St. Charles County, Missouri Obituaries - Benjamin Linton Emmons

Obituary of Benjamin Linton Emmons b. 27 Nov 1861 St. Charles,St. Charles
Co.,MO d. 22 Mar 1942 St. Charles,St. Charles Co.,MO

The Daily Banner-News,St. Charles MO,Vol. LXIII,No.68,23Mar1942,Page 1-
Ben Emmmons Dies After Long Illness-Funeral For Local Abstractor Will Be
Held Wednesday(corrected to Thursday) Ar Borromeo Church
Benjamin Linton Emmons, state history expert and local abstractor of 1201
N. Fifth street, died Sunday morning at four o'clock after a lingering
illness. He was 80 years, three months, and 22 days old.
Mr. Emmmons, who was widely known throughout the middle west for his
complete record file of historical events dating back to the 1700's,
maintained the most op-to-date files in the state on transfers of property
in this county.
It was Mr. Emmons who last year suggested that St. Charles celebrate the
150th anniversary of the naming of St. Charles and the founding of the St.
Charles Borromeo Catholic church. He prepared most of the historical data
used in the pageants and the program was dedicated to him. In October, when
the 8-day celebration was held, Mr. Emmons became ill.
Mr. Emmons, a native of St. Charles, attended St. Louis University. He was
a son of Benjamin Emons IV and Julia Chauvin Emmons. His grandfather,
Benjamin Emmons III, was a member of the Terretorial Legislature and the
first State Legislature.
Mr. Emmons was a trustee of the State Historical Society and a member of
the Missouri Historical Society.
Surviving him are six children: Benjamin J. Emmons, Margaret E. Pearson,
Julia E. Keithly, Charles S. Emmons, Wallis K. Emmons, and Miss Marie L.
Emmons. Lafreniere Chauvin Emmons and Matilda E. Bradshaw, are deceased.
The wife of Mr. Emmons, Mrs. Anne E. Emmons, preceded him in death.
The death of Mr. Emmons was unexpected until almost the time he passed
away, about 4 o'clock Sunday morning. The nurse and a member of the family
were sitting up with him. He made no complaint but seemed to be conscious
of the fact he was dying and asked that his children be brought to his
bedside. Five minutes before he died he called for a cigarette.
The deceased was one of the most remarkable of our citizens. The imprint of
his keen interrect will be left on this community for many years to come.
He threw himself into the midst of practically every public movement. His
was the spirit that prompted the celebration of the first centennial at St.
Charles back in the days of Governor Hadlley. In large measure he was
responsible for initiating the movement through which the High School
property on Kingshighway was acquired.
Gaining a reputation as an authority on Missouri History, his mails were
crowded with that subject. His memory was phenomenal. Added to this was the
opportunity presented through his profession as an abstractor to delve into
material which yielded many a revealing and startling fact. He was the
author of a number of pamphlets, addressed to original material on his
favorite..............(section missing)
the first abstract office in St. Charles County, and for many years has
owned the only set of abstracts in the county, and has built up a very
successful business as an abstractor and title examiner, conducted through
the organization known as the Emmons Abstract Company. He has also been
instrumental in establishing two banks and in laying out several additions
to the City of St. Charles.
While always a very busy man, he found time to set down the results of his
researches and contribute more or less regularly to newspapers on current
topics and historical subjects. In politics he had been a Republican
nationally, independent in local affairs, and in 1928 for the first time
voted a democratic ticket nationally.
Mr. Emmons married at St. Charles, May 17, 1883, Annie Elizabeth Mudd,
daughter of J.F. and Matilda J. (Kirkpatrick) Mudd. her grandfather, Wallis
Kirkpatrick, was a son of William Kirkpatrick, the first American
ambassador to Spain. Wallis Kirkpatrick was a fur trader in the early days
of Missouri. Her parental ancestors came from maryland. Members of the Mudd
family have been farmers and professional men, there having been a number
of doctors of the name.

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