Wisconsin Men of Progress
JOHN QUINCY EMERY.
EMERY, John Quincy, state superintendent of public instruction and a
resident of Albion, is a practical educator and one of the most
successful who has ever been at the head of the department of public
instruction. He is the son of John P. Emery, carpenter and farmer, and
a descendant, in the ninth generation, of Anthony Emery, who, with his
brother, came from England and landed in Boston, June 3rd, 1635. Mr.
Emery's mother was Huldah Darling.

Prof. Emery was born in the town of Liberty, Licking county, Ohio,
September 15th, 1843. He came with his parents to Wisconsin in 1846,
the family settling on a farm in the town of Dunkirk, Dane county,
removing thence to Rutland in the same county in 1852. His elementary
education was acquired in the common schools of Wisconsin, after which
he pursued a course of study in the Albion Academy and Normal
Institute, graduating therefrom in 1866. He began his career as a
Wisconsin educator, in 1863, by teaching a term of common school, and
this was followed up for several terms, after which he became a
teacher in Albion Academy. It was largely in consequence of the
popularity gained as a teacher in this institution that, in 1867, he
was, without organized opposition, elected county superintendent of
schools for the East district of Dane county. This position he
resigned in 1869 to accept the principalship of the Union graded
school at Grand Rapids, Wis. In the fall of 1869, he was elected
county superintendent of Wood county and re-elected in 1871. He held
this position with the school principalship until July, 1873, when he
resigned both to accept the principalship of the Fort Atkinson high
school--a position which he held for sixteen years. Of his work in
this school the Columbian History of Education in Wisconsin contains
this just and deserved estimate:

"Here for sixteen years Professor Emery labored with an earnestness
and devotion to the work which attracted the attention of educators
throughout the state, and won for him the love and admiration of
hundreds of pupils who were fortunate enough to come under his able
and inspiring instruction. Few men, in the history of Wisconsin, have
been so universally approved and commended by parents and citizens as
was Professor Emery in Forth Atkinson. While engaged as principal of
this school he became widely known throughout the state, by the
interest he manifested in the State Teachers' association, the
efficient work which he performed in the capacity of conductor of
institutes, and in the diligent sympathy he has shown in aiding and
encouraging the younger members of the teaching profession."

In 1889 he accepted the presidency of the state normal school at River
Falls, a position to which he had, without solicitation, been
unanimously elected by the board of regents of normally schools. His
administration of this school continued four years, during which time
it experienced growth in attendance; the teaching force was enlarged;
systematic physical training was introduced; appliances adapted to
more thorough work in the sciences were obtained; a department [p.459]
in drawing was organized; and improved library facilities were
instituted.

In 1882 Beloit College conferred on him the honorary degree of A. M.,
"in recognition of the faithful, persistent, substantial qualities of
his work in the great field of education.

He has been president of the Wisconsin Teachers' association; has, for
many years, taken an active part in the proceedings of that
organization, and has served on many of its important committees. He
was for three years a member of the board of examiners for teachers'
state certificates; and, under appointment of the board of regents of
normal schools, has had large experience as conductor of teachers'
institutes.

He owns a farm in Dane county, over which he has always maintained
general management, and where he finds relief from his arduous work.

He was elected state superintendent in 1894; was renominated by
acclamation and re-elected in 1896, receiving 265,940 votes, the
largest number of votes ever given to any candidate for a state office
in Wisconsin. As state superintendent, he is ex-officio a member of
the board of regents of normal schools and of the state university, of
the state library commission and of the geological survey.

In August, 1862, he enlisted with Captain Miller in the Twentieth
regiment of Wisconsin volunteers. Being under age, and having then his
only brother in the Seventh regiment, Wisconsin volunteers, his father
refused to sign his enlistment papers.

He has always been a Republican, and cast his first vote for the
re-election of Abraham Lincoln. In religion, he is a
Congregationalist.

Prof. Emery was married, in 1869, to Marie T. Lawton, and they have
had two children, a daughter, Daisy Mabel Emery, who died at twenty
months of age; and a son, Sydney Lawton Emery.

Prof. Emery is a natural instructor, and nearly all of his active life
has been conscientiously devoted to school work. He is one of those
men who grow with their work, because they are thoroughly interested
in it, and are never afraid of any effort which will advance the cause
of general education. A man of liberal culture, who thoroughly
believes in the public school system, his administration of the office
of superintendent of public instruction is among the best in the
history of the department. And this is true because Prof. Emery is a
man of earnestness and integrity, who holds his official duties to be
above party advancement and personal honors.