A History of Kentucky Baptists From 1769 to 1885, Including More Than 
800 Biographical Sketches, J. H. Spencer, Manuscript Revised and 
Corrected by Mrs. Burilla B. Spencer, In Two Volumes.  Printed For the 
Author.  1886.  Republished By Church History Research & Archives 1976 
Lafayette, Tennessee. Vol. 2, p 116 [Barren County]

ZECHARIAH EMERSON was born in Albemarl [sic] Co., Va., Jan. 16, 1771.  
He was converted in his nineteenth year, and united with "Mt. Ed" 
(Whitesides) church, of which his parents were members, being baptized 
by Benjamin Burgher.  He commenced exercising in public, soon after he 
was baptized, and was ordained to the ministry, in his twenty-first 
year.  At first, he labored under serious embarrassments.  He stammered 
badly, and his education was poor.  Some of his friends despaired of his 
succeeding in the ministry. But he was irrestibly impresssed with the 
duty and desire to talk to sinners about the salvation of their souls, 
and continued to try to preach as often as opportunity was afforded.  
Meanwhile he applied himself closely to the study of the Bible.  He 
improved slowly, but constantly, and in a few years, he had the care of 
three small congregations, which he continued to serve, until he moved 
away.
	In 1809, he moved to Kentucky, and settled in Barren county, about 
seven miles south-west from Glasgow.  He gave his membership to 
Bethlehem church, in Allen county, which was about 12 miles from his 
home, but, at that time, the most convenient to him.  He became pastor 
of Bethlehem and Bethel, in Allen county, Sinking Creek, in Barren, and 
Smiths Grove, in Warren.  To the first named, he ministered 30 years.  
During the last years of his life, he was much afflicted with a cancer 
on his face, which terminated his earthly career, May 10, 1851.
	Mr. Emerson's ministerial gifts developed slowly, and he never 
became what is termed a brilliant preacher.  But he was a close Bible 
student and a clear thinker, and became one of the ablest theologians in 
Green River Association.  He was a man of grave, dignified deportment, 
and was much resepcted by all classes of people.
	He raised a large family, of whom his son, Henry Emerson, became a 
young preacher of considerable promise, and was, for a short time, 
pastor of Beaver Creek church, in Barrern county.  But he died suddenly, 
in August, 1845.  

Emerson Burgher
=
Albemarle-VA Allen-Ky Warren-KY

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/barren/emerson.z.txt