Son of Leicester Emerson & Olive (Wood) Emerson

Obituary
John Emerson was born at Lebanon, New Hampshire, November 5, 1829. When a child his parents moved to Reading, Vt., where he lived until he was grown. At about the age of nineteen, he was married and went west, filing on land where the city of Chicago now stands. Unfortunately he did not hold this, but when further west to Mankato, Minn., where he took a claim and lived there about thirteen years, during which time his wife died, and six years after her death her married Eliza Clement.

From Mankato, he moved to Blue Earth City [Minn], where he was engaged in the merchantile business of five years. Then leaving his family at Blue Earth City he went to the Black Hills where he spent five years seeking for gold, making frequent trips home during this time. Leaving Blue Earth City with his family in 1879 he came to Niobrara [Nebraska], where they spent the winter and came on to Apple Creek in 1880, and his home has been here ever since.

He enlisted in the army from Mankato, Minnesota, on February 8, 1865, forming Company "H" of the artillery. After serving six months his health failed and he was honorably discharged the 27th of September, 1865.

His wife, Eliza, died in October, 1880, and is buried in Dorsey. Ih June 1881, he married Mary E. Clement, sister of his second wife.

Mrs. Emerson, as we all remember, went about a year ago to visit her old home in Maine, and after being injured in a railroad wreck near Buffalo [New York], died in a hospital there a few weeks later. Her body was taken back to Maine wand was buried beside her mother, near her childhood home.

Mr. Emerson died at Hot Springs, South Dakota, January 6, 1914, aged 84 years, 2 months, and 1 day.

Mrs. Baughfman, who died at Dorsey five years ago, was the only child by his first marriage. There were eight children by his second marriage: Mrs. Mabel E. Moser, Edmonton, Canada; Mrs. Nettie Brazzill, Portland, Oregon; Fannie, who died at the age of nine years; Mrs. Annie E. Derickson, Dorsey, Nebraska,; Mrs. Sadie E. Leavitt, Mohill, North Dakota; Lercester C. Strool, South Dakota; Ernest A., address unknown; Ralph W. Moreland, Canada.

By his third marriage there were four children: Rufus, who died at 7 months; Ray, Ross, and Roy, all of Dorsey, Nebraska; Roy at the present time is visiting in Maine.

There are now 27 grand-children and one great grand child.

Mr. Emerson was one of the first settlers on Apple Creek and did his share in the early building of the county.

He was ever a kindly, considerate, upright man.
Obituary Source - Bruce W. Boyd, FG Contributor #4332686