Agency Histories

George W. Emery was born in Penobscot, Maine on August 13, 1830. He graduated from Dartmouth College and studied the law in Albany, NY. He became the Supervisor of Internal Revenue for the confederate states 1870-1874. Politically he was a republican. President Grant appointed him Governor of Utah territory and he served June 1875-1880. During his term, he was able to bring about election reforms and expanded government services for a growing population. His biggest achievement was to reconcile the government officials with the local population who had traditionally barely tolerated the outsiders. When President Grant visited the state in October 1875 he was surprised by the friendly reception he received and realized reports of the area had been greatly exaggerated. He was so well liked by the people that the Utahans named Emery County in honor of him when he left office. Emery made his way back east and eventually died in Marchfield, MA on July 10, 1909.