James Lemen
Encyclopedia
James Lemen Sr. was an American
justice of the peace
and minister who was a leader of the anti-slavery movement in Indiana Territory
in the early nineteenth century.
Born near Harper's Ferry, in Virginia
, in colonial times, he served a two-years' enlistment in the American Revolutionary War
. He married Catherine Ogle, from the family whose name is perpetuated in that of Ogle County, Illinois. Lemen was a protégé of Thomas Jefferson.
Most historians reject as unsubstantiated the claim therfe was a "Jefferson-Lemen Secret Anti-Slavery Compact," whereby Jefferson secretly asked Lemen to move to Illinois
(then Indiana Territory
), and to take up the anti-slavery cause there.
Lemen became a leader of the anti-slavery movement in Indiana Territory
, and, influenced the Illinois' first "Free State" Constitution
, which was framed in 1818 and preserved in 1824.
In a letter to Lemen's son, Rev James Lemen Jr., dated March 2, 1857, Abraham Lincoln
praises Lemen senior's anti-slavery work. Lemen, as Jefferson’s agent in Illinois, founded the anti-slavery churches, which in Lincoln's view, "set in motion the forces which finally made Illinois a free state.”
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
and minister who was a leader of the anti-slavery movement in Indiana Territory
History of slavery in Indiana
Slavery in Indiana occurred between the time of French rule during late seventeenth century and 1826, with a few traces of slavery afterward. When the United States first took control of the region, slavery was tolerated as a necessity to keep peace with the Indians and the French...
in the early nineteenth century.
Born near Harper's Ferry, in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, in colonial times, he served a two-years' enlistment in the American Revolutionary War
American Revolutionary War
The American Revolutionary War , the American War of Independence, or simply the Revolutionary War, began as a war between the Kingdom of Great Britain and thirteen British colonies in North America, and ended in a global war between several European great powers.The war was the result of the...
. He married Catherine Ogle, from the family whose name is perpetuated in that of Ogle County, Illinois. Lemen was a protégé of Thomas Jefferson.
Most historians reject as unsubstantiated the claim therfe was a "Jefferson-Lemen Secret Anti-Slavery Compact," whereby Jefferson secretly asked Lemen to move to Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
(then Indiana Territory
Indiana Territory
The Territory of Indiana was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 4, 1800, until November 7, 1816, when the southern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Indiana....
), and to take up the anti-slavery cause there.
Lemen became a leader of the anti-slavery movement in Indiana Territory
History of slavery in Indiana
Slavery in Indiana occurred between the time of French rule during late seventeenth century and 1826, with a few traces of slavery afterward. When the United States first took control of the region, slavery was tolerated as a necessity to keep peace with the Indians and the French...
, and, influenced the Illinois' first "Free State" Constitution
Illinois Constitution
The Constitution of the State of Illinois is the governing document of the state of Illinois. There have been four Illinois Constitutions; the fourth and current version was adopted in 1970.-History:...
, which was framed in 1818 and preserved in 1824.
In a letter to Lemen's son, Rev James Lemen Jr., dated March 2, 1857, Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
praises Lemen senior's anti-slavery work. Lemen, as Jefferson’s agent in Illinois, founded the anti-slavery churches, which in Lincoln's view, "set in motion the forces which finally made Illinois a free state.”