William R. Emmons, magistrate, Palestine, was born April 14, 1836, in Russellville, Lawrence County, Ill. He is a son of Charles D. Emmons, born 1805, in Kentucky. He was a Sheriff of Lawrence County, and died 1850, in Russellville, Ill. He was married to Miss Sarah Mills, born 1810, in a fort near Russellville, and is the mother of ten children. Mr. W. R. Emmons went to school a few years in Russellville, but is mainly self educated. He taught school several years in Crawford County, Ill. In 1863, he bought a farm south of Robinson, lived there almost five years, when he bought a half-interest in the steam grist mill at Palestine. Three years after that he sold out, and in 1871 bought a farm near Palestine, which he works, though living in town. Has filled the following township offices: Assessor, two years; Collector, four years; Supervisor, two years. In the spring of 1881, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and has continued in that office up to date. Mr. Emmons was joined in matrimony, March 27, 1860, in Robinson, Ill., to Miss Sarah Nichols, born January 12, 1841, in Crawford County. She is the daughter of Merritt and Elizabeth (Brown) Nichols, and is the mother of four children-Hattie, born April 20, 1867; Eliza, born February 17, 1871; Blanche, born September 17, 1875; and one little boy cherub, William Roy, born May 29,1882. Mr. Emmons is a Knight of Honor, and adheres to the Republican party.
