John Wesley Emerson He was an American lawyer, a Civil War commander, a Missouri District Court judge, and the founder and principal investor of Emerson. Date of Birth: 06.07.1832 Country: USA

Biography of John Wesley Emerson

John Wesley Emerson was an American lawyer, military commander during the Civil War, a judge of the Missouri District Court, and the founder and chief investor of Emerson Electric Manufacturing Company. He was born on July 26, 1832, in Pepperell, Massachusetts to William and Rosanna Ellen (Young) Emerson. He received his education at Iron City College in Pennsylvania and later graduated from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor.

Under the guidance of William M. Moffatt, a Pennsylvania state prosecutor, Emerson studied law in Pittsburgh and was admitted to the Missouri Bar Association in 1865. He practiced law in Ironton, Missouri for the rest of his life. On September 12, 1855, John Wesley Emerson married Sarah Maria Young in Oswego, New York. Sarah came from families Young and Elsworth, who had been involved in the American Revolutionary War.

In 1862, as a volunteer under the command of General William Nelson, Emerson participated in the Battle of Richmond, Kentucky, where he was reportedly wounded. In 1863, he was commissioned by Missouri Governor Hamilton R. Gamble and appointed as colonel of the 68th Missouri Militia, which was later disbanded.

In 1864, Emerson enlisted in the 47th Missouri Volunteer Infantry Regiment and began his service as a private. He later earned the rank of major in the regiment. In the same year, parts of the 47th Infantry Regiment participated in the Battle of Pilot Knob. In October, Emerson received orders from General Rosecrans to open a railway branch of the Iron Mountain Railroad from St. Louis, Missouri to Pilot Knob. While carrying out this order, he was wounded in battle.

In 1865, Emerson's regiment was ordered to support General Thomas Welsh's troops in Nashville, Tennessee. His regiment pursued General Hood's forces into Alabama, capturing over 1,000 prisoners. Emerson continued to command the regiment until the end of the war.

After returning to his legal practice in Ironton, John Wesley Emerson was appointed as a judge for the Fifteenth Judicial District, but later resigned from the position. He was then appointed by President Grover Cleveland as the U.S. Marshal for the Eastern District of Missouri and served in that role for four years.

In 1890, Emerson met two orphaned young men from Scotland, Alexander and Charles Meston, who wanted to venture into the production of electrical and mechanical devices. He provided them with a starting capital of $50,000 and gave his name to the new corporation, "Emerson Electric Manufacturing Company" (now known as "Emerson"). From 1890 to 1892, he also served as the company's first president.

In 1892, Emerson retired, selling his share of Emerson Electric Company to Herbert L. Parker, a former executive of a railroad company. Emerson turned to become a historian of the Civil War. He joined the Missouri division of the patriotic organization of Civil War veterans, the "Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States," and wrote about General Grant's campaign in the Mississippi River Valley.

John Wesley Emerson passed away on June 20, 1899, in Ironton, Missouri.