Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 03.djvu/469

 E:\niERTON

EMME'l

England historic, genealogical society. Amherst college gave him tlie degree of D.D. in 1891. He is the author of : Histuri/of the Minisfri/ of Taun- ton (2 vols., 1853): History of the Congregational Church of Xorth Midt lleboro 1 1 gh ( 1 875 ) ; an d His- tory of Taunton (1893). He died in Taunton, Mass., April 3, 1901.

EMMERTON, James Arthur, genealogist, was born in Salem, Mass., Aug. 28, 1834; son of Epliraim and Mary Ann (Sage) Emmerton; and grandson of Jeremiah and Elizabeth (Newhall) Emmerton and of Daniel and Deborah (Silsbee) Sage. He prepared for college at the Salem high school and was graduated from Harvard, A. B., 1855, M.D., 1858. He spent six months of 1858- 59 abroad as resident student at the Eotunda Lying-in hospital and attending surgeon at Wildes's eye and ear cliniques, at Dublin. He enlisted in Company F, 23d Massachusetts volun- teer infantry, Oct. 1, 1861, and served as corporal in the battles of Roanoke Island and Newbern, N.C. ; was detailed as acting assistant surgeon in April, 1862; as assistant surgeon, July 31, 1862; was appointed post surgeon at Roanoke Island, Aug. 24, 1862, at the Foster U.S. general hos- pital, Newbern, in January, 1863; rejoined his regiment at Newport News, Va., Oct. 22, 1863; served on the James river expedition against Petersburg, in April, 1864; on the Peninsula in May, and at Cold Harbor in June, 1864. He was made surgeon 2d Massachusetts heavy artillery. May 26, 1864, joined his regiment at Newbem, N.C, June 27, 1864, and with five companies of the regiment opened communications with Gen- eral Sherman's army, March 3, 1865. He was in charge of Post hospital at Newbern, from May to Sept. 3, 1865, when he was mustered out of the service. He was assistant physician in the New York state lunatic asylum at Utica, 1866-67, and in the latter year resigned his position, gave up the practice of medicine and devoted his time to genealogical and historical studies. He left a fund, the income to be appropriated for printing old records and historical materials. He pub- lished Deacon Eichard Prince of Salem, Mass., and Some of his Descendants (1877) ; Genealogical Ac- count of Henni Silsbee (1880) ; JIaterials toicard a Genealogy of the Emmerton Family (1881) ; Eigh- teenth Century Baptisms in Salem, Mass. (1886) ; and Record of the 23d Massachtisetts Begiment (1886), besides numerous papers contributed to the Essex Institute historical collection. He died in Salem, Mass., Dec. 31, 1888.

EMMET, John Patten, educator, was born in Dublin, Ireland, April 8, 1797; son of Thomas Addis Emmet, the celebrated Irish patriot. He came to America after his father had taken refuge there and was educated in New York city and at the U.S. military academy, 1814-17.

He was a medical student with Dr. William J. Nevins, 1818-21, and was graduated from the college of physicians and surgeons in 1822. He practised medicine in Charleston, S.C, 1822- 24, and gave popular lectures on chemistry in simple words with the use of novel illus- trations. These lectures induced the trustees of the University of Vir- ginia to secure and re tain his services as professor of chemistry and natural history, 1824-40. He was mar- ried in 1827 to Mary Byrd Tucker, a native of Bermuda. He pub- lished in '■ Silliman's Journal," Iodide of Potassium as a Test for Arsenic (1830); Solidification of Gyp- sum (1833; ; Electro Magnetic Currents (1835) ; and Formic Acid (1837) . He died in New York city, Aug. 13, 1842.

EMMET, Joseph Kline, actor, was born in St. Louis, Mo., March 13, 1S41. In his boyhood he was first a drummer in military bands, then a photographer, and later a sign-painter. He afterward attended a military school where he was leader of the band. His first appearance on the stage was in a variety theatre in 1866. where he performed a solo on the snare drum. He later made a success as a singer and dancer in St. Louis and cities further west. His first regular engagement was with Morris and Wilson's min- strel troupe, and in 1868 he joined Bryant's minstrels. He was particularly successful at imitating German dialect. This attracted the attention of Charles Gayler, who wrotq a play for him entitled, "Fritz, our Cousin German." The actor and playwright entered into a five years" contract, the latter acting as manager. The play was produced first in Buffalo, N.Y., in November, 1869, and was immediately successful. Other plaj-s followed, including "' Carl, the Fid- dler,"' "Fritz in Ireland," and "Uncle Joe, or, Fritz in a Madhouse." but none of them attained as gi'eat popularity and Mr. Enmiet continued to produce his first success until his death. His fortune, earned wholly by his acting, amounted to about $500,000. About 1875 he purchased the Van Rensselaer estate on the Hudson river, be- tween Albanj- and Troy. He was married in 1861 to Libbie Webber of St. Louis, Mo., and had one son, Joseph Kline, who became his manager. He died in Cornwall. N.Y., June 15, 1891.

EMMET, Rosina, artist, was born in New York city, Dec. 13, 1854; daughter of William J. and Julia (Pierson) Emmet; granddaughter of