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Bradford Founders Series - Hon. Lewis Emery, Jr.
April 7, 2008
HON. LEWIS EMERY, Jr. — Senator Emery is perhaps the best-known citizen of Bradford. He was born near the village of Cherry Creek, Chautauqua County, N. Y., August 10, 1839. His father met with financial reverses in the construction of a railroad, near Olean, for the old Erie company, and in other ventures. He went west and located with his family in Michigan, where he carried on the milling business, having mastered the trade of cloth-making when young and being a skilled mechanic.
The subject of our sketch was educated in the common schools, and after learning the trade of his father, attended the Hillsdale College, of Hillsdale, Mich., where he finished his training. He then taught school, and worked for his father in his mill. In May, 1846, he went to Illinois, where he engaged in general merchandizing and built a mill.
In August, 1865, he entered the Pennsylvania oil field. He was successful in his wells at Titusville, but was financially ruined by the failure of Jay Cooke & Co. Mr. Emery for some time had great faith in McKean County as an oil producing territory, and, undaunted, he leased and purchased about 14,000 acres of land there, without a dollar of capital, such was the confidence of the people in him. July 28, 1875, he drilled a well at Toad Hollow, on the Tibbets farm, two miles south of the present city of Bradford. The well opened up with forty barrels a day. This paid off his indebtedness, brought him a large fortune, and developed one of the greatest oil fields in the world.
Mr. Emery was elected to the Legislature, and in 1880 to the State Senate. He was reelected to the Senate in 1884 by a large majority.
He was chosen delegate-at-large to represent the State of Pennsylvania in the National Republican Convention in 1884. During his entire public service he served with honor and ability the people instead of the trusts, the monopolies, and the few. He was the recognized leader of the anti-monopolists. In 1870 he went to Europe and investigated the oil fields of the Baku region in Russia, and in 1881 he made a second visit.
He is one of our most public-spirited citizens, taking a deep interest in the growth and prosperity of the place and in the welfare of the community. He is extensively engaged in the production and refining of petroleum, in merchant flour-milling at Three Rivers, Mich., has large wheat-land interests in North Dakota, lumber interests in Kentucky, and a large mercantile establishment in Bradford.
Mr. Emery was married to Miss Elizabeth A. Caldwell, of Vistula, Elkhart County, Ind. December 29, 1863. Four children were born to them : Delavan, Grace Elizabeth, Earle Caldwell, and Lewis III.
This book has been digitized by the Google Book Project.
Originally published in 1899, and now in the public domain, this excerpt is from "Between the ocean and the lakes;: The story of Erie"
by Edward Harold Mott.From the chapter titled, “Men Of Mark In Erie Towns”.
Topics: History, Local Interest |
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