Brown's Park in Dutch John in Daggett County, Utah — The American Mountains (Southwest)
John Jarvie Ranch Historic District
Utah Historic Site
Photographed by Jimmy Emerson, September 5, 2025
1. John Jarvie Ranch Historic District Marker
Inscription.
John Jarvie Ranch Historic District. Utah Historic Site. John and Nellie Jarvie came to Brown's Park in 1880 and established this ranch, which served for the next thirty years as the center of commerce, transportation, and communication in this remote, unsettled region. The dugout near the river served as the Jarvie's first home until the store and cabin (reconstructed in 1984-85) were completed in 1881. The store was the only one within a 35 mile radius. John Jarvie served as postmaster here from 1881 to 1887 and operated a ferry from 1881 to 1909. The ferry was an important transportation link along what was once a major travel route through the area. Jarvie also raised livestock, using a waterwheel and ditch system to irrigate his pastures. Other structures built on the ranch in the 1880s include the stable and corral structure, the stone house, and the blacksmith-shop. John Jarvie was murdered in 1909 by two drifters who thought he was wealthy. The Vernal Express eulogy of Jarvie reflects his influence and importance in the area: "It is hard to imagine John Jarvie dead. He kept a ferry, but he was more than a ferryman; he kept a store, but he was not circumscribed by the small scope of a storekeeper. History will be incomplete without the last thirty years of the life story of John Jarvie.,
John and Nellie Jarvie came to Brown's Park in 1880 and established this ranch, which served for the next thirty years as the center of commerce, transportation, and communication in this remote, unsettled region. The dugout near the river served as the Jarvie's first home until the store and cabin (reconstructed in 1984-85) were completed in 1881. The store was the only one within a 35 mile radius. John Jarvie served as postmaster here from 1881 to 1887 and operated a ferry from 1881 to 1909. The ferry was an important transportation link along what was once a major travel route through the area. Jarvie also raised livestock, using a waterwheel and ditch system to irrigate his pastures. Other structures built on the ranch in the 1880s include the stable and corral structure, the stone house, and the blacksmith-shop. John Jarvie was murdered in 1909 by two drifters who thought he was wealthy. The Vernal Express eulogy of Jarvie reflects his influence and importance in the area: "It is hard
to imagine John Jarvie dead. He kept a ferry, but he was more than a ferryman; he kept a store, but he was not circumscribed by the
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small scope of a storekeeper. History will be incomplete without the last thirty years of the life story of John Jarvie.
Erected 1986 by Division of State History. (Marker Number N-910.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Utah Historic Sites (NRHP) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1880.
Location. 40° 53.957′ N, 109° 10.725′ W. Marker is in Dutch John, Utah, in Daggett County. It is in Brown's Park. It is on Red Creek Road, on the left when traveling west. Marker is located at the John Jarvie State Historic Site. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 40 Red Creek Road, Dutch John UT 84023, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Utah’s Uinta Basin and in the Uinta Mountains. It is also in the American Mountain West and in 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
Credits. This page was last revised on October 15, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 13, 2025, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. This page has been viewed 111 times since then and 76 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on October 13, 2025, by Jimmy Emerson of Dalton, Georgia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
