Vernal Alonzo Proctor, son of Alonzo G. (1815-1889) and Sarah (Guggins) (1830-1897) Proctor, was born 24 April 1869, Ingham County, Michigan. Alonzo Proctor, as did his father before him, for many years was the toll gate keeper on the Lansing and Detroit turn pike, 3 miles east of Lansing on the old Gravel Road. In that era toll gates were situated every 4-6 miles on the oak plank road.

The Michigan Legislature, beginning in the early 1840's, "not only set up specifications for the construction of the plank roads but they regulated the tolls as well. A charge of two cents a mile was made for a wagon or carriage drawn by two horses, and one cent a mile for every sled or sleigh so drawn. If more than two horses were used an additional charge of three-quarters of a cent per mile for each additional animal was levied. A toll of one cent per mile was made for a vehicle drawn ·by one horse, as well as for a horse and rider. Tolls of one-half cent a mile were levied for every score mile." ("Transportation in Michigan History" by Phillip Mason, 1987) Toll booths were built and maintained, under the general Michigan "Plank Road Law" in the 1840's and 2 generations of Proctor men maintained that mileage of the "sweep".

Vernal came from a large family that totaled 10 children, 7 growing to adulthood. 1860 was an especially difficult year for parent's Alonzo and Sarah Proctor. Two of their children, Clara Ellen and Frank died and were interred Riverside Cemetery, Okemos. Vernal, born years later, was number 9 child. The 70-acre Proctor farm was a busy one. Vernal was also an 1888 student at in the Okemos Union School. Vernal would graduate from the 8th grade at Okemos Union and go on to complete 2 years of further high school education.

Like his father before him, Vernal was a farmer, and became a successful farmer, although in 1898 he had a team of horses stolen from him by two itinerant con artists. The horses, disguised by paint, were later turned loose near Williamston in Ingham County and the Proctors recovered the team. Vernal would come to own numerous acres of farmland in Ingham County including the acreage involved in the 1920 murders and surreptitious burials of the 2 little daughters of one Earl Roop. Roop, later deemed insane, was incarcerated in the Ionia State Hospital for life.

Vernal married fellow Okemos Union School student Minnie Case, 27 January 1891, Lansing. The couple would have 3 children: Merrill, Bernice and Alice. By 1930 Vernal and Minnie were living at a Grove Street, East Lansing home valued at $12,000. In 2024 the value of that same home would be about $225,000.00.

Vernal collapsed and died of a heart attack, 13 January 1945. Minnie, born 1 February 1875, Ingham County, continued to live in their beloved East Lansing home until her death, 24 March 1960, in Lansing. Vernal and Minnie were interred Glendale Cemetery, Okemos.

Proctor, Vernal Alonzo (married Minnie Case 1891) obit on his two siblings,  Lansing State Journal, 3 April 1860 

Proctor, Vernal Alonzo (married Minnie Case 1891) stolen horses, Lansing State Journal, 9 December 1898 

Proctor, Vernal (married Minnie Case 1891) obit, Lansing State Journal, Sunday, January 14, 1945

Proctor, Vernal (married Minnie Case) death certificate, January 1945