Sarah (Dwire) Emery - burial

My great great great grandmother, Sarah (Dwire) Emery was buried at the Ottumwa Cemetery in Ottumwa, Wapello county, Iowa.

Here is a photo of Sarah's plot which does not have a marker or headstone. 

Sarah was buried to the left of her son, Fred J Emery (my great great grandfather) and the right of her husband, David W Emery, my great great great grandfather.   A map of the burials was previously posted and can be found here.

Sarah (Dwire) Emery - obituary

Here is the obituary* of my great great great grandmother, Sarah Emery.

Sarah was born to Lacey and Ellis Dwire in Fulton County, Illinois on June 3, 1837.   Sarah married David W Emery sometime in 1853 or 1854, probably near Galva, Henry county, Illinois.   Because counties were not required to record vital information until after 1916, I've been unable to locate their marriage license.

*From the March 14, 1928 edition of the Ottumwa Courier

1915 Iowa Census - Sarah (Dwire) Emery

Here is the 1915 Iowa Census for my great great great grandmother, Sarah (Dwire) living in Ottumwa, Wapello county, Iowa.

My great great great grandfather, David W Emery had passed away 6 years earlier.

1880 US Census - Sarah Ann (Emery) Ferman

Here is the 1880 US Census for Sarah Ann Ferman, daughter of Olive (Jacobs) and Henry Emery.

Sarah was living in Blandinville, McDonough county, Illinois with husband Frank and their children, George and Willie.     Also living in the household was a nephew, Eddie Emery, though I'm not sure which of Sarah's brothers was Eddie's father.

1870 US Census - Sarah Anne (Emery) Ferman

Here is the 1870 US Census for Olive (Jacobs) and Henry Emery's daughter, Sarah Anne Ferman.

Sarah and husband Frank were living in Clover, Henry county, Illinois with their children Geo (George) and William.

Sarah (Dwire) and David W Emery residence

Based upon the details found in the article I posted yesterday, here are a couple of photos of the home where Galva Emery, the first child born in Galva, Illinois was born to my great great great grandparents, Sarah (Dwire) and David W Emery.

The house was eventually rebuilt and apparently only the basement and foundation from the original home still exist today.

The Emery home was located at NW First Street and 5th Avenue in Galva, Illinois.

Galva Emery - Part II

Earlier this year I had posted a small article about Galva Emery, the first daughter born to my great great great grandparents, Sarah (Dwire) and David W Emery.   Galva was also the first child born in the town of Galva, Henry County, Illinois.

Here is a more detailed article about Galva's birth from the February 1962 Galvaland Magazine*

*The article indicates Galva died September 13, 1865; she actually passed away at the age of 8 on September 23, 1963.



Here is a follow-up article that appeared in the Galvaland Magazine from the January/February 1980 edition that also mentioned Galva's brother, Frank who preceded her in death the previous year.   Frank's headstone is difficult to read so his date of death is unknown, however I have determined he was born in 1861 or 1862.

David W Emery family tree

I've added a tab to the family tree for the family of Sarah (Dwire) and David W Emery, (my great great great grandparents).

Most family trees I've encountered of the Emery family have failed to include all 11 children of Sarah and David.    I have confirmed the names of all their children and have attempted to confirm their birth and death information as well as marriages, if applicable.

1850 US Census - Sarah Dwire

Here is the 1850 US Census for my great great great grandmother, Sarah Dwire.   I've seen the spelling as Dwyer and Dwire so I wanted to see if I could confirm the correct spelling.

I also located land grants that Sarah's father, Ellis, purchased in Illinois for Fulton, Peoria and Stark counties on November 3, 1840 which also use the Dwire spelling.

The only census I've come across that used a "y" appears to be the 1860 US Census.  While there are errors on birth year as well as other spelling errors, it seems the correct spelling IS "Dwire".

Galva Emery

The first child born to my great great great grandparents, Sarah (Dwire or Dwyer) and David Emery was Galva who was born January 21, 1855.*

Galva Emery had the distinction of being the first child born in the new town of Galva, Illinois, for which they named their first born child.

Here is a snippet from "History of Henry County" by H.F. Kett Company, page 169:

Unfortunately, Galva died sometime after 1860 and prior to 1870.

*Conrad Emery and His Descendants" by Frederic B Emery, 1970

1925 Iowa Census - Georgia Peck & Sarah Emery

Here is the 1925 Iowa Census for Georgia Peck, husband Burchard, their son Edward and my great great great grandmother, Sarah (Dwire or Dwyer) Emery.     The 1925 Iowa census contains much more information than the US census and is quite useful in verifying you are on the right track.  There are 3 pages per individual.

Burchard is the last entry.

Georgia is the top entry, son Edward second and Sarah Emery third.

The page below lists Burhcard's father and mother's maiden name and their respective places of birth.

The page below lists Georgia, Edward, Sarah and their respective father, mother and places of birth.




















The page below lists Burchard's personal, residence and education information.



















The page below lists the personal, residence and education information for Georgia, Edward and Sarah.

1920 US Census - Georgia Peck

Here is the 1920 US census for Georgia Peck living with husband Burchard and three of their four children, Florence, Paul and Edward.   Apparently Lucile had passed away sometime between 1910 and 1920.

My great great great grandmother Sarah (Dwire or Dwyer) Emery was still living at the household.

1910 US Census - Georgia Peck

Here is the 1910 US Census for Georgia (Emery) Peck and husband Burchard.   They were still living in Ottumwa, Iowa with their children Florence, Paul and Lucile.    Burchard had moved on from being a day laborer in 1900 to a grocery salesman by 1910.




















Georgia's mother, my great great great grandmother, Sarah (Dwier or Dwyer) Emery was also living in the household at the time of the census.   I have not seen a death certificate for my great great great grandfather David W Emery who died in January 1909, but this document helps confirm he died prior to 1910.