UNICOI COUNTY, TN - OBITUARIES - William Carter Emmert, 8 Jul 1893
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Mr. William Carter Emmert

>From the *Erwin Magnet,* Vol. 3, Whole Nr. 122, Erwin, Unicoi County,
Tennessee, Thursday, July 13, 1893: _Sorrow At Last_ After More Than Forty
Years The First _Link In The Family Circle Is Broken_ _The Head Pillar Fallen_
_One of Unicoi's Most Devoted Citizens Has Passed Away_

It is with a sad, sad heart that we attempt to announce to the readers of The
Magnet, of the death of our kind and affectionate father, W.C. Emmert, which
occurred in Erwin on last Saturday morning. We are anxious to give our readers
all interesting news possible, but now we find the task indeed hard and
trying, nevertheless, it is not thrust upon us, unexpectedly, for he has been
a constant invalid sufferer since last December, and his death was expected at
any time. He had been suffering with that dreaded disease, Deabitis [sic] for
several months. He bore his sickness with fortitude, even unto the last, and,
surrounded by his whole family, he passed peacefully and quietly away.

W.C. Emmert was born December 10, 1823, two miles north of Elizabethton,
Tenn., in what is now called Turkeytown. He was the son of a farmer, G.W.
Emmert, Sr. who was one of the early settlers of that section. Nothing
exceptional occurred during his early life except his earnest endeavors to
secure what little education the county then afforded. Having spent only three
or four months at school the most of his study of books was around the family
fireside of nights after the days' work was over, his light mostly pine-knots
brought from the near by woods for that purpose.

When the war with Mexico broke out he enlisted and served as a 1st Lieutenant
in Co. K, 5th Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers. It was while in this service,
in the severe climate of Mexico that he contracted malarial poisoning, from
which he suffered more or less until his death.

On January 2, 1851, he married Amanda Renshaw, at Jonesboro, Tenn. and shortly
afterwards they settled down on a part of the old home farm in Turkeytown,
where for several years he cultivated his land. Finding that farming proved a
rather poor occupation there at that time, he resolved to try the west, and in
the fall of 1857, took his family and went to Scotland County, Missouri, where
he farmed for two years, afterwards moving to Cedar County in the same state,
where he stayed until the breaking out of the late war. When the feeling of
the war had kindled in that section he was outspoken opposed to any war and
earnestly and publicly plead for peace. But this action on his part proved
disasterous to his personal safety there, and after some of his neighbors had
vallen victim to the Arkansas Jayhawkers he realized it unsafe to longer
remain there, and in November 29, 1861, he started on his return to Tennessee.
His road lay blockaded by both armies and his trouble in getting back in a
wagon with his family can only be imagined.

However, he finally reached home in safety and after the close of the war
began the study of law, meanwhile farming to support his family. In July 1866
he was admitted to the bar at Elizabethton. Here he continued to practice for
several years, and in 1875 became a candidate on the republican ticket slate
for State Senator and was elected to represent the 1st Senatorial district of
this state. It was during the canvass prior to his election that he first
beheld the beauty of the Greasy Cove, and from which time he was always
devoted to this section. It was also during this canvass he learned that
people of the present county of Unicoi were agitated over the formation of a
new county from the old parts of Carter and Washington which they afterwards
did.

From that time he determined to aid them in their formation using all his
power while in the Legislature to that effect. Finally when it was publicly
answered that Unicoi had been added to the list of counties in Tennessee he
resolved to cast his future life among the good people of the section and in
February 1876 moved his family to the old Love farm on Chucky river one mile
south of Erwin and two years afterwards moved to the present town of Erwin
then Vanderbilt.

He rendered much valuable service in organizing the county and getting the new
town started. He has ever since been endeared to the county and town doing all
possible to secure the best benefits to its citizens. He had served as U.S.
Commissioner for several years prior to his death.

He leaves a widow and six childred [sic] all of whom have married, to mourn
his loss.

He was buried with masonic honor at the Jobe graveyard near town on the
evening of the 8th last, and his body reposes in the sun of the country he
loved so well.