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File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Fulton County
Munsell Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908

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The Biography of J. A. EMANS

[Surnames: BORST, CRAMER, EMANS, GRINNELL, MEEKER, SMITH, TIVOLI] 

EMANS, J. A.

    
J. A. Emans is a native of the Buckeye State and was born in January 1849, the son of William Henry Emans, who at an early day settled there on government land in Ohio, married Thelitha Meeker of that State, and developed a farm. In 1852 he moved from Ohio to Peoria Co. IL, purchased eighty acres of land and to it later added 110 acres. He was engaged in general farming and stock-raising for several years, accumulating quite a competence, and upon the death of his wife in 1886, went to live with his son, J. A. for the balance of his life. 
    
Varying the routine of the paternal farm by attendance at the district school, J. A. Emans grew to rugged manhood. At the age of twenty-four his father gave him eighty acres of land, which he tilled until 1882, in that year removing to Eden, Peoria County, where he erected the first elevator and shipped the first car of grain from that point. Successful beyond his expectations, he came to Fulton Co. in 1884, erected an elevator at Farmington for Cramer and Trivoli, which he operated for six years. In the meantime, in Oct. 1886, he opened what is known as the Maplewood Coal Mine at Farmington, worked the same about six months, then sold out and bought 130 acres of land in Farmington Twp., and operated what was known as the Emans Mine. This venture terminated unsuccessfully with a washout, and in 1888 another mine was sunk until 1900 and operated with the help of about fifty men. During that year the incorporation of a company was effected in which Mr. Emans owned a controlling interest until about a year ago. He then bought seventy additional acres and since then has given attention to stock-raising, making a speciality of cattle, Poland China hogs and blooded road horses. In Peoria, IL, in 1873 he married Theresa Borst who was born in New York and died in Illinois in 1888, leaving two children, R. R. Emans of Farmington, and Charles H., the partner of his father. 
    
In 1891, Mr. Emans married Belle Grinnell, a native of New York, and daughter of A. S. Grinnell, who came to Avon in 1866, The mother of Mrs. Emans, whose maiden name was Julia Smith, was a native of New York. 
    
A son has been born to Mr. and Mrs. Emans, named Clarence. Mr. Emans is a Republican, and fraternally connected with the Masons, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and the Modern Woodmen of America.