Hon. John Hannibal Emerson 1807-1875

EMERSON, BURKE, BRUNSKILL, MACE

Posted By: CHERYL MOONEN (email)
Date: 6/21/2018 at 17:23:26

Dubuque Daily Times, Tuesday, Sep 21, 1875, Dubuque, IA, Page: 4

ANOTHER OLD SETTLOR GONE

Death of Hon. J. H. Emerson

We are called upon to record the demise of another of Dubuque’s oldest settlors, Hon. J. H. Emerson, which took place at his residence near this city at 11 o’clock on Sunday night. His death was not unexpected, for he had been ill for a long time, and he died as a candle, burned to its socket. An earnest, active life, spent in untiring work and relentless energy, had worn out the frame, and he laid himself down to die, knowing that his time was near. The man, physically, dead long ago but the active brain was clear and undimmed to the last. And so has passed a man who has left his mark among us, and who, although a number of years withdrawn from active life, will be remembered after the snows of many winters shall have whitened his last resting place in the cemetery.

He was born in Jefferson County, Virginia, on the 30th of June, 1807. Here he resided until about eleven years of age when his parents removed to Pike County, Missouri. He commenced business life at an early age, and had no sooner arrived at his majority, than besides carrying on a farm he commenced trading between St. Louis and New Orleans. For five years during his residence in Missouri he was engaged in merchandizing, and during this time he was elected to the seat in the State Legislature, which position he filled with credits to himself and to the best interests of the people he represented. He was married in 1832 to Miss Emeline Mace, by whom he had one son. This son is now a resident of Missouri. With his wife and child he emigrated to this city, landing here on the first day of April, 1834. His wife died about two years after. He engaged in a general merchandizing business here, becoming a senior member of that old and well known firm, Messrs. Emerson, Shields & Co., who did business in the Atheneum Building. In those days it was a small two story building, having been a hotel. This firm remolded it several times, until they finally changed it into what today is the only theatre building we have. This firm was largely engaged in various branches of the merchandizing business, and they were probably the first pork packers in the city. He was a member of the Iowa Constitutional Convention from this district, and was once Mayor of the city, and for repeated terms filled the position of Alderman.

He married the second time in the fall of 1854, marrying Miss Catherine, daughter of Judge Burke, who now survives him. Seven children were the issue of this marriage, five boys and two girls, all of whom are now living but one. The eldest daughter, Miss Cora, was recently married to Mr. Brunskill, of one of the oldest families, the marriage taking place at Mr. Emerson’s request, at his bedside, he desiring to give the couple his blessing before he died. Having accumulated a competence, he retired from active business pursuits in 1856, and has since led a quiet life in his home circle, attending to no other business than the management of his estate. Mr. Emerson was not a member of any church. He thoroughly identified himself with the interests of the city, and was a public spirited citizen in a true sense of the term, giving much time to any cause he deemed for the public good.

The funeral took place today, from his residence, at 2 o’clock. Interment in Linwood. The following named persons were selected by him to be pallbearers: Gen. Hodgson, F. Hinds, J. Christman, W. G. Stewart, J. Simpsen, J. Palmer, Wm. Coates, H. Patterson and Richard Bonson.