BIO:  John Emig, Jr., York County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Kathy Francis

Copyright 2005.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
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History of York County, Pennsylvania.  John Gibson, Historical Editor.
Chicago: F. A. Battey Publishing Co., 1886.
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Part II, Biographical Sketches, Manchester Township, Pg 133

JOHN EMIG, Jr., was born April 4, 1812, in Manchester Township, and died December
 24, 1882.  His parents were John and Anna Mary (Smyser) Emig, natives of West 
Manchester Township, and of German ancestry.  They had four sons and one 
daughter, of whom John, Jr., was the third son.  He grew up on the farm of his 
father, which had come into the hands of his grandfather in 1802, and into his 
father’s hands in 1806, and became his property in 1840, but in 1876 passed into 
the hands of William H. Emig, eldest son of John, Jr.  The subject of this sketch 
was educated at the subscription schools of his neighborhood.  He was married, 
October 2, 1838, near Prospect, in Lower Windsor, to Ellen S. Knisely, daughter 
of John Knisley, of German descent.  They had eleven children, one of whom, 
Amanda, died, aged about three years.  The others are Louisa; William, a farmer; 
Ellen, wife of M. W. Bahn, at New Freedom; Mary Jane, a teacher in select 
schools; J. Albert, Emma, Alice, Flora A., Belle L. and Edward K., farmer and 
manufacturer.  They belong to the Reformed Church.  In 1840 he began the lime 
burning business, and was the first to engage in that business in his vicinity.  
In 1849 the Northern Central Railroad was run through his farm, and at once 
established a station there, which is known as Emigsville.  The farm contained 
about 200 acres, and came into his hands from his father by his paying $300 in 
installments.  He built about eleven houses in Manchester Township, had owned 
seven farms, and at his death owned three fine farms.  The largest portion of his 
property was acquired by his own industry.  In 1850 he engaged in a building 
scheme at Baltimore, and erected about ten fine dwelling houses and two 
warehouses, and at his death owned six of these dwellings.  He was one of the few 
men in his neighborhood favoring public schools.  So bitter was the opposition 
that he, with a few others, was compelled to guard the schoolhouse of his 
neighborhood from destruction.  He was a school director for six years, and 
always took an active part in education.  He was a leading man in the erection of 
the first chapel, and gave the ground upon which it was built.  He laid out the 
town of New Freedom in 1868, and gave the ground on which two churches were 
erected (Methodist Episcopal and Reformed).  The latter was first given to the 
Baptists, who sold it to the Reformers.  He began the mercantile business about 
the time the railroad passed through, and, with the exception of a few years, was 
interested in the house as a partner or sole owner up to 1874, when his son, John 
Albert, became owner.  He was agent for the railroad company up to one year 
before his death, also postmaster from the establishment of the office until 
1880.  J. Albert Emig, born August 9, 1849, was reared on the farm at Emigsville.  
He received his education in the public schools, and at York County Academy, and 
at Millersville Normal School.  He entered his father’s store at Emigsville, and 
assisted as clerk until 1874, when he bought the store.  He was married in 
Windsor Township, March 19, 1874, to Ella S. Detwiller, daughter of John 
Detwiller.  They had two children:  Carrie D. and John W.  He is head of the firm 
of Emig & Gable, Manchester, and E. K. Emig & Co., manufactures of wagons and 
agricultural implements, at Emigsville, and flour and feed store and wagon depot 
at York.  He owns 165 acres of land, and superintends it himself.  In 1880 he was 
appointed railroad agent at Emigsville, as also Adams Express agent and 
postmaster.