According to family lore Emma's father, William McNeal, inherited 50 slaves and gave his wife Nancy a maid for a wedding present.  In fact the 1840 census does show 1 young slave girl in their household just after they married yet there is not proof yet of them ever owning 50 slaves.  Nancy Frances Burgess made, dyed & wove her own quilts.  She is said to have had all the slave sale records burned on the death of her husband William McNeal.  Emma was the 7th or 8th child of 14 children.  Her brother John McNeal was killed in the civil war.

Watt Kinney cleared his land in Jackson County, and then built his house and barn from the timbers he cut.  He first built a log house and saved out the best timbers and loaded them on a wagon and carried them over to "Bud" McNeal's mill to saw them into lumber to build the Kinney home place.  He was considered one of the best farmers in the community and developed a highly productive farm.  His seed corn sold at a premium.  He and Emma were noted for their hospitality.  The visiting preachers always stayed with Watt and Emma.  Watt (G. W.) was a self but well educated man.  He encouraged his children to get all the education they could afford.  He helped to form a literary society in his community and served as its president.  His baby brother, Herschel, was secretary.  They discussed and debated subjects of their day.  A copy of some of the debate notes, topics and conclusions are in the possession of a descendant, William Park Bell, son of Averrie Wilson Bell.  They are found in Watt's Day Book.  G. W. "Watt" Kinney is said the have had the first cotton gin in the south.

Emma died of a stroke may 22, 1942 in Jackson County, Georgia and Watt died May 24, 1951.  They are both buried at Walnut Fork Baptist Church.