Biography

08/10/1839 - 11/19/1924

Lewis Emery, Jr. (R25) McKean, Potter and Tioga Counties 1881-1888

Early Life: 

Lewis Emery, Jr., born August 10, 1839, Cherry Creek Township, Chautauqua County, New York; son of Lewis Sr. and Maria Gilson Emery; raised in Michigan; attended common schools; Hillsdale College, Michigan; miller; proprietor, Emery Oil Company; proprietor, general hardware store, machine and railroad supply house; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State House of Representatives, 1879-1880 term, not a candidate for reelection, 1880 term; elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 1881-1889; president, Bradford, DeGolier and Smethport Railroad Company, 1880; engaged, merchant flour milling, Michigan; proprietor, lumber mill, Kentucky; proprietor, wheat farms, North Dakota; unsuccessful campaign, Governor of Pennsylvania, 1906; married, Elizabeth Caldwell, children, Delevan Emery, Grace Elizabeth Emery, Earle Caldwell Emery; died, November 19, 1924, city of Philadelphia, Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania; interred, Oak Hill Cemetery, Bradford, McKean County, Pennsylvania.

Early Career:

Senior year, student-professor, Hillsdale College. Moved, Pennsylvania, oil business, drilled, first well, Toad Hollow outside Bradford, 1875, owned over 500 producing oil wells. President, Bradford, DeGolier and Smethport Railroad Company, 1880; engaged, merchant flour milling, Michigan; proprietor, lumber mill, Ky.; proprietor, wheat farms, North Dakota. World traveler exhibited items from travels, personal museum, located, second floor, Emery Hardware Store, Bradford.

Pennsylvania Politics:

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania House of Representatives, 1879-1880 term, not a candidate for reelection 1880 term.

Elected, Republican, Pennsylvania State Senate, 25th district, McKean, Potter and Tioga Counties, 1881-1888, committee assignments, Banks, Education, Insurance, Legislative Apportionment, New County and County Seats. (Rumored knocked out a fellow senator on the floor of the capitol building)   

Unsuccessful campaign, Governor of Pennsylvania, 1906.

Pa. House of Representatives Biography:

Official Website - PA House Archives Official Website (state.pa.us)

Legacy:

The SS Lewis Emery Jr., World War II liberty ship, built, Alabama Drydock and Shipbuilding Company, Mobile, Alabama, launched October 15, 1943.  

Lewis Emery (armed-guard.com)

Lewis Emery County Park and Lewis Emery Community Center Hillsdale, MI 49242. Hillsdale County Parks

The History of The Emery Hotel  Bradford Landmark Society - The History of The Emery Hotel - Bradford Pa History Historical Society

Minard Run Oil Company  Our History (minardrunoil.com)

The Lewis Emery House, 116 Congress Street  (20+) The Lewis Emery house,... - The Bradford Historical Landmark Society | Facebook

Cited:

Cox, Harold. Senate Members "E" (wilkes.edu). Wilkes University Election Statistics Project. Wilkes University.

Smull’s Legislative Handbook, (1888). Cochran, T.B., (Editor) Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, pages 670, 676-678, Biographical Sketches of Senators, page 642.

University restores painting owned by oil tycoon (News) | University of Pittsburgh at Bradford

Lewis Emery Jr. (1839-1924) - Find a Grave Memorial