Stephen Nixon Cabin

The Stephen Nixon Cabin was built in 1859 by Stephen Nixon, his 16 year old daughter, Margaret, and their friend, Henry Roper.

Stephen was born at eleven o’clock am on the 27th of March, 1807 on the Isle of Mactia (Medetrain).

Brother Nixon arrived in Nauvoo, on the 27 day of March, 1842. That same day he met the Prophet Joseph Smith. Stephen generously gave monetarily for the growth of the church. He donated much of his time in the building of the Nauvoo House. He received a wonderful blessing from the Prophet. He also joined the Nauvoo Legion and was a bodyguard to the prophet, Joseph Smith. On the 9th of January, 1846, he and Harriet Rushton were endowed and sealed in the Nauvoo Temple by Amasa Lyman. They owned land on Sidney Street, Block 254, Kimball 1st Addition. Whether or not he built a house there, I do not know.

He was the son of William and Margaret Nixon. William was a soldier or sailor in the British Military Service, so they were aboard ship to shores many times. In 1819, Stephen was twelve and obtained a pass and went to Leek, Stafford Shire, England, where he lived until his parents came home in 1825. There he met and fell in love with Harriet Rushton. They married on June 26 April 1827. They had seven children, John James, 7 March 1828, William, 13 Oct 1830, Sarah Ann, 13 April 1834. Thomas Stephen 19 Feb 1836, Harriet 26 Jan 1839, Margaret 13 Nov 1843 (Nauvoo), and Rose Hanna, July 26 1846.

In 1840, in England, Mormon missionaries shared the new and everlasting gospel with the Nixon Family. On the 14th of January, Mr. and Mrs. Nixon were baptized. The following may, Brother Nixon was ordained an Elder by George Albert Smith and soon after he was called to be a missionary. Elder Alfred Cordon called him to labor at Doncaster, Yorkshire and other cities. He labored in these parts for some time, after which he returned to Yorkshire for additional successful missionary work.

Thomas Bullock diary (1845-1846, typescript, LDS Arc)

Monday, 22 [Sep 1845] Stephen Nixon came and laid hands on my wife who was very bad, and when he went, Sarah Ann came down to nurse. She stayed until about noon when she felt her chills coming on, went home and I went to the brook with her. I returned home tire out, lay down in bed when Harriett Nixon came and attended to my wife, etc., went about 3. At sunset Sis. Pixton called again. Willard and Pamela very ill. Cold day

Times and Seasons, Vol. 3, Pg.636- Pg.637

Elder Stephen Nixon writes from Doncaster, Yorkshire, under date of August 21st, informing us that he had lately commenced laboring in that place—that he had baptized two local preachers and three members of the Aitkenite society. This was done in two or three days from the first introduction of the gospel into that place. Many more are believing, and one more preacher had given his name for baptism.

Like all English Saints at that time, the Nixons were anxious to reach Zion, so in January of 1842 he went to Liverpool to arrange for passage to Nauvoo and Zion. When he arrived in Liverpool he was called by Elder Parley P. Pratt to take charge of a large company of Saints on the ship “Tremont”. Many tragic experiences which included a burial at the sea made the voyage memorable. But happy times were also enjoyed during the long eight weeks voyage across the ocean. Upon their arrival In New Orleans, Brother Nixon chartered a boat for St. Louis. They arrived in Nauvoo on the 27th day of March 1842.

After the martyrdom of the Prophet and Hyrum Smith they were among the Saints that were forced to flee from Nauvoo. On July 26, 1846 Rose Hannah was born, and on the 15th day of November Harriet Nixon died while crossing the plains and ws buried beside the trail.

Brother Nixon and his small family continued on to Winter Quarters where they stayed until 1852 when he felt he could take his family on to Utah. Upon their arrival in Salt Lake City, President Brigham Young sent them south to help settle Provo. While there he married Mary Paine, but for some reason the marriage was not successful. The children were growing up and some of the older ones were married.

In September 1859 he and his daughter, Margaret, who was now sixteen years of age, and a young man named Henry Roper, left Provo and by way of Three Mile Canyon entered Weber Valley which he had been called to pioneer. They followed the Weber River north to a point where another stream entered the river. It was later known as Silver Creek. Here the party stopped and immediately built a log cabin which was the first structure in the locality. They lived alone in the cabin that winter and in February 1860, Stephen Nixon’s son, Thomas and his family joined them.

The settlement grew and in spring, the men broke up six acres by ox team and raised a light crop. In 1861, about three hundred Indians camped near the settlement and as the story goes, the settlers shared food with the Indians that winter, till there was no more. It has been said that the Chief was friendly to the little group of pioneers, who had settled at the meeting place of the waters. Apparently the townspeople revered Chief Wanship enough to name their settlement after him. Wanship, today, is simply beautiful, nestled in the valley of creeks, surrounded by mountains.

Mr. Nixon managed to take care of his family by opening up a General Store. It was the first in the Valley. He carried it on in a log cabin he built with the help of Margaret, who also helped him with a small farm taken out of the brush, so to speak. Often they went to work in the fields with just bread and water for dinner. They also dug sego roots and gathered wild berries to add to their food supply.

He was known far and wide and loved dearly for his kindly nature. He always kept a barrel of peppermint candy in the store to give to the children.

The love of music was inherent in this family. Mr. Nixon went to Salt Lake City where he purchased the instruments and secured the services of a music teacher, a Mr. Chapman, who helped organize a Fife and Drum Corps which was greatly enjoyed. Stephen carried on his pioneer enterprises of trading and selling. In 1864, he became the first postmaster in Wanship. He had always stayed true to his Church and it’s principles. His family now grown up, married and settled in the valley, following the teachings of their parents.

The first church services were held in the homes. A short time later it was held in a small schoolhouse that Stephen Nixon had assisted in building. When the rock schoolhouse was completed it was used as a Chapel.

The country was building up, and in 1867, a nice brick church building was begun. It was built by George Dunford with Stephen Nixon doing the woodwork. It was completed and dedicated by Apostle Franklin D. Richards on the 12th day of January 1890. (This lovely church burned to the ground on 14 November 1958.)

Early in 1893, Stephen Nixon went to visit at the home of Daniel Bates on Willow Creek. He was an old friend and neighbor from Wanship. He took seriously ill and died there on the 5th day of March 1893, at then minutes to 2:00 o’clock A.M. He was eighty-five years eleven months and six days of age. He was buried at Willow Creek (Milo) Cemetery.

Seven years after being built, the cabin was remodeled to become the first Summitt County Courthouse. The wood joist for the sleeping loft was cut out. They then raised the ceiling 3 feet higher to make a 10 foot high ceiling, better suited for a courthouse. The first minutes were recorded June of 1866. One of the first judges was Elias Aspen, with Thomas Bullock acting as county clerk.

In 1924, Frank and Sadia Vernon purchased the 65 year old cabin from Willard and Mary Gibbons. Along with three acres, the property sold for $345.00. The cabin was filthy and it took a lot of scrubbing to get it clean and livable. It was now a two-room cabin- a kitchen and a bedroom- both with tall ceilings.

In the cabin, Sadia gave birth to three boys. Art Kay Vernon was born 8 JAN 1925. Louie Oriel Vernon was born 6 FEB 1927. Stewart Graham Vernon was born 4 APR 1929. Louie recalls that they slept 3 to a bed. Baths were taken once a week, in a galvanized round tub in the kitchen, in front of a wood burning cook stove. When they were done they hung the tub on the back of the cabin. Nights were cold enough to freeze a glass of milk, a garden, fruit trees near the cabin and of course, the cows! The Vernons rented the cabin to 13 different families. A partial list of renters includes Blanch Crittenden, Reta and Jesse Moore, Freeman and Emma Peterson, Ron Bates and Leone, Chamey and Elaine Frome, Smithee and Ruth Wardell, Mable Smith Balinder, and a school teacher and her mother.

History of Francis Oscar Vernon

Francis Oscar’s family lived up Weber Canyon, there miles above Oakley, when he was a small child and later moved back to Rockport when he was nine years old. He went to school at Rockport and then finished his schooling at North Summit Academy. As a young man he served in the Sunday School and as a second counselor in the bishopric until he was called on a mission to England in 1913. He served there two and a half years, returning in 1916. While on his mission, World War One started and the missionaries had to travel on their bicycles in the dark. While out proselyting he was struck by a car, while riding his bicycle, pinning him underneath the car. He sustained serious injuries to his shoulder. After a brief period of recovery, he carried on with his missionary duties. He carried these scars from this accident his entire lifetime.

When it came time for him to be released from his mission, the President of the mission, Hyrum M. Smith, gave an order to the missionaries not to begin their journey home for two weeks. One young missionary left on his own and boarded a beautiful new ship for home. This ship was hit by a submarine and sank. The missionary did save his own life, but all of his belongings were lost. Two weeks later President Smith released the missionary’s t o board an old vessel for home. He waved his white handkerchief until they were out of sight. They returned home without incident.

It was at a party in Marion, Utah where he met his future wife, Sadie Amelia Olsen. It was reported that he could not keep his eyes off her. On Sunday evening June 9, 1918 in his parent’s Ford car he went to see her. Her parents were sitting on the front porch. Her mother said, “Another automobile Agent”. When he arrived, he said “Is Sadie home”? She came out and they went for a ride and later had a flat tire. Sadie got out and helped him fix the tire. From then on he always went to see her with the horse and buggy, and courted her on a weekly basis.

Sadie and her dad went to Park City and while they were there they purchased some wedding invitations. When he came to see her the next time, she told him what she had done, so he said “well then let’s get married.” So they set August 13, 1918 as their wedding date and were married in the Salt Lake Temple by President Joseph Fielding Smith. The wedding reception was held I her parent’s yard and they invited about 200 guests. A few days after the wedding, they went to Salt Lake and purchased two tables, four chairs and a pretty new tub. He worked for his father on his father’s farm until he was married.

Francis and Sadie were good parents and were a good example to their children. They taught their children how to work and to be thrifty. They were active members of the church, always attended their meetings on Sundays and accepted any callings which they received.

Francis Oscar Vernon died on May 21, 1976 at the age of 86. His wife, Sadie Amelia Olsen Vernon died on January 1, 1982 at the age of 84.

Old Book E page 102 describes lots owened by Stephen Nixon and by him sold to George Synder

George G. Synder deeded to E. R. Young for 10,250 Mtg. 3,850 the gristmill known as the Synders and Alexander mill on the north side of silver creek mill property being same lots owned by Stephen Nixon May 25, 1895 E. R. Young died. His estate was probated block 11 and was deeded to George W. and Robert Young. George and Robert used the cabin for a store.

1911 George Young deeded to Robert Young and Robert sold to James Snapp 1911. James Snapp deeded to William J. Gibbons. Gibbons deeded to Francis Vernon. Nauvoo Log Cabins purchased the Nixon Cabin from Don Vernon, son of Loui Vernon who was born in the cabin of Francis & Sadie Vernon.

The Nixon cabin was beautifully constructed with a sleeping loft. The floor of the sleeping loft had joist protruding through the front and rear log walls of the cabin. From the outside you could see the butt ends of the joists at about the seven foot level.

About 1966 the sleeping loft floor was removed and the 1st floor ceiling was moved to the height of 10 ft. allowing the structure to better serve as a commercial building.

Nauvoo Log Cabins plans to put the ceiling joist back in their original position so the cabin will once again have a sleeping loft.