This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: EMMITT, RENOUD Classification: Biography Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/2YB.2ACI/2100 Message Board Post: Biography of George Elbert Emmitt This is from Portrait and Biographical Record of Tazewell and Mason Counties, Illinois -Chicago Biographical Publishing Company - 1894 (page 558): George E. EMMITT. The Buckeye State has contributed to Illinois many estimable citizens, and none are more worthy of respect and esteem than the subject of this sketch, who is manager and yeast maker in the Globe Distillery at Pekin. He was born in Waverly, Ohio June 17, 1853; and is the son of Robert Emmitt, who was a native of Pennsylvania [Ohio]; and who located with his parents in Ohio when quite young [the family came to Ohio in 1816, Robert was born 17 Feb.1817 in Ohio]. The father was also a distiller, which business he carried on in Peoria, whither he had come in 1856. He remained here six years, and on his return to Ohio, carried on the same business in partnership with his brother, [Hon.] James Emmitt, until his decease in 1883 [1893]. Mrs. Eliza J. Renode [Renoud] Emmitt, the mother of our subject, was born in New York and accompanied her parents on their removal to Ohio [Illinois]. They first located in Waverly [Pike Co. IL], but afterwards moved to Chillicothe [??]. Her father, Stephen Renoud, was a cooper by trade [and stage coach driver]and an early settler of Pittsfield Ohio[Illinois] . where the declining years of his life were spent. George E, of this sketch, was educated in the public schools of the Buckeye State; and when reaching his sixteenth year was apprenticed to learn the distiller's trade under the instruction of his father. He was thus employed for about ten years in Chillicothe and Waverly; and in 1882 went to Lexington, KY, accepting a position as manager of a distillery in that city. Six years later he came to Pekin and was made Superintendent of the Star distillery, later was with the Crescent and is now manager of the Globe Distillery. The building of the latter was erected in 1892 under the supervision of our subject, and was incorporated with a capital of $250,000. It employs about one hundred men and has a capacity of five thousand bushels of grain a day. While residing in Kentucky, in 1886, Mr. Emmitt was married to Maude McClure, a native of that state; she bore him two children, Minnie F. and George R. Socially, our subject is an Odd Fellow; belongs to the encampment and is connected with the Ancient Order of United Workmen. He has also been Assistant Adjutant of the Fourth Regiment; and is in politics a true-blue Republican. He keeps thoroughly abreast of the times in the improvements and progress made in his calling, is well informed on the current topics of the day; and converses with intelligence on all leading subjects. +++++++++ Notes by JEmmitt: George Elbert’s first wife was Flora P. Higgins. Flora bore him three sons all born in Waverly. Robert M. born 5 July 1880, Thomas H. born 26 Jan 1883 & Earl born ca 1885. Second wife Maude McClure. Maude bore him the following children: Minnie Fisher born Nov 1888 , George R. born. 7 Oct. 1892, John born Jan 1895 and Arthur born Oct 1897. All children born to Maude were born in Pekin Illinois. George Elbert spent his last years at Terre Haute Indiana.where he died 24 Feb. 1922. Stephen Renoud in addition to being a cooper was also a stage coach driver .He lived in Scioto Co.briefly 1856 & 1857 but never lived in Pike or Ross Co. George E. had two brothers James Rufus(Ruf) my Grandfather and David Augustus (Gus). George Elbert went by the nickname Ell. They also had a sister Louisea Frances who died at age 25. It’s a long story how Eliza Jane met Robert in Pike County Illinois, no room here for that story. Eliza Jane Emmitt spent her last years in Terra Haute IN. with her son George Elbert. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Information submitted by: John Emmitt