Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1904-07-05
Hon. George E. Emery.
DEATH OF WE'LL KNOWN NATIVE OF
OXFORD COUNTY.


OXFORD COUNTY.
| After a very brief illness Hon. Georg
| F. Emery, one of the best known cit
zens of Portland and dean of Cumbel
land Bar, died early Friday morning a
his apartments at The Sherwood. n
longer ago than Wednesday he visite,
his Office in the Clapp Block.
For some time Mr.. Emery has com
planned about pains about his heart ant
on Thursday had severe attack. Blu
when he retired that evening, he said h
was feeling better. The physicians pro
nounced the cause of the death to b.
heart disease.
Almost to the last he kept up his. lit
erary work and few days ago wrote al
obituary of the late Samuel A. True, on,
Of his lifelong friends.
George F. Emery was born on Pari
Hill, Nov. 10, 1917. His father wa.
Judge Stephen Emery of Paris. Two o
his sisters were the first and secont
wives Of Vice President Hannibal Ham
lin and were richly endowed with fem
mime graces as was their husband will
masculine virtues. His brother Stephen
who died some years ago, was pro
lessor of music in the New England
Conservatory.
Mr.. Emery began his preparation fol
| college at private school in Andover
taught by Rev. Thomas 7. Stone. Among
his fellow pupils were George ii. Shir'
ley, Henry B. Poor and the late Judge
Virgin. He also attended Thornton
Academy at SacO and the Pennington
Normal School, and entered BOwdOin
College at the age of 10 years in the
class of SO. After graduating he stud
led law in his fathers's office and in 1887
though not yet admitted to the bar and
only 20 years of age, took charge, for
six months, of the Office of Waterford
lawyer who was Frustrated by illness.
He was admitted to the Oxford Bar on
the day he was 81 years old and entered
into partnership with his father, the firm
name being Stephen Emery II Son. He
was appointed Register of Probate by
Gov. Dana and reappointed by Gov. An
derSon, and after serving six years con-
cluded to resign and remove to Portland,
which he did in 1916. He opened law
office here and soon after, at the request
of Charles Holden, one of the owners of
the Eastern Argus, began to write lead
ing editorial articles for that paper,
wherein he so forcibly advocated the ex
clusion of the slaves from the territories
under the Wilmot proviso, that the
policy of the paper became so distaste-
full to the Polk administration that pres
sure was brought to bear which induced
Mr. Emery to resign, since his attitude
on the subject was unalterable.
In lS4I when Hannibal Hamlin was a
for l.. 5. Senator there was
strong opposition to him in Oxford
County among those Democrats who
were in sympathy with the opponents of
the Wilmot proviso. They labored to
defeat Mr.. Hamlin and Mr.. Emery I'M
dertook gratituitously the task of con-
Quoting the Oxford Democrat in the de-
Tense of his distinguished brother-in-law.
He encountered bitter opposition but he
and his friends were victorious and the
Oxford delegation voted for Himlin.
In 1S4S, Mr.. Emery was appointed by
Judge Levi Woodbury. to be clerk of the
United States Circuit Court, which posi-
ton he retained until 1876. In 1855 he
was appointed pension agent for Maine
by President Pierce and re-appointed by
President Buchanan, occupying the po-
,ilion for eight years. He was also
elected by his political opponents to be
l member of the city school committee
lud served for seven years, being asSo-
lated with such men rs PhineaS Barnes
md Judge Webb.
In 1876 he resigned as clerk of the cir
.uit-court and removing to Boston took
charge of the Morning Post, as president
If the Post Publishing Co. At one time
he entire responsibility of the financial,
rs well as editorial department was upon
MS shoulders. He strongly urged the
Democratic view of the situation at the
line when Hayes and Tilden were nomi
mated for the Presidency and the former
vas declared elected.
During the Greenback agitation the
Post adhered to the old hard money
doctrine and firmly opposed that of
,reenbackism of which Ben Butler was
1t the head in Massachusetts,. The
course of the Post antagonized the
Democracy and in consequence the
Globe was started as Democratic pa
Der. opposed tn the policy of the Post.
MIR. Emery severed his connection with
he Post and returned to Portland in
1881, and has since made his residence
here.
Two dominant characteristics of Mr..
Emery are apparent from the foregoing
acts. lie was Democrat by birth and
raining and conviction, but one OF the
I'D, strict construction school, now dying
,ut. and one who had never and would
never allow his partisanship to dominate
MS conscience. He was also 4 man OF
decided literary taste and talent, who
rad found his greatest pleasure in
literary pursuits, both in writing and
reading. lie had long been member of
the Maine Historical Society and con-
+ributed several valuable papers, among
hem sketch of John Appleton, his
and vindicatiOn of the
Baptists of Maine in reply TO the journal
# Paul Coffin. which he regarded as
,landerouS attack upon the early
Baptists.
lie was himself a member of the Free
Street Baptist church, but was broad
aud liberal Christian. His critical re-
searches and observation of life in con-
nection with theology, had been extern
,iye and the more he studied the more
liberal he became. He believed that no
party and no church had monopoly OF
truth.
Mr.. Emery's intimates knew him as a
man Of fne-grained, high-strung tenn
Of elevated tastes and senti-
ments and sympathies and the soul of
honor. They knew him also as man
of quiet and genuine humor aud ready
Wit. In 1884 ne received the degree Of
IL. u. from Colby University, confer
red. As he was accustomed humOrously To
say. in recognition Of his consistency as
a lifelong Democrat. lie was particu-
larry ready and happy as an aiter-dinncr
speaker and also had written occasional
graceful poems that betrayed strong
natural poetic tendency.
Ia figure, Mr. Emery was tall and
snare: IN manner, most courteous and
n inning: in countenance, strongly sig
n.ticant, not only of New England birth,
but of New England intellect and
morality In the first degree.
The Glorious Fourth.
Although Young America grasped his
privilege of celebrating Independence
Day in the time-honored fashion, as
soon as the stroke of twelve proclaimed
the passing of the line between Sunday
and Monday, il is not recorded that any
one was seriously disturbed thereby. A