John Wesley Emerson

John Wesley Emerson
John Wesley Emerson was a Lawyer, Civil War Major, Company Founder, and Author/ Historian.
Nickname(s)	J.W.
Born	July 26, 1832 Pepperell, Massachusetts
Died	June 20, 1899 Ironton, Missouri
Allegiance	United States of America Union
Service/branch	Union Army
Years of service	3
Rank	Major
Unit	47th Missouri Volunteer Infantry
Commands held	47th Missouri Volunteer Infantry
Battles/wars	Battle of Pilot Knob
Awards	Purple Heart (2)
Other work	Lawyer, Company Founder, Historian

John Wesley Emerson (also known as J. W. Emerson) was an American lawyer, American Civil War commander, Missouri Circuit Court judge, and the founder and principal investor of the Emerson Electric Company.

Emerson was born to William and Rosannah Ellen (Young) Emerson on July 26, 1832 in Pepperell, Massachusetts.

He attended Iron City College in Pennsylvania, and later graduated from the University of Michigan, at Ann Arbor, Michigan. He studied law under William M. Moffatt, a Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania attorney, and was admitted to the Bar association in Missouri in 1857. He practiced law in Ironton, Missouri for the remainder of his life.

On September 12, 1855, Emerson married Sarah Maria Young, in Oswego, New York. Sarah was descended from the Young and Elsworth families of Revolutionary war fame.

He was a volunteer aide (without rank or commission) on the staff of William "Bull" Nelson at the Battle of Richmond, Ky. in 1862, where he was reportedly wounded.

In 1863, he was commissioned by Missouri Governor Hamilton R. Gamble. He was given the rank of Colonel in the 68th Enrolled Missouri Militia, which was subsequently disbanded.