Sr., a son of Nicholas Lemen and Christian Lemen,
his wife, was born at the family home near Harper's Ferry, Virginia,
on November 20, 1760. He acquired a practical education and in early
manhood married Miss Katherine Ogle, of Virginia, and they reared a
family. He enlisted for a year as a soldier of the Revolutionary War,
on March 3, 1778, but had his term extended to two years, and {p.53}
was in several engagements. Sometime after his enlistment expired he
rejoined his old comrades and served through the siege at Yorktown.

From childhood, in a singular manner, James Lemen was the special
favorite and idol of Thomas Jefferson, who was a warm friend of his
father's family. Almost before Mr. Lemen had reached manhood,
Jefferson would consult him on all matters, even on great state
affairs, and afterwards stated that Mr. Lemen's advice always proved
to be surprisingly reliable.

Our subject was a born anti-slavery leader, and by his Christian and
friendly arguments he induced scores of masters in Virginia to free
their slaves; this quickly caught Jefferson's attention and he freely
confessed that Mr. Lemen's influence on him had redoubled his dislike
for slavery and, though himself a slaveholder, he most earnestly
denounced the institution. The following paragraphs from a letter he
wrote to James Lemen's brother, Robert, who then lived near Harper's
Ferry, Virginia, on September 10, 1807, will disclose that Mr. Lemen's
influence was largely concerned in connection with Jefferson's share
in the Ordinance of 1787, in its anti-slavery clause. The paragraph is
as follows:--

"If your brother, James Lemen, should visit Virginia soon, as I learn
he possibly may, do not let him return until he makes me a visit. I
will also write him to be sure and see me. [5]Among all my friends who
are near, he is still a little nearer. I discovered his worth when he
was but a child and I freely confess that in some of my most important
achievements his example, wish, and advice, though then but a very
young man, largely influenced my action. This was particularly true as
to whatever share I may have had in the transfer of our great
Northwestern Territory to the United States, and especially for the
fact that I was so well pleased with the anti-slavery clause inserted
later in the Ordinance of 1787. Before any one had ever mentioned the
matter, James Lemen, by reason of his devotion to anti-slavery
principles, suggested to me that we (Vir