Emerson Looper
Emerson Looper (about 1833 – May 29, 1864) was a Union soldier from Scott County who died during the Civil War.
See Also: Scott Countians killed in war
Biography
Born in Kentucky between 1826 and 1833, Emerson Looper was the son of William Looper and Eleanor “Nellie” Long. His siblings included John Looper, Thomas Looper, Granville Cecil Looper and Riley Looper.
His brother, Riley Looper, fought for the Confederate army and was killed in St. Louis, Mo. in 1864. The rest of the family was loyal to the Union, but Riley married into the Smith family, which was perhaps Scott County’s most staunchly Confederate family.
Emerson’s other brothers, John, Granville and Thomas, all served in the Union army. John and Emerson were both members of the same company, and both were captured during the war.
Emerson married Kisiah (Kizziah) Ann Thomas, the daughter of Stephen Thomas and Sarah Reed. They married on Sept. 15, 1851 in Scott County. The marriage was officiated by justice of the peace Timothy Cecil.
Emerson and Kizziah had two children: Joel, born about 1856, and Malinda, born about 1858.
Kizziah died in 1862, while Emerson was away at war. Their children were orphaned, and were raised by Emerson’s brother, John, after the war.
Civil War
Emerson enlisted in the Union army on July 20, 1862, and was assigned to Co. D, 2nd Tennessee Infantry.
On Nov. 6, 1863, the 2nd Tennessee was overwhelmed by Confederate forces at the Battle of Rogersville. Emerson and the rest of the regiment were taken prisoner, including his brother, John. Emerson was confined at Belle Isle in Richmond, Va., and later transferred to Andersonville, Ga. He was admitted to the hospital with diarrhea on May 29, 1864, and died that same day.
Aftermath
Emerson was buried in Grave No. 2193 at Andersonville National Cemetery.
John Looper received $459.43 in pension funds over the course of several years to raise his brother’s children.
Joel Looper married Mary Jane Pennycuff in 1876 and moved to Clinton County, Ky. They had a son, Bryan, born about 1885. They later moved to Oregon, where Joel died of pneumonia in 1923.