In 1802, the property came into the Emig family when it was purchased as a farm by patriarch, Valentine Emig. The farm later passed to John Emig Jr., Valentines grandson. In 1850, John, Jr. built The Emig Mansion on the family homestead. He was hard working man: a farmer, entrepreneur, and honest and fair Christian.
For the times, York County and the Lancaster Valley were the bread basket of a growing industrial center in the Northeastern United States. Blessed with some of the country's most fertile soil, the up to 200 acre land was an asset, and perfect for a hard working Palatine immigrant family. This combination provided the opportunity for growth and wealth. Visionary John Emig Jr. seized his opportunity to grow along with it.
