Carroll County IAGenWeb

HISTORY OF CARROLL COUNTY IOWA

A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement

VOLUME II ILLUSTRATED

CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1912

Transcribed by Sharon Elijah August 20, 2020

Orrin W. Emmons, engaged in the general practice of law in Manning, was born in Carroll county, September 11, 1873, and is a representative of one of the old pioneer families. His father is Chandler A. Emmons, who was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, October 18, 1849, a son of Ezekiel J. and Priscilla (Cornwall) Emmons, the former a native of Canada, of German-English descent, and the latter of New York, of English-Scotch extraction.

The marriage of the grandparents of our subject was celebrated on the 4th of July, 1832, in Niagara county, New York, and in 1847 they removed from New York to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where they resided until the fall of 1850, when they became residents of Dane county, Wisconsin, making their home in that locality until 1864, whence they came to Iowa. The grandfather died in 1881 and his wife survived until 1893, making her home, after her husband’s death, with her son, Chandler A. Emmons. He was one of a family of nine children as follows: Martha A., who became the wife of D. A. Pound, both of whom are now deceased; Hiram, who is living in Stoughton, Wisconsin; Eunice, who became the wife of Albert Gillett, both deceased; Elvira, who married John M. Sampson has passed away; Fannie, a resident of the state of New York; Charles B., living in Carroll, Iowa; Mary Jane, who died in infancy in Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Chandler A.; and Mary, who died in Butler county, Iowa.

Chandler A. Emmons came to Iowa in 1864 with his parents. The family home was established in Blackhawk county and in 1871 he removed to Carroll county. He was a farmer by occupation and on coming to Carroll county purchased ninety acres of land, later selling same and purchasing other land from time to time, until he is now the owner of four hundred acres of as good land as is to be found in Carroll county. Chandler A. Emmons continued to carry on the occupation of farming for a long period and as the years passed by, prosperity attended his efforts until, in 1890, he was able to retire from active life and is now enjoying a well earned rest in Manning. His political allegiance is given to the republican party and he holds membership with the Methodist Episcopal church and with Manual Lodge, No., 450, A.F. & A.M. On October 17, 1869, he wedded Lucy A. Sampson, who was born in Dexter, Maine, November 18, 1849, and was a daughter of John M. and Jeanette R. (Mains) Sampson, who were also natives of the Pine Tree state, removing from there to Dane county, Wisconsin in 1850, where Mrs. Emmons spent her girlhood, later going to Iowa on a visit, where, in Butler county of that state, she was married. She too was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal church and died in that faith on the 20th of April, 1910, her death being deeply regretted by all who knew her, because of her many admirable traits of character. Their family consisted of four children, namely: Albert S., a contractor of Omaha, Nebraska; Orrin W., of this review; Clara E., wife of J. H. Wisse, residing on the home farm; and Clarence M., also residing on the old homestead. There was also an adopted daughter Mildred E. Emmons, now a resident of Boone, Iowa.

Upon the home farm in Carroll county, Iowa, Orrin W. Emmons, spent his youthful days, working in the fields during the time of plowing, planting and harvesting, and also herding cattle over what is now highly improved farm country. The experiences and hardships of pioneer life are familiar to him and the history of Carroll county’s development is well known to him. His early education, acquired in the district schools, was supplemented by a course in the Manning high school, from which he graduated with the class of 1891. He afterward spent two years as a student at Cornell College, Mount Vernon, Iowa, and was graduated from the Gem City Business College at Quincy, Illinois, with the class of 1894. Subsequently he spent a year and a half in mercantile pursuits at Scranton, Iowa, and for several years engaged in teaching school. In 1900 and 1901 he devoted his attention to farming on his own account, but thinking to find a professional career more congenial, in 1902 he entered the State University of Iowa at Iowa City, where he completed a three year’s law course in two years and three months, being graduated with the class of 1904. The following year he located for practice in Manning, where he has since remained. He was a successful farmer and a capable school teacher, and has made continuous progress in the practice of law, his knowledge of the principles of jurisprudence and his correct application thereof giving him rank with the prominent members of the Carroll county bar, and bringing to him a large and remunerative practice.

On the 9th day of May, 1900, Mr. Emmons was united in marriage to Miss Jennie C. Scott, who was born in Crawford county, Iowa, January 28, 1876, a daughter of William A. and Estella (Butler) Scott. Her father, who engaged in farming throughout his entire life, passed away in 1899 and her mother now lives at Ida Grove. In their family were nine children: Mrs. Eva M. Foltz, residing near Grafton, Nebraska; Albert B., engaged in farming near Danbury, Iowa; Mrs. Emmons; Mrs. Olive Goodwin, who lives in Ida Grove, Iowa; Mrs. Edna Wolfe, residing near Danbury, Iowa; John Logan and James Blaine, twins, engaged in general agricultural pursuits near Danbury, Iowa; and Joseph Orien and Homer W., who make their home with their mother at Ida Grove. Mrs. Emmons pursued her education in the district schools and in the Normal College at Denison and Woodbine, Iowa, and was successfully engaged in teaching school for six years prior to her marriage, imparting with readiness and clearness the knowledge that she had acquired. By her marriage she has become the mother of four children, as follows: Robert E., born August 9, 1901; Floyd H., born August 1, 1907; Clarence S., born September 16, 1908; and Florence E., born August 24, 1910.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Emmons are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and he is equally as loyal as a representative of Manual Lodge No. 450, A.F. & A.M. of Manning, and Copestone Chapter R.A.M., of Carroll, while both he and his wife belong to Salona Chapter, O.E.S., at Manning. His study of political issues and questions of the day has led him to indorse the principles of the republican party. The only office that he has ever held was that of secretary of the school board, which he filled for six years, and then voluntarily resigned. He has been a lifelong resident of Carroll county and his record has at all times been creditable to the community which numbers him as one of its native sons.

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