SAMUEL EMERY - Biography ==================================================================== USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor, or the legal representative of the contributor, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by: WISCONSIN BIOGRAPHY INDEX http://www.rootsweb.com/~wibiog/ 2002 ==================================================================== Commemorative and Biographical Record of Columbia, Sauk and Adams Counties, WI. Chicago: Ogle, 1901, p 606-607 SAMUEL EMERY, a prosperous farmer of Westfield Township, Sauk County, was one of the earliest settlers of WI, and from the wilderness of those pioneer days has cleared a farm which ranks among the best in the locality. He experienced the hardships of life in a new country, and after over 50 years have passed can recount early experiences which seem almost incredible to the present generation, so changed in every way is the country from when he first began his duties there. He now makes his home on section 29, in Westfield Township. Mr. EMERY was born in Bangor, Franklin County, NY, 26 Nov 1822, and was a son of Eleazer and Philena (WRIGHT) EMERY, natives, respectively, of Windsor [Windsor County] and Rockingham [Windham County], VT. His grandfather, Samuel EMERY, was a descendant of Deacon Noah EMERY, who came from England. He was a miller by trade and owned a grist mill and saw mill on the Williams River in VT, and also carding machine, etc. The paternal grandmother of our subject was of Welsh lineage, and bore the maiden name of GOWEN. The father of our subject learned the miller's trade and also shoemaking in VT, and soon afterward went to Franklin County, NY, and later lived in St. Lawrence County, where he operated a shoe shop and saw mill. He reached the age of 78 years, and the mother of our subject survived him several years. She was a daughter of Moses WRIGHT, a farmer in VT, who died in St. Lawrence County, NY, aged over 80 years. The maternal great grandfather of our subject, Moses WRIGHT, served as a scout in the Continental army, and had a number of exciting adventures and skirmishes with Indians. The WRIGHT family was of English origin. Our subject received a common school education in his native place and in 1844 came to WI via the lakes, Buffalo [Erie County, NY] and Milwaukee. He took up government land in Otsego and Fall River townships, in Columbia County [WI], and lived there about 10 years. He disposed of his interests in 1850 and removed to Sauk County, purchasing land from the government in Westfield Township. He walked to the land office in Green Bay, 100 miles, to enter his land in Otsego Township and also to Milwaukee to enter claim to the land in Fall River Township. He now owns 120 acres of land with good buildings which he has erected, and his farm is admirably adapted to the raising of stock, which branch he conducts chiefly. Living springs on the farm furnish an abundance of excellent water for the domestic use and for stock, and he is breeding short horn cattle to some extent, also sheep and other stock. Mr. EMERY enlisted 15 Aug 1862 in Company F, 23rd WI Volunteer Infantry, and was discharged 29 Jun 1865. He spent the first season along the Mississippi River and in TX, and took part in the siege of Vicksburg. He was overcome by the heat and sent to the hospital boat on the Yazoo River, and from thence to Memphis. He rejoined his regiment at New Iberia, LA, in Nov 1863, and was later in the hospital at New Orleans, from whence he was transferred to the invalid corps and sent to Washington. During the remainder of the war he was employed on guarding the plantations in VA, near Washington, which the government confiscated on account of the owners [p 607] having joined the Confederate army. The Confederate general, MOSBY, visited the camp as a teamster while Mr. EMERY was on duty, but it was not until afteward when he saw his portrait that he know who the general was. Our subject was married 25 Apr 1852 to Margaret BAIRD, daughter of William A. and Maria (VAN HORN) BAIRD, natives of Charlestown, Montgomery County, NY, the former of Scotch and the latter of Dutch lineage. Mrs. EMERY's father came to WI in 1852 and resided in Columbia County until 1854, when he settled in Westfield Township, Sauk County, where he died at the age of 62 years. Mr. BAIRD was a cooper by trade and did more or less at his trade in WI. Mrs. EMERY's mother survived him until 1884, when she died at the age of 89 years. Mrs. EMERY was born in Volney, Oswego County, NY. The following children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. EMERY: (1) Lina M., now Mrs. Benjamin SEAMANS, of Dunlap [Harrison County], IA; (2) Nelson W., who married Nancy BROWN, of Franklin Township; (3) Martha J., now Mrs. Hiram PROUTY, of Bear Creek Township; (4) Angie, now Mrs. Albert HINES, of Janesville [Rock County], WI; (5) Mary, now Mrs. W. TIBBITTS, of Reedsburg Township; (6) Ella, now Mrs. James TAYLOR, of Dunlap, IA; (7) George M., married Sarah SCHLUTER, daughter of Henry SCHLUTER, and resides on the home farm; and (8) Ida May, the wife of Charles GREGORY, of South Haven [Van Buren County], MI. Four of the children have been teachers, and George and Nelson for several years have operated a sorghum mill. Mr. EMERY has filled many of the offices of his township, and is a prominent worker for his community's interests. He has been a member of the Republican party since its organization, and voted for Zachary Taylor in 1848, at the first presidential election held in WI.