Charles Aric Emerson was from Chester, Illinois.
("Aric" is the correct spelling)
His family may have come from Oklahoma.

His parents were Robert Earnest and Elizabeth Anna Bogardus Emerson.
His siblings were Lloyd Earnest, Elmer, and ? sisters Virginia and Beryl).

Charles and Mae (Marie Sophie Reichardt Emerson) raised their 11 children in
East St.Louis, IL. and Prospect Park, a small town just outside E.St.Louis.

During the Depression he found jobs as a butcher,
a wallpaper hanger, working with an oil company
digging shale in Colorado, and he once had a restaurant
at 50th and State in a rented filling station building.
Later, he built homes in Prospect Park, IL, and worked
at the First National Bank in East St.Louis.

Brother Elmer played the guitar; he married ? Pauline. He died May 6, 1936.

Brother Lloyd's funeral notice says he was the husband of May and father of Neil Emerson:
son of Mrs. Anna Durell: brother of Mrs. Virginia Barnes, Mrs. Beryl Stephenson, and
Charles Emerson. He lived at 755 N. 72nd St. E.St.Louis, Il. He died May 18, 1942.
Perhaps Elmer isn't listed as a brother because he died before Lloyd.
His mother listed as Anna Durell, perhaps she had remarried.


There’s a Jack Emerson in Stehfest Cemetery, Prairie du Long Township,
StClair Co, Sec 33 near Hecker, IL, 30 miles from Chester.
B.April 8, 1823, D.July 19, 1868. Don't know if he's any relation.

The actress Faye Emerson contacted Charles at one time, probably researching
her family tree. She said that St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City was
owned by Emersons, or the land was. She also said that all Emersons who
spelled the name with one "m" were related.