Emily Ward Reid Skinner, the daughter of Elkanah and Patty (Rawson) Reid, spent her formative years, first, in Townshend, Vermont, and later in Bakersfield, Vermont, where she met her future husband, John R. Skinner.
John was an attorney. After their marriage, the couple moved to Harwick, Vermont, where John established a successful legal practice, also serving as a justice of the peace for a time.
In 1846, the family left their home in Vermont for the West, settling in Valparaiso, Indiana, where John continued his legal practice.
Shortly after they had settled in their new home, John was suddenly stricken and passed away after a short illness. Emily was left with a family of young children to raise on her own.
Emily supported her family by managing a family-run printing business and also teaching at local schools. In the meantime, her sons began working in commerce and established names for themselves in their endeavors.
Emily lost two of her sons, Hollis and Henry, when they were both young men. Another son, Deforest Leslie Skinner, became a prominent businessman, banker, and politician. Emily lived with Deforest and his family until her death.
One of Emily's loves was to write poetry; in fact, her poetry was published in the local newspaper, and Emily was known during this time as the "literary light" of Valparaiso.
Biography by David M. Peirce
John was an attorney. After their marriage, the couple moved to Harwick, Vermont, where John established a successful legal practice, also serving as a justice of the peace for a time.
In 1846, the family left their home in Vermont for the West, settling in Valparaiso, Indiana, where John continued his legal practice.
Shortly after they had settled in their new home, John was suddenly stricken and passed away after a short illness. Emily was left with a family of young children to raise on her own.
Emily supported her family by managing a family-run printing business and also teaching at local schools. In the meantime, her sons began working in commerce and established names for themselves in their endeavors.
Emily lost two of her sons, Hollis and Henry, when they were both young men. Another son, Deforest Leslie Skinner, became a prominent businessman, banker, and politician. Emily lived with Deforest and his family until her death.
One of Emily's loves was to write poetry; in fact, her poetry was published in the local newspaper, and Emily was known during this time as the "literary light" of Valparaiso.
Biography by David M. Peirce
Emily Ward Reid Skinner, the daughter of Elkanah and Patty (Rawson) Reid, spent her formative years, first, in Townshend, Vermont, and later in Bakersfield, Vermont, where she met her future husband, John R. Skinner.
John was an attorney. After their marriage, the couple moved to Harwick, Vermont, where John established a successful legal practice, also serving as a justice of the peace for a time.
In 1846, the family left their home in Vermont for the West, settling in Valparaiso, Indiana, where John continued his legal practice.
Shortly after they had settled in their new home, John was suddenly stricken and passed away after a short illness. Emily was left with a family of young children to raise on her own.
Emily supported her family by managing a family-run printing business and also teaching at local schools. In the meantime, her sons began working in commerce and established names for themselves in their endeavors.
Emily lost two of her sons, Hollis and Henry, when they were both young men. Another son, Deforest Leslie Skinner, became a prominent businessman, banker, and politician. Emily lived with Deforest and his family until her death.
One of Emily's loves was to write poetry; in fact, her poetry was published in the local newspaper, and Emily was known during this time as the "literary light" of Valparaiso.
Biography by David M. Peirce
John was an attorney. After their marriage, the couple moved to Harwick, Vermont, where John established a successful legal practice, also serving as a justice of the peace for a time.
In 1846, the family left their home in Vermont for the West, settling in Valparaiso, Indiana, where John continued his legal practice.
Shortly after they had settled in their new home, John was suddenly stricken and passed away after a short illness. Emily was left with a family of young children to raise on her own.
Emily supported her family by managing a family-run printing business and also teaching at local schools. In the meantime, her sons began working in commerce and established names for themselves in their endeavors.
Emily lost two of her sons, Hollis and Henry, when they were both young men. Another son, Deforest Leslie Skinner, became a prominent businessman, banker, and politician. Emily lived with Deforest and his family until her death.
One of Emily's loves was to write poetry; in fact, her poetry was published in the local newspaper, and Emily was known during this time as the "literary light" of Valparaiso.
Biography by David M. Peirce
Family Members
Siblings
Advertisement
Explore more
Sponsored by Ancestry
Advertisement
