Eliza Watkins Bemis, 1845-1925

BEMIS, WATKINS

Posted By: Emmet County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 7/28/2006 at 10:22:15

After months of suffering death came to one of our beloved pioneer citizens, Mrs. Simeon E. Bemis, on last Monday morning at 3 o'clock. For months the family have been constantly by her side administering all the care the failing mother could ask. Miss Pearl resigned her position with a college at Tulsa, Oklahoma, to be with her mother. For the past six months she has been a sufferer and a patient sufferer.

Eliza M., daughter of Aseph and Diantha Watkins, was born November 2, 1845, in Malone, N.Y. She was united in marriage to Simeon E. Bemis on March 13, 1866. To this union there were seven children born. Carrie A., Claud W., Grace A., Eugene E., Sidney E., F. Pearl, Hazel L. All are living with the exception of Claude who died in infancy.

Mr. and Mrs. Bemis moved into this wilderness in 1866 and first resided near Chain Lakes and then at Chain Lakes and in the fall of 1866 they moved to Estherville, what little there was of it at that time and open up the first Mercantile store in this city. The building was a small one on the start and occupied the lot where our post office is now located. For years the family lived there and operated a store on that corner. As the business grew, the building was increased in size. In the early days Mrs. Bemis was among those who instituted a public library in for years the library was in front of the Bemis store, Mrs. Bemis assisted in taking care of it.

Mrs. Bemis was an active member in the Baptist church and a great worker and that church in the early days and until her declining years. She was a fine Christian woman. A great worker in the W. R. C. been many times its president.

Of later years she has occupied her beautiful home in the eastern portion of the city, two of her daughters, Miss Perl and Mrs. Hazel living with her.

The funeral services were held from the home this afternoon conducted by the Rev. Hurley of Stone Lake and the Rev. Huxford of this city. The remains were laid to rest in the family lot in the East Side cemetery.

Contributed by: Steve Dahlstrom. Source: The Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, Emmet County, Iowa, April 22, 1925.

CC Note: Gravestone photo available.