Mary Burnet McAdam and Harris Emert

Mary Burnet McAdam and Harris Emert

Mary Burnet was the oldest sister (half-sister) of Janet McAdam Waning.  Mary was born the 17th of August 1863 in the Bridgeton District of Glasgow, Scotland to Mary Burnet.  On her birth certificate, signed by her maternal grandmother, Agnes Robertson Burnet, the name of the father is left blank.  Mary and her sister Jean left for America with their mother and step-father, Mathew McAdam sometime in 1868.

In all the U.S. census records (1870-1885) Mary appears as Mary McAdam.  She is also listed as Mary McAdam in her marriage certificate and death certificate.  The only other record that acknowledges her "half-sister" status is the will of Mathew McAdam which refers to her as a step-daughter.

I remember hearing just two stories about Mary. 

The first: One winter not long after coming to Minnesota, Mary spoke of the "big doggie" who watched her as she performed her chores...bringing in the cows.  After two or three times, her parents' interest was caught as they had no dogs.  Mathew went out with her and discovered the dog was a wolf!  As best I know they did not shoot the wolf, just were amazed that it had come so close to humans.

Story number two:

This is maybe more about Mathew than Mary...anyway the McAdams kept bees and Mary was in charge of the bees and hives.  One day Mathew thought he'd take charge - instead he stirred up the bees, they swarmed...and found haven in his beard.  He ended up seeking shelter in a water trough, and Mary ended up taking care (once again) of the bees.

If anyone has more stories or further details please contact me!   

Mary married Harris (Harry) Emert the 2nd June 1892 in Dayton, OH.  I speculate that she was visiting her maternal aunt, Agnes Burnet Wallace when she met Harry Emert.  The Emerts lived in Ohio for a while and had one child, Robert Emmert.  They then moved to the Los Angeles area where they lived the remainder of their lives. 

Mary Burnet McAdam Emert, Robert Emmert, Harris Emert - 1903

The Emerts / Emmerts visited Janet McAdam Waning on a regular basis.  We have photos of the Emert family taken in Minnesota, Montana, and Oregon - Wendling and Dexter. 

Beth Emmert, Janet McAdam Waning, James Waning, Willard Waning, Mary Burnet McAdam Emert

Wendling, Oregon.