Vernal in Uintah County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)

First Log House

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, June 27, 2025

1. First Log House Marker

Inscription. In 1861, President Abraham Lincoln established by proclamation the Uintah Indian Agency. Brigham Young held the office of Supt. Indian Affairs. Lieut. Pardon Dodds, civil war veteran, came to Utah Sept. 7, 1866 and in 1867 was appointed first Indian agent for the Uintah Basin, by President Andrew Johnson. After posting a $20,000 bond, he arrived at Whiterocks, Christmas day and served until 1873 when he came to Ashley Valley as a stockman with Evans and Huffaker. East of this monument they erected the first log cabin built by white men in Uintah Basin. It served as a home for the Dodds family until 1897.

Erected 1963 by Daughters of Utah Pioneers. (Marker Number 283.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Daughters of Utah Pioneers series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 7, 1866.

Location. 40° 29.45′ N, 109° 33.464′ W. Marker is in Vernal, Utah, in Uintah County. It is on North 1500 West, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this

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postal address: 2422 N 1500 W, Vernal UT 84078, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Utah’s Uinta Basin.

It is also in the American Mountain West

and on the Colorado Plateau.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Rocky Mountains,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Old Ashley Postoffice (approx. half a mile away); Ashley Post Office (approx. half a mile away); Reynolds Flour Mill (approx. 1.4 miles away); Fort Thornburgh (approx. 1.7 miles away); Manfred and Ethel Martin House (approx. 2.7 miles away); St. Paul's Episcopal Church (approx. 2.8 miles away); Farm Exchange Building (approx. 2.8 miles away); First Tithing Office (approx. 2.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Vernal.

Photographed by Jeremy Snow, June 27, 2025

2. First Log House Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on July 3, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 30, 2025, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. This page has been viewed 142 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 30, 2025, by Jeremy Snow of Cedar City, Utah. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.