Biographical Sketch of James S. Emery
James S. Emery, born on July 3, 1826, in Franklin County, Maine, emerged as a key figure in the free-state movement in Kansas. After graduating from Waterville College and being admitted to the bar, he moved to Lawrence in 1854 as a free-state immigrant. An influential speaker and member of several constitutional conventions, Emery actively opposed slavery and advocated for Kansas’ statehood. He served as United States district attorney under President Lincoln and was involved in local governance, ultimately becoming president of the State Historical Society before his death in 1899.