Monday, August 18, 2008

David Emmons

David Emmons was born 1841 in Livingston, Berrien County, Michigan, the son of Uriah (b. 1814) and Elizabeth or Eliza Ann (b. 1822).

Canadian-born Uriah married Ohio native Elizabeth in 1840, possibly in Canada or perhaps in Michigan. In any case, the family came from Ontario, Canada to Michigan sometime before 1841 when one Uriah Emmons bought 40 acres of land at the Ionia land office), and by 1850 David was attending school and living with his family in Grattan, Kent County. In 1860 David was attending school with his siblings and living with his family in Grattan (his father owned $1500 worth of real estate); also living with them and working as a farm laborer was Charles Eddy who would also enlist in Company K.

David stood 5’6” with black eyes, dark hair and a dark complexion and was 20 years old and possibly living in Grand Rapids when he enlisted in Company K on May 13, 1861, probably along with Charles Eddy. (It is also possible that in 1865 his sister Henrietta married Peter Myers, who had been a member of Company C.)

In July of 1863 David was reported as a “servant” to Lieutenant Andrew Nickerson of Company K. David reenlisted on December 24, 1863, at Brandy Station, Virginia, crediting Alpine, Kent County, was presumably absent on veteran’s furlough, probably in Michigan, in January of 1864 and he probably returned to the Regiment on or about the first of February. He was transferred to Company F, Fifth Michigan infantry upon consolidation of the Third and Fifth Michigan Regiments on June 10, 1864, and reported as an orderly at Brigade headquarters from November of 1864 through May of 1865. In June he was a provost guard probably at Brigade headquarters, and was mustered out of service on July 5, 1865 at Jeffersonville, Indiana.

David eventually returned to Michigan after the war.

He was married to Michigan native Medora (b. 1847), and they had at least three children: Lena (b. 1866), Minnie (b. 1868), Lottie (b. 1870) and Clarence (b. 1879).

By 1870 David was working as a dry goods merchant and living with his wife and children in Oakfield, Kent County. By 1880 David was working as a druggist and living with his wife and two children in Wexford, Wexford County. He was living in Sherman, Wexford County in 1879, 1888 and 1890, and in Dorr, Allegan County in 1894.

In about 1901 David married his second wife Michigan native Ada (b. 1872).

In 1884 he applied for and received a pension (no. 491373). He was a member of the Old Third Michigan Infantry Association.

David died on September 1, 1913, in Battle Creek, Calhoun County.

His widow Ada was living in Michigan in June of 1914 when she applied for and received a pension (no. 779574). In 1920 Ada was working as a dressmaker and boarding with the George Campbell family in Battle Creek, Calhoun County.

1 comment:

ScottE said...

This is very interesting as Uriah is in my family history. I'm trying to trace things a bit further down the line - Uriah had a son Wilbur (possibly Wilber), who's son Dee aka DRC was my great-great grandfather and I'm trying to get more history here as we don't have any and my grandfather wouldn't talk about anything except a very few bit of details...