E. G. EMERY, one of the successful farmers of Mt. Pleasant township, is a son of Dr. Boyd Emery, and a grandson of Walter and Jane (Blakney) Emery. Walter Emery was born in Ireland, and coming to America in early manhood was married to Jane Blakney. They settled in Canonsburg, this county, where he followed the trade of a shoemaker. During a heavy storm the public bridge in the town was endangered, and while assisting in the attempt to save it Mr. Emery was drowned. His widow was afterward married to Squire Duncan, of Smith township, and died about 1865 in Florence, this county. Boyd Emery was born in 1805, in Canonsburg, this county, and reared and educated in his native town. He graduated from Jefferson College, standing second in his class, and afterward studied medicine at Canonsburg under Dr. Leatherman. He then entered Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, and after receiving his degree, settled near Dunningsville, this county, where he passed his life, practicing medicine. He was married to Anna Graham, of Cross Creek township, and the following children were born to their union: E. G. (subject of this sketch), Martha G. (Mrs. W. G. Kammerer, of Chicago), James A. (living in Somerset township, this county), Boyd (a physician and surgeon of Somerset township), William H. (living on part of the homestead in Somerset township) and Anna M. (Mrs. James H. McNary, of Nottingham township). Dr. Emery practiced continuously for fifty-five years, and was a popular and skillful physician. He was an active member of the Republican party, and in religious connection he and his wife were members of the Pigeon Creek Presbyterian Church. He died in 1886, having been preceded by his wife in 1874. E. G. Emery was born September 7, 1842, in Somerset township, near Dunningsville, this county, and received his education at Hoges Summit Academy. He enlisted at Canonsburg August 13, 1862, in Company G, One Hundred and Fortieth P. V. I., for three years, or during the war, and was mustered into the service at Pittsburgh, Penn. He was assigned to the army of the Potomac, under Gen. Hancock, and took part in the battles of Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, Wilderness, Spottsylvania, Petersburg, Mine Run and the other principal engagements participated in by the army of the Potomac. E. G. Emery was in thirteen different battles, and took part in the Grand Review at Washington, D. C. He received an honorable discharge in 1865, at Pittsburgh, Penn., and then returned to Somerset township, this county. On December 13, 1865, he was married to Miss Martha Ann Hamilton, who was born November 4, 1844, in Nottingham township, Washington Co., Penn. She was educated at Washington Female Seminary. She is a daughter of the late Alexander Hamilton, who was a prosperous farmer and ruling elder in Pigeon Creek congregation for a number of years, holding the position up to the time of his death. After his marriage E. G. Emery settled in Somerset township, and in 1868 purchased 188 acres in Mt. Pleasant township, to which he moved the same year, and has since been engaged in farming and stock raising. Seven children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Emery, namely: Cora G. (Mrs. William L. McIlvain, of Somerset township), Lillie A. (wife of John M. White, of Cross Creek township), William H., Teresa, Boyd A., Myrta and Walter V. Mr. Emery is an active politician in the Republican party, and is interested in all matters of local importance. He and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church of Mount Prospect, in which he is a deacon.

Text taken from page 580 of: Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893). Transcribed February 1998 by Bettie Morrow of Bethel Park, PA as part of the Beers Project. Published February 1998 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.

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