Frances Perl Bemis 1881-1925

BEMIS, WEIR, BROWN, BEVAN

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 7/19/2010 at 20:38:17

F. Perl Bemis Dies Suddenly At Rochester
Was Confined in Hospital for Three Weeks; Dropsy Caused Death
Miss Perl Bemis, whom Estherville has proudly claimed as a student, a teacher and a citizen, passed quietly away last night at five o’clock at the Mayo hospital in Rochester, Minnesota, surrounded by her sisters. A dropsical condition caused by a goiter, was the cause of her unexpected and untimely death.

But two weeks ago she went to the hospital to get medical attention for her throat but during the examination it was found that she had a very weak heart, of which she was instructed to be very careful. While there she became ill and the doctors thought for awhile that she had pneumonia but when they tapped her lungs it was found that dropsy was causing the congested condition.

The physicians upon finding she did not have pneumonia declared that she might recover and her lungs were tapped several more times to liberate the water that had collected there.

It was a sudden failing of her heart that proved fatal. The heart that had been warm with true friendship for so many people; the heart that had beat so rapidly with enthusiasm and vigor throughout her generous career as a teacher, had found its rest.

It has not been decided as yet when the funeral services will be held. The remains are being brought the Estherville this afternoon and probably the services will be held at the Bemis home this week and burial will be made in the East Side cemetery.

Surviving her are four sisters and one brother: Mrs. Carrie A. Weir of Dunnell, Minnesota; Mrs. Grace A. Brown, Mrs. Jennie B. Bevan, Miss Hazel Bemis, all of Estherville, and Sidney E. Bemis of Des Moines.

Frances Perl Bemis was born on December 16, 1881, at Estherville in the old Bemis home on the corner of Des Moines and Sixth street, where the postoffice now stands. Her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Simeon E. Bemis, came to this county in 1866. They are both dead. She was a member of the Baptist church.

Miss Bemis received her common school and high school education at Estherville, graduating from the high school in 1898. She then attended the State University of Iowa City where she received her Bachelor of Arts degree in 1902. She also took special work at the University of Columbia.

After receiving her education, she began one of the most brilliant and commendable careers as an instructor and director of education that has ever been known here. She taught at Oelwein, Iowa; Maxwell, Iowa; Tulsa, Oklahoma, and at Estherville, Iowa.

She began teaching in the Estherville high school in 1906, and in 1908 she was made principal. She remained in that position until 1911 when she took special work for a year. She returned in 1912 and was principal of the high school until 1920.

For the past three years she has taught at Holland Hall, located at Tulsa, Oklahoma. She had taught there but a short time when she was elected head of that school and was acting in the capacity at the time of her death. Shortly before going to Rochester she returned from a two hundred mile automobile trip, after having completed her faculty for the school year.

At the time of her mother’s last illness this spring, she was more active in caring for her than her health would permit, and probably exerted herself to a point which later resulted in her own death. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, September 2, 1925)