Mrs. Emma J. Brown, residing in Atlas township, was born in Pennsylvania. July 20. 1844, and is a daughter of Henry and Elizabeth (Hagerty) Lutz. Her parents left the Keystone state when their daughter was but six years of age, and made their way direct to Pittsfield. Pike county. Illinois, where Mrs. Brown was educated.

Her father was a carpenter by trade and followed that pursuit up to a short time prior to his death. His wife passed away in Pittsfield in 1853 and was buried in the South cemetery, while Mr. Lutz departed this life in 1883 in Summer Hill, and his remains were interred by the side of his wife's grave.

Emma J. Lutz spent her girlhood days in her parents' home, and on the 5th of February, 1862, she gave her hand in marriage in Rockport, Illinois to Roger Sherman Brown, who was born in Missouri, September 1, 1838. He was a Mississippi river pilot, and made trips mostly between St. Louis, Missouri, and St. Paul, Minnesota. He engaged in steamboating up to the time of his illness, which was terminated in death at Summer Hill on the 20th of June, 1901, his remains being interred in the cemetery at that place.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Brown had been born seven children : Sherman H., deceased ; Charles M. ; Addie May, who has also passed away ; Walter P. ; Emma M., likewise deceased ; Lizzie B. ; and W. Robert Brown. Of these Sherman H. died February 2, 1895, and was buried in Summer Hill cemetery, while Addie M. passed away August 11, 1899, and Emma on the 22d of July, 1895. All were interred in Summer Hill cemetery, where the remains of the father were also kid to rest. Of the surviving children, Lizzie became the wife of Clarence Wassell, who is a general merchant of Summer Hill, Illinois. He was born October 31, 1880, in New Hartford, Pike county, and is a son of James and Emma (Bentley) Wassell. His father, a native of Ohio, is now a farmer of New Hartford, Illinois, and was there married, since which time he and his wife have resided in New Hartford. Their son Clarence was educated in the schools of that town and in Brown's Business College at Jacksonville, Illinois. He had previously engaged in teaching at Stoney Point at the age of .seventeen years. He left college in 1889, and afterward obtained a position as profit clerk with the Simmons Hardware Company, of St. Louis, Missouri, with which he continued for about three and a half years. Subsequently he opened a general mercantile store in Summer Hill, which he is now conducting, being one of the enterprising and successful merchants of that place. Previous to this time he married Miss Lizzie B. Brown, daughter of Captain R. S. and Emma (Lutz) Brown, the wedding being celebrated on the 15th of December, 1900. By this union there have been born two children, a son and daughter: Clarence Dwight, who was born May, 1902; and Edna Elizabeth, born August 18, 1905.

Mrs. Brown resides in Summer Hill with her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. Wasser and is deeply interested in her little grandchildren, who contribute much to her happiness.

Source: Past and Present Of Pike County and IL by Capt. Massie 1906