Springfield-Greene
County LibraryEarly and Recent History and Genealogical Records
of Many of the Representative Citizens
ALONZO W. EMERY. Among the large numbers of conductors of the Frisco system, none is performing his duties more faithfully or satisfactorily than Alonzo W. Emery, who has devoted the principal part of his active career to railroad service, for which he early in life manifested a decided liking, and every one knows that we must like our work if we succeed in it to any appreciable degree.
Mr. Emery was born in Brooklyn, New York, November 6, 1864. He is a son of George D. and Maria Thresa (Van Arsdel) Emery. The father was born in New Hampshire and the mother was a native of Summerville, New Jersey, the date of the former's birth being December 4, 1831 while the latter was born in October, 1840. She received a good education. The latter part of her life was spent in Springfield, Missouri, where her death occurred March 21, 1888. George D. Emery's educational advantages were limited. He devoted the principal part of his business career to the furniture business, and for years maintained a store on the South Side, Springfield, to which city he removed with his family in 1870, and on September 7, 1914, died at his residence, having reached the advanced age of nearly eighty-three years. His family consisted of only two children, namely: Alonzo W., of this sketch, and Frank E.
Alonzo W. Emery was six years of age when, in 1870, he removed with his parents from Brooklyn, New York, to Springfield, Missouri, and here he grew to manhood and received his education in the ward and high schools. When a boy he clerked in various stores, and in 1885 went to Colorado and followed ranching two or three years, returning to Springfield in 1888, and began braking on a freight train for the Kansas City, Ft. Scott & Memphis Railroad Company, commonly known as the "Gulf road," which was sold to the Frisco system in 1900. After working for that company a year, he returned to the West and worked on the Oregon Short Line until 1892, when he came back to Springfield, and went to braking again, which he followed until 1895, when he was promoted to conductor of a freight train. After five years of this work he was promoted, in 1900, to passenger conductor, his, run being between Springfield and Memphis, and he still continues on his regular run on this division.
Mr. Emery has been twice married, first, on June 15, 1890, to Marion Cummins, in Huntington, Oregon. She was born in Wisconsin, and her death occurred in Springfield, Missouri, in 1906. To this first union two children were born, namely: Clifford, born December 16, 1897, and Albert, born April 27, 1899. Mr. Emery's second marriage was consummated on March 4, 1911, his choice of a companion being Wanda Lasley, a widow, who was born in Logan county, Ohio, November 6, 1880, and is a daughter of James L. and Maria (Franks) McKinnon, both natives of Ohio, and the parents of each came from New York state. Mr. McKinnon was born in 1846 and his death occurred in Urbana, Ohio, in 1884. Mrs. McKinnon was, born in 1850 and she is still living, making her home in Webster county Missouri. Mr. McKinnon was an architect and builder of superior skill and won a wide reputation in his line of endeavor in the state of Ohio. His family consisted of three children, namely: Mrs. Nettie M. Littleton, who, resides in Springfield, Missouri; Alva, who makes his home in Kansas, and Wanda, who married Mr. Emery of this sketch.
Politically, Mr. Emery is a Democrat. He belongs to Division 321, Order of Railway Conductors, and is a member of the Masonic order, including the Knights Templar degree and the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. Religiously, he belongs to the Presbyterian church Mrs. Emery is a member of the Christian church.
[1101-1102]
A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | Y
Table of Contents | Keyword Search | Greene County History Home | Local History Home