Merkley Homestead

Asher Merkley grew up on his family's homestead in Vernal, UT.

Many photos exist at varying times of this property, including those that follow here.

They are from the personal albums of David Ahrnsbrak unless otherwise stated.

This house was likely built in two phases, as was customary for frontier living.
The image directly below is your basic two-room home: a public room for entertaining (i.e. a living room) and a private room (the family bedroom), and when time and expenses allowed, the house was usually added onto in the back (with an indoor kitchen, bedrooms, and eventually an indoor bathroom.)
In THIS case, the addition portion became the front of the house over time, which is why this first photo does not match the other shots of the homestead that follow it.

"Merkley farm homestead-
Nelson Sr seated far left, Nelson Jr seated on right of door"
Very likely Keturah and their oldest children surrounding Nelson Jr
(kids are likely baby Helen, Ellis, and Ezra)
Other people are likely descendants of Nelson Sr who lived nearby

"Merkley homestead- likely: Nelson Jr, Ezra, Helen, Ellis, Keturah holding Mary?"
From personal albums of Delores Horton

"Merkley homestead"
From personal albums of Lois Chatfield
Little girls unknown, but likely family?

"Merkley homestead"

"Merkley homestead backyard and granary-
Keturah coming out of shed"

"Asher and his dog- 1916"

"Nelson Merkley Jr homestead"
Pretty sure that's Margret (Asher's sister) on the right
and likely Helen or Mary on the left.

"Debris from tree that was 35 years old-
Merkley homestead- taken by Asher"

"Merkley homestead"
From the personal albums of Doug Merkley

"Merkley Homestead"
A painting done by David Ahrnsbrak
Owned by the family of Jane Haugsoen
(Further details are included on the back of the painting,
but I didn't want to include them here for privacy reasons)

"Merkley homestead in 2012"
(From the same perspective as very first photo)
Taken by me on a reconnaissance mission in 2012
With my own son modeling for scale