My husband and boys worked on the
temple until it was done. Many days they worked and had nothing to eat but corn
bread and water, but it was good. I don't complain. I had the privilege of going
through the temple with my husband, so I am paid for all my trouble.
Treasures of Pioneer History
Treasures of Pioneer History: Vol 3
We Remember Their Stories
Sarah Pippen Jolley
In 1846, we left Nauvoo, crossed the river on the 5th of May into Iowa, Van
Buren County. There we lived a little over two years. We had traveled around
until we had not much to travel on, but a large family. We were getting ready to
start for Salt Lake City when my husband was taken sick and was ill twenty days.
He died on the 29th of April, 1849. Then I was left with ten children, no home,
among strangers and a babe in my arms three months old. I was broken up. When he
was on his deathbed he would tell me what he wanted me to do, a little at a
time. He said he was going to leave me for a time, but he wanted me, as soon as
I could, to go to the valleys of the mountains to the bosom of the Church and
bring the children with me. I buried him the 1st day of May at Kearoch Way
graveyard, Van Buren County, Iowa.
Treasures of Pioneer History
Treasures of Pioneer History: Vol 3
We Remember Their Stories
Grandma Told Me
The second day of July the children and I started for Council Bluffs. There we
wintered and the next spring on the 6th of June, we started for Salt Lake. I had
a hard time with my little children, but the hand of the Lord was over me and my
children and all we had with us. The cholera was very bad that year. Two of my
children came near unto death, but the Lord saw fit to spare them. I arrived in
the valley on the 27th of September in 1850. I had not much to live on—times
were very hard, for the grasshoppers had eaten everything. Grandfather Jolley
had come before we did. When he heard we were coming he met me and the children
on Emigration Street. He took us home. We stopped there for a few days. He said
he was going to move to Pleasant Grove in Utah County. So we moved there about
the 15th of October, 1850. My boys built a little house to help make a Fort. On
the 20th of December, Grandfather died. I then felt as if I were lost again, but
I had to do the best I could.
Submitted by Phoebe H. Stringham
The pioneers from Eastern North Carolina were challenged by the great Smoky
Range. Many of these pioneers followed the Tennessee River South around the
mountains and entered the land to the West by this route until the path through
the mountains was established first being an old Indian trail and then followed
by Daniel Boone.
Ordered that Henry Jolley oversee and keep in repair the Wadesborough Road from
Cypress Creek to Daniel Lightner's; and that William Mayo, Lacy Ross, Reuben
Jolley, Reuben Ross, Thomas Ross, William McDaniel, T. E. Pippin, David Shanklin,
and Danile Lightner work with him on said road. Issued 22
The fact that the Jolleys brought a goodly number of slaves with them from North
Carolina, we assume that they owned and operated a sizeable acreage of land near
Dresden. They were active in community life as the following will
indicate:
Weakley County, Tennessee Court Record 1827 to 1837.
Page 81 - January session 1829 Reuben M. Jolley served on the jury.
Page 135 7 No. 501 Joseph Adkerson transferred 100 acres of land to Reuben M.
Jolley 4 Oct. 1833.
Page 185 - Charles M. McClain came into court and resigned his appointment as
constable in Captain Jolley's Militia Company 1835.
Page 212 - Transferred from Reuben M. Jolley to Asa Davis for value received
-------- September 1837.
Tobacco, cotton, and sugar cane were the principal crops grown by the Jolleys
and they became quite prosperous.
Henry Jolley's children were all quite young when he arrived in Tennessee.
Reuben Manning was 17, Temperance 15, Henry Bryant Manning 13, Diana 10,
Orna 7, Frances Rilla 5 and Lina Meniza 2. Reuben Manning married Sarah Pippin,
daughter of Loftis and Sarah Hall Pippin on 13 Jan. 1829. The Pippins had
recently arrived in Dresden from Franklin County, North Carolina.
Temperance married Henry 1. Young 6 Dec. 1829. He came from Mountain
Creek, Virginia. Henry Bryant Manning Jolley married Brittanna Mayo,
daughter of John and Gatsey Williamson Mayo on 31 Oct. 1833. Brittanna
had recently arrived in Dresden from Old Sparta, North Carolina with her Uncle
Kenneth and Aunt Elizabeth Williamson Manning. Diana married Calvin
Townsend Jones in 1833. He died. Diana then married Dennis Dorrity
in 1839.
THE JOLLEY'S JOIN THE MORMON CHURCH
Early in 1842 two missionaries called at the Henry Jolley farm and introduced
themselves as Elder McIntosh and Elder Wilson representing the Mormon Church.
They were made welcome and permitted to explain their religious beliefs.
Henry Jolley and his family members were deeply impressed with the
doctrine of the new church and asked for baptism. On 18 Feb. 1842.
Henry, Frances, with their son Reuben Manning and Reuben's wife, Sarah Pippin
Jolley, were baptized. On 12 March 1842 Henry Bryant Manning and
Brittanna Mayo Jolley joined the church through baptism.
Their desire now was to join the other saints of the Mormon Church at Nauvoo,
Illinois. Their land and slaves were sold, except Sammy Lamb, a young lad
whose parents had died. The following is a record of a land transfer
executed by Reuben Manning Jolley.
Weakley County, Tennessee Court minutes. No. 575. Page 147 R. M.
Jolley for value received,
I transfer 50 acres out of the south east corner of my 100 acres to Thomas H.
Palmer this 19th day of
March 1842.
Signed R. M. Jolley
Also: for value received I transfer twenty-five acres of this occupant claim
lying in the north east corner of the Original occupant to Kenneth Manning this
19th day of April 1842.
Signed, R. M. Jolley
THE MOVE TO NAUVOO
On 21 April 1842, just when the crops were well along and the whole landscape
green and beautiful the Henry Jolley family covered wagon caravan headed north.
There was sadness and tears at their departure for many of the slaves
wanted to go along, but that was not possible. They had a new master now
and must be left behind.
The faith and courage of these new converts must have been very strong indeed,
to leave comfortable homes and property for religious beliefs and to trust their
future among strangers in a new territory. Three of Henry's daughters
remained in Dresden, Tennessee. These daughters were Martha Patsy who was
married to Joe Mullan, Orna who had married James Dorrity, and Frances Rilla,
wife of Jesse Jolley.
The route they traveled took them through Hickman and Ballard Counties in
Kentucky to Cario on the Mississippi which was a bustling frontier outpost for
trappers and immigrants moving west. After ferrying across the Ohio River
the Jolleys moved through Pulaski, Union, Randolph, Monroe, and St. Clair
Counties in Illinois, then to St. Lewis. Here they rested for a couple of
days, then journeyed through Madison, Jersey, Green, Scott, Brown, and Adams
Counties then into Hancock County, Illinois. They were now in Mormon
territory and would soon be to their destination. At last they pulled
into Nauvoo weary but happy after the long trek.
NAUVOO
Nauvoo stands on a rising eminence around which flows the majestic "Father
of Waters, " the Mississippi River. The ground.rises gradually for
about a mile, there it tends to level off then it extends as a great prairie
stretching eastward. This rolling surface was once covered by a luxuriant
growth of wild flowers and grasses. Patches of timbered growth
interspersed the landscape, making it beautiful and inviting.
On the west bank of the river opposite Nauvoo the bluffs rise from the water's
edge quite abruptly. The prairie and woodlands extend great distances
back of these bluffs. At the head of the DesMoines Rapids and overlooking
the river is situated the City of Nauvoo. The Sac and Fox Indians called
the area "Quashquenna, " which means "Beautiful Site.
"
The Mormons started buying land in 1839 and by 1842, when the Jolleys arrived,
Nauvoo had grown to great proportions and was the largest city in Illinois.
Converts were arriving almost daily. Many skilled men from Europe were
among them. Their technical skills aided greatly in construction and in
business. The Prophet and his brother, Hyrum, who were recognized as
spiritually endowed men, made all who came welcome. The Jolleys being
farmers obtained land and began raising crops for food. The property
owned by the Jolleys in Nauvoo was as follows: Henry Bryant Manning Jolley
located in Block 2 Lot 3, Reuben Manning had a home in Block 31 Lot 2, Henry's
home was in Block 18 Lot 3. Henry I. Young and his wife Temperance located on
Block 31 Lot 1, Dennis and Diana Dorrity located on the same land Block 31 Lot
1.
The big threat to their success and well being was the rising spirit of
resentment against the Mormons by the outsiders. The mob spirit increased
and all feared for the safety of the church leaders and for their own safety.
Finally the tragic day arrived on 27 June 1844. The Prophet@
Joseph Smith and his brother Hyrum were assassinated while being held prisoners
in Carthage Jail. The Jolleys witnessed the tragic scene when the bodies
were returned to Nauvoo for burial.
As fall arrived and the crops were about harvested, Frances, wife of Henry
became ill and died 29 September 1844. Her death caused deep sorrow to
her family, for she had been a kind, loving wife and mother. She had
proved herself a true pioneer in every way.
The men and boys of the Jolley family helped rush work on the temple until it
was completed.
JOLLEYS FLEE FROM NAUVOO TO IOWA
Finally because of the rising mob spirit the leaders of the church gave the
order for the Saints to flee. It was in the dead of winter when the
inhabitants of Nauvoo faced the bitter wilderness as they fled across Iowa to a
refuge in the west beyond the reach of their enemies.
The Jolleys stopped at Bonaparte and Keosauqua in Van Buren County, Iowa.
They settled here and made homes until 1848. During their stay here a
son, Nephi, was born to H. B. M. and Brittaniia. Joseph and Josephine
Young (twins) were also born here. In 1848 Henry and H. B. M. with their
families moved on to Council Bluffs. This is where Lewis and Clark, on 3
August 1804, held a council with the Ottowa and Missouri Indians. Indians
had dwelt in this area during unnumbered years. The Potawatomes from the
southern shores of Lake Michigan with members of the Ottowa and Chippewa tribes
moved to this region from their reservation on the Platte Purchase in Missouri
about 1837. As they scattered over the vast prairie lands about 500
Potawatomes remained near the Bluffs and built their wickiups along the valley
floor and along the hillside overlooking what is now Council Bluffs. At
one time this area was called Kanesville, later named Council Bluffs, so both
names refer to the same general area.
Bishop of the Mt. Carmel Ward, Kanab
Stake, Utah, from 1877 to 1902, was born Oct. 11, 1813, in Pitt County North
Carolina, the son of Henry Jolley and Frances Manning. He was baptized March 12,
1842, in Tennesse, came to Utah in 1852, filled a mission to the Southern States
in 1880-1881, and was ordained a High Priest and Bishop March 5, 1877, by
Erastus Snow.
Encyclopedic History of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
M
Mount Emmons Ward
Mount Carmel as a settlement dates back to 1864 when Priddy Meeks settled in the
lower end of Long Valley. He lived there several months alone, but early in 1865
other settlers arrived and considerable improvements were made, a townsite
surveyed and houses built. On account of troubles with the Navajo Indians, the
pioneer settlers of Winsor, later Mount Carmel, moved to Berryville, the oldest
town in Long Valley, and spent the winter of 1865–1866 there, but they moved
back to their own location in 1866. The place was originally called Winsor in
honor of Anson P. Winsor, the Bishop of Grafton, whose jurisdiction originally
extended over the saints in Long Valley, where Silas Hoyt was the first
presiding Elder. He, however, was succeeded by Henry B. M. Jolley after the
Winsor people moved back from Berryville. Notwithstanding the precaution and the
strengthening of the settlements in Long Valley, the Indians continued hostile,
and so both Winsor and Berryville were vacated in 1866. In March, 1871, a
company of settlers from St. Joseph, on the Muddy, Nevada, arrived in Long
Valley as an organized body, Daniel Stark being their Bishop, and he at once
took charge of the settlement. In the resettling of Winsor, the town was named
Mount Carmel, and in the beginning constituted a part of the Long Valley Ward.
The name Mount Carmel was suggested by Joseph A. Young and adopted by the people
at the time of the resettling. Daniel Stark was succeeded later by Israel Hoyt,
who presided until March 5, 1877, when the Mount Carmel Branch was organized as
the Mount Carmel Ward with Henry B. M. Jolley as Bishop. He was succeeded in
1892 by Haskell S. Jolley, who in 1900 was succeeded by Hans C. Sorensen, who in
1925 was succeeded by Osmer Lamb, who presided Dec. 31, 1930, on which date the
Mount Carmel Ward had a membership of 110, including 26 children. The total
population of the Mount Carmel Precinct was 133 in 1930.