Mrs. Miriam Straw Emerson Fogg

Mrs. Miriam Straw Emerson Fogg, widow of the late Sherburne Fogg, of West Hopkinton, and daughter of John Jones and Elizabeth (Straw) Emerson, was born on the farm where she now lives, November 20, 1821. She is a descendant of a prominent pioneer family of Hopkinton, her great-grandfather, Timothy Emerson, having been the original settler on Clement's Hill. Timothy Emerson was very active in local affairs, doing much to advance the interests of the little town, among other things donating the land for the cemetery in which his body was laid to rest after his death, March 22, 1826, at the venerable age of eighty-six years. He was twice married. His first wife, who was without doubt an Ober, bore him two daughters and one son. The latter was John Ober Emerson, Mrs. Fogg's grandfather. His children by his second wife Mary, were: Collins, Day, Benjamin, and Rachel. Day died November 1, 1841, at the age of fifty-two years, and was buried in the family lot. The mother, who survived the father, died October 29, 1833, aged eighty-one years.

John Ober Emerson was born on Clement's Hill in Hopkinton, June 6, 1770. After his marriage with Mary Jones he settled on the present homestead, which extends along the Contoocook River, the house being beautifully located on the banks of the stream. Mary Jones was born August 14, 1769, daughter of John and Elizabeth (Gordon) Jones. Her father died July 10, 1815, aged sixty-seven years; and her mother April 15, 1838, at the age of eighty-eight. John Ober Emerson and his wife became the parents of six children, namely: Philip, born in 1792, who lived but four years; Moses, born January 20, 1794, who died at the age of two years; John Jones, born December 25, 1795, who died February 1, 1841; Sarah Kast, born March 25, 1798, who died in 1823, aged twenty-five years; Micah George J., born July 21, 1801, who has not been heard from since he started for Troy, N.Y., in 1832; and Jane Greeley, born July 13, 1807, who married Daniel Hardy, of Warner, N.H., and died in August, 1882.

Her friends, who watched her progress, were not inspired to make the attempt by her example.  They followed the advice conveyed by the old proverb, "The longest way round is the shortest way home," by walking to the bridge. John Jones Emerson lived and died on the farm where his birth occurred, spending his years as a tiller of the soil. His name is among the list of Hopkinton soldiers who served in the War of 1812. He enlisted in Colonel Nathaniel Fisk's first regiment in 1814. In the old militia days he was a Captain of riflemen. He married Miss Elizabeth Straw, who, born in Hopkinton, November 23, 1793, daughter of Levi and Miriam (Jones) Straw, died January 17, 1859. His children were: Seth George, Miriam Straw, Mary Jane, Sarah Elizabeth, Andrew Jackson, and William Seneca. Seth George, born April 24, 1820, who married Sarah Goss, of Henniker, and was at one time the owner of the homestead, removed to Fort Gratiot, Mich., where he died August 1, 1864. Mary Jane, born March 22, 1823, who died February 13, 1886, was the wife of Martin E. Philips, of Henniker, N.H. Sarah Elizabeth, born September 2, 1824, married Samuel D. Clark, of Chesterfield, N.H., and died in Port Huron, Mich., November 19, 1893. Andrew Jackson, born in February, 1828, died in January, 1831. William Seneca, born May 4, 1831, who married Mary A. Andrews, of the Isle of Sheppey, England, died August 17, 1890, in Hillsborough, N.H.

Miriam Straw Emerson was married to Sherburne Fogg. He was born July 9, 1819, in Meredith (now Laconia), N.H., son of Seth and Betsey Boudon (Gile) Fogg, and grew to man's estate in Gilmanton, whither his parents removed when he was young. He was a carpenter, and from the time of his marriage until 1857 he worked at his trade in Manchester, this State. After residing for a time in Belmont, he came in 1859 to Hopkinton, purchased from his brother-in-law, Seth George Emerson, the Emerson homestead, and was subsequently engaged in agriculture until his death, which occurred June 4, 1873. Mrs. Fogg has since resided on the farm.

Source: "Biographical Review, Vol. 22, containing life sketches of leading citizens of Merrimack and Sullivan Counties, New Hampshire". B. R. Pub. Co., 1897.

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