John Runkle Emery

NJGenWeb ~ Morris County, New Jersey

John Runkle Emery

Source: History Morris County New Jersey, Volume II, Lewis Publishing Co., 1914

The career of John Runkle EMERY is one of the most honorable in the annals of jurisprudence in the commonwealth of New Jersey. Distinguished as a jurist for faithfulness in the discharge of the duties with which his fellow citizens have entrusted him, for his wide and accurate knowledge of the law in all its departments, and for the devotion to the interests of his clients, he has won for himself an enviable position in the estimation of the entire State. His character and attainments have been such as to be a matter of pride to the State that brought forth such a son. It is the number f the men of such caliber that has won for the commonwealth that front rank among the states of the Union which has been the proud boast of New Jersey since the earliest times.

The parents of John Runkle EMERY were William P. and Ann (RUNKLE) EMERY, who were native of Hunterdon county, New Jersey. His father, by a long, useful and upright life, had held an honorable position in the community. He has been known as a prominent merchant of Flemington for many years, and had served as elder in the Presbyterian church for a long period, dying in 1888 at the age of seventy-eight.

John R. EMERY was born in Flemington, July 6, 1842. With the advantages of an education closely watched over by his parents, he entered the schools of Flemington, and laid there the foundation of his later thoroughness. Collegiate work was prepared for at the school known as Edge Hill, Princeton, under Professor COTTELL, and later under Rev. Dr. P. O. STUDDIFORD, at Lambertville. Finishing there, he matriculated in 1858 at Princeton university and graduated with the class of 1861. His college course being completed, his choice of a profession fell upon the law, and he at once began its study. But these were stirring times, and he was only one of the many thousands of high-minded youths who laid aside all personal aims to take up arms in defense of their country, threatened by the gravest danger. He enlisted as a private in the Fifteenth Regiment of New Jersey Volunteers, in August, 1862, was appointed and mustered in as a second lieutenant and served until February, 1863, when he received an honorable discharge.

His interrupted legal education was then resumed in Flemington. He studied there under Bennet VAN SYCKEL, who afterward became a Judge f the Supreme Court. Later he became a student under A. V. VAN VLEET, afterwards Vice Chancellor, and during the year 1863-64, he carried on his studies at the Harvard Law School. In 1865 he was admitted to the bar as attorney, and in 1868 as counselor-at-law. He had entered into a partnership with Mr. VAN VLEET in 1865, and for a year he practiced law in Flemington. Going thence to Trenton he entered into partnership with A. G. RICHEY and soon won distinction as a lawyer and had a wide and successful practice. In 1874 he gave this up for travel abroad, owing to impaired health. The European sojourn was of so great benefit that after a year he returned home able to resume his work. This he took up in Newark, New Jersey, and soon held a position of eminence among the members of the bar. After having held for a number of years the post of Advisory Master, in February, 1895, he was appointed Vice Chancellor of Chancellor McGILL. The vice chancellorship was for the full term of seven years and was to succeed the late Vice Chancellor VAN VLEET. Re-appointed by Chancellor MAGIE in 1902, he is serving the third term to which he was appointed by Chancellor PITNEY I 1909. The way in which he has discharged the duties of the position has given universal satisfaction.

His knowledge of the law is broad and deep, and his mind is so characterized by good judgement and common sense that he has won an enviable reputation among his associates on the bench. He is a close and clear reasoner, a conscientious and painstaking worker, and an eloquent and forcible speaker.

Vice Chancellor Emery married, in 1895, Alla MacKIE, daughter of James S. MacKIE, of Mount Savage, Maryland. They have four children. Since 1891 they have made their home in Morristown. They are members of the Protestant Episcopal church, and are communicants in the Church of the Redeemer. Mr. EMERY is one of the lay members of the standing committee of the Diocese of Newark and chancellor of the Diocese.

Transcribed by John Cresseveur (1949-2003)