Vernon Thomas Gale was born at Stillman Valley, Illinois on December 2, 1886 to Thomas H. S. Gale and Emma (Stanton) Gale. His parents were both born in England and had emigrated to the United States the previous year.
In 1887 the family moved to Valley City, in Barnes County, arriving on March 23, 1887. Vernon's father Thomas was hired by Frank White (later Governor of North Dakota) to work on his farm near Valley City. Vernon was then baptized at the All Saints Episcopal Church in Valley City.
In 1888 the family moved into their new home on Fourth Avenue. Vernon attended the Valley City schools and the High School. He played left guard on the football team which played the first "out-of-town" game ever at Lisbon which they won by a score of 49 to 0.
Vernon was a member of the All Saints Episcopal Church and played an important part in the Sunday School as the Treasurer and as the "pumper" of the organ at the church services. He served for many years on the "Bishop's Committee". He was active in many civic activities such as the Woodman Lodge, the Masonic Blue Lodge and served three enlistments with Company "G" of the North Dakota National Guard. He also was a long time member of the Fire Department as well as serving as a scoutmaster and assistant commissioner of the Valley City area.
He earned the coveted Scoutmaster's Key, the first to be awarded to a citizen of Barnes County.
In March of 1908 Vernon Gale was appointed a substitute clerk in the Valley City Post Office. He served as a clerk, Secretary of the Civil Service Board, Chief of the Money Order Division and superintendent of Mails before retiring on August 31, 1952 with forty-four years of service.
Vernon had an avid interest in various hobbies, principally that of collections of antiques, Indian artifacts, stamps, coins and literature on the collections. His ambition was to establish a city museum but this did not materialize.
On August 15, 1930 Vernon T. Gale and Clara Bondeli were married and made their home on Viking Drive in Valley City. To this union were born six daughters as follows: Kay (Mrs. Thomas Hills); Betty (Mrs. Ray Kreidelkamp); Judy (Mrs. Dale Strans); Diane (Mrs. Dale Josewski); Nancy (Mrs. Jerome Anderson); and June (Mrs. Larry Wicks). All have graduated from the Valley City State College.
Vernon enjoyed twenty-two years of retirement with his hobbies and his home and family. He died January 22, 1974,
Source: Barnes County History 1976 Page 78