People's Pilot, Volume 5, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 December 1895 — A BUSY LIFE CLOSED. [ARTICLE]

A BUSY LIFE CLOSED.

A Patriotic Woman Called to Har Howard. Populists and other reformers throughout the United States feel the loss of a friend in the death of Mrs. S. E. V. Emery. The following sketch from the Lansing Daily Journal reveals the esteem in which she was held by the people of her own town. She lived for the uplifting of all humanity : “At an early hour this morning death ended the sufferings of Mrs. Sarah E. V. Emery, one of the best-known citizens of Lansing. In March, 1893, Mrs. Emery became afflicted with a malignant cancerous growth, from which she was unable to obtain relief, although every effort was made, and she gradually declined in health. “Since December last, when she was obliged to take to her bed, her decline has been rapid. Two weeks ago it became apparent the end was fast approaching and her death was daily expected. Last evening she fell into a quiet slumber, and the new day was but an hour old when she passed peacefully away. She had suffered excruciating pain for months, and death was a welcome visitor.

“Sarah Elizabeth Van Dervoort was born May 12, 1838, in Phelps, N. Y. She attended the public schools at Phelps, and completed her education at the Clinton Liberal Institute, in Clinton, N. Y. She taught school seventeen years, three of which were spent as superintendent of the schools of Midland, Mich. She was married to Wesley Emery in 1870 in Phelps. Soon thereafter Mr. and Mrs. Emery moved to Lansing, and have resided here since. “Few Michigan women succeeded in attracting more attention or took a more active part in the agitation of political and social questions than has Mrs. Emery during the twenty-five years she has resided here. She first interested herself in the greenback cause, taking the platform and participating in the campaigns. Later she espoused the cause of the Knights of Labor and was one of the ablest champions in the state. The farmers’ alliance next enlisted her sympathies and she exerted her'abilities in its behalf. “Mrs. Emery was ever aggressive in working for equal suffrage, and was instrumental in causing several suffrage bills to be framed and introduced into the legislature. In the W. C. T. U. she was recognized as one of its ablest members and two years ago was elected national president in the department of temperance in relation to capital and labor. “When the people’s party was formed she immediately set about to preach, populism in Michigan and was recognized as one of its ablest champions. She was not only a fluent platform speaker, hut achieved great success in the literary field. In 1888 she completed a book entitled ‘The Seven Financial Conspiracies,’ which dealt with the money question. Of this work over 360,000 copies were sold. Two years ago she completed another book written in the interest of populism. It was entitled ‘lmperialism in America,’ and over 40,000 copies have been sold. The former work had a most remarkable circulation in Kansas, where it wae used as a campaign document, and is credited with the subsequent populist victory there. “Mrs. Emery’s religious affiliations were with the TTniversalists, and her devotion to church work was constant until failing health rendered further work impossible. For several years she was superintendent of the Sunday school of the Universalist church, and almost her last thoughts were concerning the church. Last spring she presented the valuable site at the intersection of Capitol avenue and Ottawa street to the church. “Mrs. Emery’s career as agitator and reformer was both unique and brilliant. From the time she first began to speak on the greenback rostrum until disease Incapacitated her for furthei- work, she was constantly in the harness, campaigning in all sections of Michigan and in many other states. “Aside from her husband, Mrs. Emery is survived by two brothers, G. M. Van Dervoort of Shortsville, N. Y., and T. S. Van Dervoort of Phelps, N. Y.” As requested by Mrs. Emery, her body was cremated.