E. Thayles Emmons (1882-1971)

Aka Edwin Thayles Emmons, Edwin Thales Emmons, E.T. Emmons

Newspaper Reporter & Editor, Columnist, Author, Artist, Local Historian, Naturalist

Born April 11, 1882, Woodstock, Vermont

Died May 17, 1971, Geneva, New York

E. Thayles Emmons, also known as Edwin Thayles, Edwin Thales, or just plain E. T. Emmons, was better known to the residents of Geneva, New York, as the editor of their daily newspaper. Emmons wrote one story for Weird Tales. It was called "Two Hours of Death," and it appeared in the May 1923 issue of the magazine, only the third issue to see print.

Emmons was born on April 11, 1882, in Woodstock, Vermont, and grew up in Taftsville. After graduating high school in 1899, he worked for a string of newspapers--Vermont Standard, Brockton Times, Boston American, Syracuse Evening Telegram, Rochester Herald--before arriving at the Geneva Daily Times in 1906. He remained with the newspaper for decades to come and in 1945 became executive editor.

Emmons was an indispensable figure in his adopted hometown. He was president of the Geneva Historical Society and the local botanical society and member of numerous other organizations and civic groups. Emmons also wrote stories and nature articles for magazines, a column called "Days of Yore," and a local history, The Story of Geneva (1931). I have found just two magazine credits, Emmons' story for Weird Tales, and another in Locomotive Engineers Journal. In addition, Emmons was a birdwatcher and participated in annual bird censuses. His hobby was collecting ferns.

Emmons came from an old New England family. His descendants still call New York home. The Rochester Chapter of Sigma Delta Chi, the National Journalism Fraternity, honored Emmons in January 1969 for his seven decades in the profession. He died on May 17, 1971, in Geneva at the age of eighty-nine.

E. Thayles Emmons' Story in Weird Tales

"Two Hours of Death" (May 1923)

Further Reading

You can read Emmons' story, "James Crowley-Gentleman" from Locomotive Engineers Journal, on Google Books.

"Seneca St. by Night, from Hotel Seneca." Geneva, New York, would have looked like this at about the time Edwin Thales Emmons arrived there to begin work at the Geneva Daily Times in 1906.

Thanks to A Family Member for further information on Edwin Thales Emmons.
Text and captions copyright 2011, 2023 Terence E. Hanley