Evening star., 1901-10-12

his physician began to be hopeful of his
| recovery. There was a change for the
worse, however, at the hour named, the
| sinking spells returned and he grew gradu-
ally weaker until the end came. There
| were with Mr.. Emery at the time of his
| death his entire family, including his SON.
| in-law, Mr. W. " Cox, who had been tele-
| graphed for, and who came on from Buf-
| falo, reaching here last night.
| Active in Affairs.
Mr.. Emery was an active man of affairs
up to the time of his last Illness. In addi-
| tion to the management of the bank. where
| he spent most of his time each business
| day, he was president of the Washington
Market Company, and up to a year or two
ago was at the head of the Mutual Fire Ir-
surance Company. He was director of
the American Security and Trust Com
pany and in addition to attending to these
corporate interests he gave time and
thought to the management of his own
| property which was large. He was the
| last of the line of living ex-mayors. Colonel
Eerret having passed away several months
| ago.
As a representative of form of govern
| ment that existed here for nearly three
quarters of a century Mr.. Emery was al
ways pleasantly reminiscent. He stood for
much that was vital in the progress of the
| city, and as one who had contributed to it's
material advancement he held a position
that was not without interest to those Of
the younger generation.
OF Sturdy Stock.
Matthew Gault Emery came from sturdy
stock. The founders of the family in this
country, John and Anthony Emery, emil
grated from Ramsey, Harets, England, in
1857, landing at Boston, April 3. They set
tied in what was called "Ould Newberrie,"
colony of Mr.
born in Pembroke, N. H. over eighty-three
years ago. His maternal grandfather, Mat
| thew Gault enlisted in the patriot army
| when he was nineteen years of age and
served with distinction for period of four
years. There were six of the Emery boys
| and Matthew, Joseph and Samuel came
| south. Matthew, who was born September
| IS, 1918, had been prepared for college in
| the leading schools of his native town, and
| was about to be fitted for one of the learned
professions when he determined to strike
| out for himself. His father was bitterly
| opposed to this, but the youth of eighteen
| years was resoute. He went to Baltimore
| where he apprenticed himself to a stone
| cutter. in order TO equip himself to become
| q master mechanic.
| Four years later, in 1S4O he secured his
| first government contract, which was to
| cut IN the quarry and supply the stone
| used In the construction of the building on
| F street between 7th and sth streets for
| merly occupied by the Post Office Depart
| ment He removed to this city and took
| up his permanent residence here in 1872
He did much of the stone work on the ex-
| tension of the Capitol building, and cut
and laid with his own hands the corner
| stone of the extension. He also cut,
| squared and laid, July 4, 1S4S, the corner
stone of the Washington monument, and
when the capstcne was placed upon it
thirty-six years later he was one of those
invited to be present as guests.
Organized a Military Company.
In 1861 he organized military company
and retained in his possession the commits
| sion appointing him captain. which vas
signed by A. Lincoln, President. and Simon
Cameron, Secretary of War. The company
did excellent patrol service in protecting
| property until the arrival of the volun-
teer troops. He then tok charge and cared
| for the sick and disabled soldiers from his
native state. New Hampshire, and gave to
| the army the use of his handsome country
residence at Brightwood, which became an
! important signal station by reason of it's
| high situation.
| BECOMES an Alderman.
After the war Mr.. Emery became a mem
Der of the board of aldermen of the city,
and in 1870 was elected mayor He was
in that position when the territorial form
| of government for the District was estab-
| lished by Congress and the municipality
| abolished.
| When Mr.. Emery entered upon his busi-
ness career in 1912 he announced his tnten-
| tion of retiring from it when thirty years
| had elapsed. and in 1872 he carried this
| purpose out by disposing of his interest to
| his brother Samuel. He then devoted him
| self to his private business interests, which
| were of great magnitude. He had been
| identified with progressive movements and
| with many financial enterprises. For a
| number OF years he had been president Of
| the Second National Bank, and had been
able to a remarkable degree to give atten-
| tion to the daily business of the bank and
| also to remain in close touch with other
| interests with which he was identified He
| was one of the leading members Of the
| Metropolitan NJ. E. Church. and gave his
| time and his means to advancing various
| agencies of philanthropic work of the city.
| He made his residence for number of
| years past in the large I street house
| which is associated with some of the emf
nent men who have lived in this city. It
| was first occupied by John c. Breckinridge
| and afterward 1T was the home of General
| Grant 1t was then bought and presented
| to General Sherman, and then, after sew
eral years, was purchased by Mr.. Emery
| Mr.. Emery's wife and three daughters.
the latter being Mrs. Henkle. Mrs. W. v.
| Cox and Miss Emery survive him.