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EMIGH
Peter J. Emigh (Emich, Emig) was born 20 April 1759, according to an old family Bible record which states, "Grand Father Peter J. Emigh died A.D. 1849 March the 5. His age was 89 years, 10 months and 13 days." Peter Emich and Elizabeth Keppel were joined in wedlock at Strasburg, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania on 18 September 1787. Peter J. spent most of his life in Pennsylvania, moving further west as the years passed by.
On 12 July 1789, Peter J.'s son, Fredrick Emigh, was born in Strasburg Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and he spent his boyhood on his father's farm. He was married to Alice Kendrick 20 Nov 1811, and apparently left immediately for Richland Township, Cambria County, Pennsylvania, which lay halfway across Pennsylvania westward. All of their nine children were born here.
Peter C. Emich was born in Sidman, Cambria County, Pennsylvania on 30 May 1817. He was raised in the Protestant faith, and was taught by his father farming, blacksmithing, and the arts of mining. He was also a miller at one time in his life. On 4 February 1838, Peter C. married Mary Ann Cullen, a woman doctor and staunch Catholic. Irregardless of the difference in their religions, the young couple married and were the parents of ten children, all born in Wilmore with the exception of the oldest, John C. who was born in nearby Johnstown.

Peter and Mary Ann In 1862, Peter applied for homestead rights for Nebraska land ten miles east of Dubois. He received a patent for the land on 5 Feb 1871. After their arrival in Nebraska, Mary Ann did not renew her medical license but did act as midwife for many of the pioneers.
During this time, the furies of the Civil War were smouldering and burst into flames. As a consequence, the sons of Peter heeded the call of the Union; John C. became a Sgt. in Company G. 11th Pa. Co.; William James became a Private in Company L., 1st Regiment of Colorado Volunteers and served as a scout for wagontrains; George Ambrose was hit in the lungs with a cannonball in the Battle of Murfreeboro, 29 December 1862, and was brought back home to Nebraska where he developed inflammation of the lungs and died, being buried by the family in a pasture and later reinterred in the cemetery at Middleburg. He had grown a beard after death; Lawrence Albert was killed at the Battle of Reams Station, Va., 23 August 1864, buried in Virginia. Thomas F. did not join the service.
(NOTE: Most of this text is taken from the book, "Families Not Forgotten", written by my mother, Frances Wilkerson Hackworth.)

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