Emerson, Caleb, 1779-1853

Caleb Emerson was born August 21, 1779, at Ashby, Massachusetts. His parents, Timothy and Mary (Felch) Emerson, died when he was young, and he was raised by Samuel and Elizabeth Smith of Mason, New Hampshire. Emerson read law at Amherst, New Hampshire, where he met his mentor, James Elliott, a lawyer from Brattleborough, Vermont. He also assisted the editor of the Farmer's Cabinet prior to leaving New England for Marietta, Ohio, in the fall of 1808.

Timothy Pickering, Postmaster General and formerly Secretary of State, wrote a letter of introduction for Emerson, asking for Rufus Putnam's help in getting the young attorney started in Ohio (see Samuel P. Hildreth Collection, Timothy Pickering to Rufus Putnam, October 14, 1808). With the assistance of James Elliott and Paul Fearing, Emerson was admitted to the Ohio bar and opened a law office in Marietta about 1809.

On July 29, 1810, Caleb Emerson was married to Mary Dana, daughter of Capt. William Dana and Mary (Bancroft) Dana, of Belpre, Ohio. At the same time, he began a connection with the Western Spectator, a newspaper published in Marietta. He continued his law practice and served as prosecuting attorney of Washington County, Ohio, from 1815 to 1821. Much of Emerson's property was destroyed by fire in October 1820, when he lived on Front Street, between Scammel and Wooster streets.

Caleb and Mary (Dana) Emerson joined the Marietta Baptist Church about 1822, and continued their membership until death. Emerson also served as a trustee of Marietta College, a member of the Washington Benevolent Society, and a member of the local temperance organization. In 1836 he became editor of the Marietta Gazette. Among his other literary pursuits were journal articles supporting the abolition of slavery.

Caleb Emerson died at his home in Marietta on March 14, 1853.

From the guide to the Caleb Emerson Collection, 1807-1929, 1807-1853, (Marietta College Library)