From NKAA, Notable Kentucky African Americans Database (main entry)
Embry, Emmett M. "E. M."
(born: February 15, 1868 - died: June 3, 1939)E. M. Embry was the first African American admitted to the bar in Madison County, KY. He is mentioned in the newspapers as an attorney as early as 1897. Embry was a graduate of Berea College. In Richmond, KY, he was a school teacher, a city mail carrier, and he was founder and editor of the newspaper, The Rambler. Emmett M. Embry was a member, and many times the head of events, celebrations, and organizations in the Richmond/Madison County area.
He was a member of the Diamond Lodge No.309 of the Elks. In 1897, he served as the Executive of the 8th District of the State League of Republican Clubs. Three years later, in January of 1900, Embry established The Rambler newspaper, which was the earliest, or one of the earliest African American newspapers in Richmond, KY. The Rambler was endorsed by other newspapers in the surrounding area. It is not known how long The Rambler newspaper existed.
The year 1900 would become a very busy year for Embry. In March of 1900, at the close of the school term at Lancaster Colored School in KY, E. M. Embry was invited to address the graduating class. That same month in Richmond, KY, there was a Sheriff's Sale for unpaid 1899 Taxes. One of the lots, assessed at $100, was owned by Elder W. Campbell and E. M. Embry. By May of 1900, E. M. Embry resigned from his teaching job in Richmond to resume his law practice. In July of 1900, Embry was president of the 1st Richmond Colored Fair that was held by the Young Men's Agricultural and Mechanical Association. Emby continued to serve as the fair president for several years.
The following year, at the 1902 City Collector's Sale for 1901 taxes, a property assessed at $400 was owned by E. M. Embry. Embry had returned to teaching in Madison County, and he was principal of the school. In 1903, property that Embry was Executor over was sold at the City Collector's Sale for 1902 taxes. The tax was assessed at $3.50.
In 1909, E. M. Embry was a member of and served on several committees with the Negro State Bar Association of Kentucky. Five years later, in 1914, E. M. Embry was chair of the Richmond committee of the Grand Conclave of the State of the G. U. O. of O. F. (colored Odd Fellows). The 1914 annual meeting was held in Richmond with an approximate attendance of 2,000. Five years after this event, E. M. Embry served as president of the 6th Madison County Colored Chautauqua held at Pioneer Park from August 6-10, 1919. Embry would serve as president of the event for several years.
In 1926, it was noted in the Colored Notes within the Lexington Herald that E. M. Embry was ill and suffering from neuritis. At the end of the year, the annual memorial service of Diamond Lodge No.309 was held at the St. Paul AME Church with E. M. Embry as Master of Ceremonies. Three years later, December of 1929, Embry was elected the Exalted Ruler of Diamond Lodge No.309. He was re-elected in 1930.
E. M. Embry suffered a light stroke in August of 1933. He had recovered enough by August 1934 to be a speaker at the dinner given by the elite committee that honored the ex-slaves and the mothers at the old folk's home. Embry gave a few more talks and his health continued to decline. He died from a cerebral hemorrhage at his home on Big Hill Avenue in Richmond, KY, on June 3, 1939.
Emmett M. Embry was born and died in Richmond, KY. He was the son of Willie and Rebecca Scudder Embry. He was the husband of Lauretta Savage Embry (1872-1966), the couple married in Richmond, KY, on December 10, 1902. Emmet M. Embry is buried in the Maple Grove Cemetery in Richmond, KY.
Sources: "Finished. The State League of Republican Clubs adjourns. The Daily Leader, 09 October 1897, p.4; "Commencement News." The Citizen (Berea, KY), 28 June 1899, front page; "Another paper here." The Richmond Climax, 31 January 1900, p.3; "The Colored School." The Central Record (Lancaster, KY), 01 March 1900, front page; "Sheriff's Sale." The Richmond Climax Supplement, 28 March 1900, p.5; "Neighboring Counties. Madison." Jessamine Journal (Nicholasville, KY), 18 May 1900, p.2; "Colored Fair." The Richmond Climax, 25 July 1900, p.3; "City Collector's Sale." The Richmond Climax, 06 May 1902, p.2; "Neighboring Counties. Madison." The Jessamine Journal (Nicholasville, KY), 23 May 1902, p.2.
Sources: Kentucky County Marriage Records in Ancestry.com; "Grand Conclave a success." The Richmond Climax, 22 July 1914, p.5; "Colored Notes. Richmond Colored Notes." The Lexington Herald, 17 January 1926, p.9; "Colored Notes. Richmond Colored Notes." The Lexington Herald, 12 December 1926, p.6; "Colored News. Richmond News." The Winchester Sun, 16 December 1929, p.5; "Colored Notes. The Lexington Herald, 27 August 1933, p.10, section 2; J. W. Cobb. "Colored News Notes. Richmond Daily Register, 18 August 1934, p.6; "First Negro admitted to Madison bar dies." The Lexington Herald, 03 June 1939, p.10; see Emmett M. Embry (1868-1939) at Find A Grave.
*Some of the newspaper articles referenced in this entry were received from Robert Fairchild.