My Genealogy Hound

JOHN EMMETT. The men whom we are accustomed to call self-made are well represented in the town of Fayette, Seneca County, where many of their number are carving for themselves monuments that will outlast gilded shafts or marble statues. Among this class prominent mention belongs to the gentleman whose name appears at the opening of this sketch, and who is a highly esteemed and successful farmer of this town. He is also the owner of the Emmett Stone-quarry, which is located just one mile west of Waterloo.

Mr. Emmett was born across the seas in Halifax, Yorkshire, England, September 21, 1818. His parents were Richard and Isabella (Andrew) Emmett, who spent their entire lives in their native land. The father was a contractor and builder and also an expert stone-mason, and it was under his instruction that John became acquainted with that business. The latter passed his boyhood days in Skipton, attending the grammar schools until a lad of sixteen years. He then began working for his father and remained in his employ until attaining his majority. During the years spent in learning his trade, he became an adept in the use of tools, and could carve almost anything out of stone. He then worked by the day, receiving good wages for his time.

The marriage of Mr. Emmett with Miss Eleanor Thompson occurred in February, 1842. She was born in the village of Osmotherley, in the northern part of Yorkshire, England, and was fairly well educated in the common schools of her native place. Soon after their union the couple went to Liverpool, where Mr. Emmett was given a position as engineer at the Liverpool Dock Works, his duties there being to measure all the work done by contract. After spending eight years with this company he determined to see something of the New World, where he was positive he could improve his condition financially, and accordingly took passage with his family on a sailing-vessel, and was eighteen days crossing the ocean. When this tedious journey ended they found themselves in New York City, whence they later removed to Allegany County, where Mr. Emmett took contracts on the Genesee Valley Canal. At the expiration of a year and a-half he took up his abode in the village of Cayuga, where he was employed in building locks on the Cayuga & Seneca Canal. After two years spent in this employment we find him located in Seneca Falls, his removal there being occasioned by his agreement to build a dam for the contractors hired by the state. He worked at this for three years, and in 1863 determined to abandon that industry.

That year our subject purchased a tract of one hundred acres of land in the town of Fayette, where he lived for seven years, and at the end of that time traded it for his present estate of eighty-four acres. On this place he is engaged in farming and quarrying stone, it being rich in this material. He finds no difficulty in disposing of the product of his quarries, and ships stone all over the state.

Mr. Emmett took out his naturalization papers in due time, and after becoming an American citizen cast his vote during the elections for Democratic candidates. He is interested in all public improvements and is never called upon in vain to assist in furthering beneficial measures. Both Mr. and Mrs. Emmett are members of the Episcopal Church, in the faith of which they were reared. Socially he is a Mason, and belongs to Pocahontas Lodge, at Seneca Falls.

Of the twelve children born to our subject and his wife, four were born in England. The eldest, Mary, married James Proudfoot, and on her death left two sons. Richard makes his home with our subject and gives his attention to carrying on the farm work, which vocation he seems particularly adapted for. Isabella became the wife of A. L. Childs, editor of the Waterloo Observer, and is the mother of two children. Eliza married Michael Moore, a resident of Waterloo, and has one child, Oswold, who is foreman of the stone-quarry, is married and the father of two sons. Edgar is married and is living in Enderson, Iowa, where he is agent for the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad Company; he has three children. John Thompson makes his home in Waterloo, and is the father of two children. Harold J. is engaged in the drug business in Batavia, N. Y.