The William Henry Emerson Family

Facts provided by Zadie Emerson Jolley

William Henry Emerson met and married Nancy V. Henderson on April 26, 1883, near Jeacksonville. Their three children were William Henry, Jr., born March 2, 1884, Sara T. (Dollie), born August 20, 1886, and Lewis Dillard (Bo), born January 10, 1888.

All were successful farmers and helped to make Jacksonville the tomato capital, while W. H. Emerson, Sr., was well-known for his ribbon cane syrup. He used mules to turn the crusher to extract the juice for cooking. One fall, when there was an extremely large cane crop, the family moved the old wood-burning cook stove to the syrup mill and put it into service cooking syrup.

Syrup-making time was a gala one in East Texas and friends and neighbors would come from miles during the operation, particularly to have opportunity to drink the sweet juice and usually to buy some fresh syrup for the winter.

L. D. Emerson still farms at age 84, and is carrying out his father's tradition of raising ribbon cane and making syrup.

Dollie (Mrs. Carson Meador) still lives on her farm in Corinth Community.

W. H. Emerson, Sr., died on January 13, 1940, and his wife, Nancy, followed him in death on September 20, 1945. Their son, Will, died January 10, 1967. All were members of Corinth Baptist Church. W. H., Sr., was a member of Woodmen of the World.

Most of the fourteen grandchildren live in the Jacksonville area, and L. B. (Bo) Emerson is Cherokee County commissioner for Precinct No. 3. Another grandson, Archie Emerson, has been with T. P. & L. since establishment of the plant at Striker.

Will and Hattie Emerson wedding photo, December 25, 1904.

Will Emerson, Jr., hauls pink tomatoes to market in Jacksonville, 1920. Farmers crated their own tomatoes at that time.

The W. H. Emerson family in 1902.