USA > Massachusetts > Worcester County > Spencer > Historical sketches relating to Spencer, Mass., Volume I > Part 7
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SAMUEL BEMIS
he appear, and how good and holy the cause he was engaged in seems, as he thus carries it to the throne of a just God, feeling that it has His sanction and can claim His protection.
"The poor man who had witnessed this spectacle hurried home, and on opening the door of his house burst into tears. His
ANCIENT CHESTNUT TREE.
This cut illustrates an ancient Chestnut tree, about seven feet in diameter, now standing on the farm of John M. Newton.
wife, amazed, inquired what was the matter with him. He told her what he had seen, and added, " If there is any one on this earth whom the Lord will listen to, it is George Washington, and
88
SKETCHES OF SPENCER HISTORY.
I feel a presentiment that under such a commander, there can be no doubt of our eventually establishing our independence, and that God in His providence has willed it so.'
"No wonder peace sat enthroned on that brow when despair clouded all others.
" In February his wife joined him, and as the two walked through the wretched camp, even the half-starved and mutinous soldier raised his head to bless them, and from many a pallid lip fell the 'Long live Washington,' as his tall form darkened the door of the hovel.
Washington Asserted That History Furnished no Parallel.
" Washington boldly asserted that history could not furnish another instance of any army 'suffering such uncommon hard- ships, and bearing them with the same patience and fortitude. To see men,' said he, 'without clothes to cover their nakedness, without blankets to lie on, without shoes, for the want of which their marches might be traced by the blood from their feet-and almost as often without provisions as with them, marching through frost and snow, and at Christmas taking up their winter-quarters. within a day's march of the enemy, without a house or hut to cover them till they could be built, and submitting without a mur- mur, is a proof of patience and obedience which, in my opinion, can scarcely be paralleled.' "
The Patriotic Spencer Men Deserving of Honor.
These men at Valley Forge, these men from Spencer, these men from the Bemis household, we honor today and they are as deserving of honor as they were the equals in valor of the immor- tal six hundred in the charge at Balaklava, or that heroic band of Grecians who so valiantly contested the pass at Thermopyla, and it is surely not too much to hope, that ere long a monument to their memory shall be erected at Bemis Memorial Park, by their descend- ants in appreciation of their patriotism.
The record says of these three soldiers of the Bemis name, that they enlisted " for the Town of Spencer " and " for the war." They went to fight until the end came, be the war a long or a short one. They went, not only for the town of Spencer but to maintain the honor of the Bemis name won by their fathers, Edmund and Jonas in the Colonial wars. They went in behalf of their homes and their kindred. They went in behalf of them- selves, and to contend for principles as dear to them as life itself. And they were not dismayed by obstacles. They were there to overcome them. Their forefathers who had subdued the Indian, the wild beast and the wilderness, had gained by practice the habit of overcoming, and these qualities had been transmitted to-
89
SAMUEL BEMIS.
their children, and had become so firmly established in their natures that to have acted contrary to them, would have been to have denied action to their strongest traits of character. And these qualities prevailed not with them alone, but throughout the native husbandry of New England. And so they, with others, contended daily, monthly, yearly, with obstacles and adverse cir- cumstances until the Continental Army was victorious. They
ORIGINAL HOUSE BUILT BY CAPT. EDMUND BEMIS,
When he settled on Lot 80, and where he lived and died. This house, which is now stand- ing, was known for a long time as the Austin Lamb place.
honored themselves and their ancestry by their devotion to the cause of Liberty, and you, descendants of these men, will honor yourselves in proportion as you honor them for their acts of love and self-sacrifice.
The Bemis Family as Town Officers.
It should be a cause for just pride to the Bemis family to know that they have averaged to furnish for some important town office, more than one representatve per year since 1753. The following is a complete list of those who have held such town offi- ces from the time of the incorporation of the town of Spencer in 1753 to 1901, 148 years.
Selectmen.
Bemis, Samuel Jr., 1756-7-8-60. 4 I
Bemis, Edmund, 1759.
Total years of service.
.
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SKETCHES OF SPENCER HISTORY.
Selectmen.
Total years of services.
Bemis, William Sr., 1754-5-6-7-8-9, 1772-3-4-7-8
II
Bemis, Benjamin, 1784-5-6
3
Bemis, Jonas, 1798-9, 1800-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8 II
Bemis, David Sr., 1801-2-3
3
Bemis, Joshua Sr., 1809-14-16-17
4
Bemis, William Jr., 1814-20-1-3-3-4-5-30-1 9
4
Bemis Henry, 1870-1-2-3
4
Bemis, David Jr., 1865-6
2
Committee of Correspondence:
I
Representatives:
Bemis, William, 1820
I
Bemis, Lewis,
1834-5
2
Treasurer:
Bemis, Lewis, 1826-7-8-9
4
Town Clerks:
Bemis, Samuel Jr., 1757-8-9-60
4
Bemis, Benjamin, 1781-2-6
3
Bemis, Lewis, 1831-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-40-1 II
Assessors:
Bemis, Edmund, 1758-9-60-I
4
Bemis, William, 1763-4
2
Bemis, Benjamin, 1785
1
I
Bemis, Jonas,
1793, 1815 2
Bemis, William Jr.,
1801-3-4-5-6-13-21-27-31-2
IO
Bemis, Silas,
1809-13-14 3
Bemis, David,
1841-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-50-1-2-5-6-7-8
9-60-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-70-1-2-3-4-5
36
Bemis, Henry W., 1892-4-5-6-7
5
Bemis, William M., 1882
I
Overseer of Poor:
Bemis, Henry W.,
1870-1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9
IO
Road Commissioner:
Bemis, Lewis D., 1894-5-6, 1901 4
Total years,
162
6-7-8-9
Bemis Cheney, 1890
I
The Bemis Religious Sentiment.
It is not clear how the earlier generations of the Bemis family regarded the question of religa "ut it is certain they were not to any great degree church members. With the single statement by Draper that Jonas Bemis Sr. was a Baptist, no record has been
Bemis, Joshua Jr., 1860-1-2-70
Bemis, Benjamin,
1780
91
SAMUEL BEMIS.
found indicating that any male descendant of Samuel Bemis was a member of a church prior to 1800. At the same time they ap- pear to have been a church-going people. It is remembered by some of our oldest citizens that Rev. Levi Packard, pastor of the Congregational church, one Sabbath, about the year 1845, from the pulpit called attention to the fact that there were a large number of citizens in the town bearing the Bemis name, " not a single one of whom," said he, " is or ever has been a communicant of our
D
HOWE'S FIRST SEWING MACHINE.
This is a picture of the first sewing machine made by Elias Howe Jr., with a capacity of about 300 stitches per minute or eight times faster than the most skilful sewers by hand.
church." Before this time, however, some had joined the Bap- tist and Methodist churches as communicants and quite a number different parishes and societies, the names of which are herewith presented.
Prior to 1800 the Bemis family were represented in the Con- gregational church by four women only :
Name. Date of Joining. Name. Date of Joining.
Bemis, Dinah, Aug. 23, 1752 Bemis, Rebekah, July 5, 1755
Bemis, Mary, May -, 1759 Bemis, Sibbilah, Apr. 17, 1785
Members from 1800 to date: Name. Date of Joinir~
Bemis, Mary 1800
emis, Polly 1813
Name. Date of Joining.
Bemis, Wm. M. 1867
Bemis, Phœbe Anna
92
SKETCHES OF SPENCER HISTORY.
Name. Date of Joining.
Name. Date of Joining.
Bemis, Mary
1827
Bemis, Dolly Ann
1867
Bemis, Catherine
Bemis, Emily P.
Bemis, Maria
1834
Bemis, Caroline A.
1884
Bemis, Lydia
1836
Bemis, Hattie W.
1885
Bemis, Abigail
1838
Bemis, Alonzo A.
1889
Bemis, Mary L. 1839
Bemis, Nellie T.
Bemis, Eunice
1843
Bemis, Anna Julia
1894
Bemis, Nancy
1846
Bemis, Bertha E.
1896
Bemis, Mary L.
1846
Bemis, Clifton A.
1898
Bemis, Janette
1858
Bemis, Eva M.
Bemis, Chas. W.
1866
Bemis, Edson C.
Members of the First Baptist Church having a place of wor- ship at North Spencer :
Name. Date of Joining.
Name.
Date of Joining.
Bemis, Polly, 1819
Bemis, Catherine, 1819
Bemis, Abigail, 1820
Bemis, Amos,
1820
Bemis, Lucretia, 1820
Bemis, Huldah, 1822
Bemis, Mary,
1830
Bemis, Sarah,
1836
Bemis, Ruth,
1841
Bemis, Selah, 1844
Bemis, Hiram P.,
1859 Bemis, Mrs. Hiram P., 1861 Bemis, Edson, 1861.
Members of Baptist church in Spencer village :
Name.
Name.
Bemis, George H.,
Bemis, Hattie Rowena,
Bemis, Pamelia W., Bemis, Waldo L.,
Bemis, Mabel.
Members of the Methodist Episcopal church :
Name.
Bemis, Amos,
Name. Bemis, Huldah,
Bemis, Charles E.,
Bemis, Julia A.,
Bemis, Effie L.,
Bemis, Mary A.,
Bemis, Elbridge S.,
Bemis, Nellie F.,
Bemis, Emily W.,
Bemis, Tennyson O.
Many of the Bemis family besides the above attended this church but were not members. Foster Bemis came here with his family, before his removal West in 1855, and when the church was built in 1847 contributed the chestnut sills and joists which were cut on Bemis Hill, which he then owned, and were
93
SAMUEL BEMIS.
sawed at the Sumner saw-mill where Theodore J. Bemis now has a grist-mill.
Members of Spencer Universalist church :
Bemis, Clara,
Name. Name. Bemis, Elizabeth, Bemis, Emeline,
Bemis, Edna,
Bemis, Fannie,
In 1798 a Baptist church was built on the hill in Brookfield, west of the Lewis D. Howland place and east of where Henry A.
ELBRIDGE HOWE,
Son of Elijah Howe Jr., uncle of Elias Howe Jr., and great grand- son of Samuel Bemis Sr. Born in Spencer March 6, 1810. Removed to Chester, Mass.
94
SKETCHES OF SPENCER HISTORY.
Woodis now lives. This was quite largely attended by the Bemis families of Spencer, and Nathaniel Bemis Jr. occupied the highest priced pew in the church.
In addition to the above it has been ascertained that William Bemis joined the First Baptist society of Spencer, April 28, 1825; David Bemis 2d joined the same society April 18, 1829. Frank- lin and Sylvanus Bemis joined the Universalist society of Charlton March, 1827. Joshua Bemis Jr. joined the Second Universalist society of Brookfield and Charlton February 17, 1820 ; and Alpha Bemis joined the First Universalist society of Sturbridge and Spencer in 1820.
The Bemis Family as Advocates of Temperance.
At the time of the Washingtonian temperance movement in Spencer, from 1841 to 1852, there were over five hundred persons who became members of that society, of which number the Bemis family furnished nearly ten per cent., as follows :
Name.
Name.
Bemis, Alpha,
Bemis, Harriet E.,
Bemis, Amos,
Bemis, John Emmons,
Bemis, Arsenath,
Bemis, Laura,
Bemis, Caroline,
Bemis, Lewis,
Bemis, Caroline M ..
Bemis, Lewis W.,
Bemis, Chandler,
Bemis, Lorenzo,
Bemis, Clarissa L.,
Bemis, Louisa,
Bemis, Cynthia,
Bemis, Lucinda,
Bemis, Cynthia A.,
Bemis, Lucy,
Bemis, Danforth,
Bemis, Mary.
Bemis, Dexter,
Bemis, Mary L.,
Bemis, Dolly Ann,
Bemis, Nancy,
Bemis, Edwin,
Bemis, Rebekah,
Bemis, Edwin A.,
Bemis, Ruth B.,
Bemis, Edwin P.,
Bemis, Selah,
Bemis, Eliza,
Bemis, Susan,
Bemis, Ellen,
Bemis, Thomas R.,
Bemis, Emeline,
Bemis, William,
Bemis, Eunice W.,
Bemis, William 2d,
Bemis, George A.,
Bemis, William Jr.,
Bemis, Hulda,
Bemis, William O.,
The Distinguished Howe Family.
Time will not permit rehearsing today all the worthy deeds. that might be mentioned which have been performed by those of the Bemis name nor all the historical items of interest. concerning this family, could they be collated, but this paper would be incomplete if time was not taken to mention the achieve- ments of one family who were lineal descendants of Samuel Bemis
95
SAMUEL BEMIS.
Sr., and who by their inventions have made themselves, as well as Spencer famous, and this is the Howe family. What the Bemis family have been able to do in the way of gaining a good reputation for themselves in a country town, the Howe family have accomplished on a scale that embraces the
TYLER HOWE,
Inventor of the spring bed and great grandson of Samuel Bemis Sr .; born in Spencer Aug. 11, 1800; died in Cambridge, June 9, 1880.
world; and wherever civilization has gone, there the Howe name is known and honored. It is therefore peculiarly appropriate that we ascertain what they did of so great value to the world as to receive its homage. The names of these men, a trio of inventors, are Tyler and William Howe, sons of Elijah Howe Jr., and their
96
SKETCHES OF SPENCER HISTORY.
nephew, Elias Howe Jr., son of their brother Elias, all born at the old homestead now standing opposite Howe's mills in the south part of Spencer. So far as the ties of blood are concerned,
Tyler and William Howe were half Howe and half Bemis, while Elias Howe Jr. was three-fourths Bemis and one-fourth Howe, according to the laws of consanguinity. This is not said with a view of trying to pluck any laurels from the Howe name, but only to show that whatever honors the Howe family are justly entitled
(See opposite page.)
THE OLD HOWE HOMESTEAD.
97
SAMUEL BEMIS.
to, the Bemis family, on the ground of relationship, can, if they will, appropriate their full share Tyler Howe was the inventor of the spring bed. He went to California in search of gold in 1849 and returned the year following. The hardness of his bunk on board the vessel in which he sailed was daily a source of an- noyance, for which, in the realms unseen, he sought a remedy. At last a picture of what he desired presented itself to his mind and the difficulty was solved. He patented his invention in 1855 and commenced the manufacture of the patented articles, which, finding a ready sale, enabled him to amass a comfortable fortune. While today the varieties of spring beds are legion, he was the man who conceived the initial idea and carried it forward to demonstration.
William Howe was the inventor of the truss bridge. When the New York Central R. R., now passing through Spencer, was
The Old Howe Homestead,
At Howe's Mills, Spencer, Mass., cut of which is shown on opposite page, is where were born William, Tyler, Elias, Elbridge, Alphonzo and Hiram, sons of Elijah Howe, Sr , and Elias Howe, Jr., inventor of the sewing machine. This engraving is from an oil painting in the Spencer Museum. made by W. O. Bemis of the Paxton branch of the Bemis family. In 1874, the author, being at that time a trustee of the museum and active in soliciting arti- cles for the same, saw the late W. O Bemis and secured his kindly interest in painting and donating the picture reproduced above. This is the best illustration of the Howe home- stead extant, and is a remarkably faithful painting of the old historic house and surround- ings as they were twenty-seven years ago. This picture is one of the most valuable, as well as valued, keepsakes in the museum.
built under the name of the Western R. R., it was at first only projected from Worcester to Springfield, with Albany as the final termination, but no engineer of that time knew how the Connecti- cut river at Springfield was to be bridged. This problem Wm. Howe undertook to solve, and succeeded in solving it to the appreciation of all the noted engineers of that date. It is said by some that he borrowed the idea from a truss supporting a roof in an old church at Brookfield. Whether this be true or not cannot now be determined, but it is certain that his bridge was a new and novel way to span rivers and marked a new era in bridge construction.
Improvements have been made in bridge building since his time and iron has largely superseded wood, but the principle of trussed work, discovered by William Howe, bids fair never to be superseded. To illustrate the market value of his invention, it is recorded that a few years after the Connecticut river bridge had been built, he sold the right to build such bridges in several of the Western states for sixty thousand dollars. The original drawings for his truss work were all made in Spencer, on the plaster walls
7
98
SKETCHES OF SPENCER HISTORY.
of the hallways in the old Tavern, which stood on the present site of the Baptist church and Denny Hall school building, and there they remained until the building was torn down some thirty years ago.
Elias Howe Jr. was the inventor of the sewing machine. This is so familiar a sentence that time need not be taken to des- cribe his invention in detail. The machine he devised was a suc- cess from the beginning. He was the man who discovered that the needle must have an eye near its point in order to make a stitch that would not rip, and all makers of machines since his day
ELIAS HOWE JR.,
Inventor of the sewing machine; born in Spen- cer, July 9, 1819; great grandson of Samuel Bemis Sr.
have been obliged to adopt his method simply because there was no other way to do. James Parton, the distinguished writer, said: "Elias Howe can justly claim that it was his invention which ena- bled the United States to put and keep a million men in the field during the War of the Rebellion. Those countless garments, tents, haversacks, cartridge boxes, shoes, blankets, sails; how could they have been produced without the sewing machine? One day during the war at three o'clock in the afternoon an order from the War Department reached New York by telegraph for fifty thous- and sand bags such as are used in field works. By two o'clock the next afternoon the bags had been made, packed, shipped and started southward." In 1860, a statistician of repute made a care-
99
SAMUEL BEMIS.
ful computation, and his figures showed an annual saving to the United States alone of nineteen million dollars by the use of the sewing machine. It is also estimated that on an average every adult in the country fifty years of age is indebted at least two hundred dollars to Elias Howe's invention. If, then, there is. reason to think well of a man who contributes two hundred dol- lars towards his neighbor's expenses, a man certainly should be well thought of and respected who devises means whereby his neighbor, if he will, may yearly add to his bank account sums of money he could not otherwise have done.
Col. Draper in his book "The Bemis Family in America" tells an interesting story how Elias Howe Jr. discovered where to place the needle's eye. He says: "He almost beggared himselt before he discovered where the eye of the needle should be located.
PICTURE OF CLOTH SEWED ON FIRST SEWING MACHINE.
One of the first articles sewed together on the Elias Howe, Jr., sewing machine by the inventor were two strips of broadcloth. This was cut into pieces and distri- buted among his uncles. Alphonzo Howe had the piece from which the above cut was tak- en and it is now in possession of his daughter, Mrs. Frank A. Smith of Worcester.
It is probable there are but a very few persons who know how it came about. His original idea was to follow the model of the ordinary needle and have the eye at the heel. It never occurred to him that it should be placed near the point and he might have failed altogether if he had not dreamed he was building a sewing machine for a savage king in a strange country. Just as in his actual waking experience he was perplexed about the needle's eye. He thought the King gave him twenty-four hours in which to complete the machine and make it sew. If not finished in that time, death was to be the punishment. Howe worked and worked and puzzled; finally gave it up. Then he thought he was taken out to be executed. He noticed that the warriors carried spears that were pierced near the head. Instantly came the solution of the difficulty, and while the inventor was begging for time he awoke. It was four o'clock in the morning. He jumped out of bed, ran to his workshop and by nine a needle with an eye at the point had been rudely modeled. After that it was easy. That is
100
SKETCHES OF SPENCER HISTORY.
the true story of an important incident in the invention of the sewing machine."
Last year in the city of New York, on the beautiful University Heights overlooking the Harlem and Hudson rivers, and in full view of the famous Palisades, was dedicated the " Hall of Fame for great Americans," an elegant fireproof structure designed to last for ages. In this building one hundred and fifty places had been provided as a national abiding place for memorials commemorating the deeds and virtues of citizens of the United States who had
MRS. LYDIA HOWE LUKE,
Daughter of Tyler Howe, a resident of West Newton and a gener- ous contributor to the Samuel Bemis monument fund.
rendered their country, or the world, distinguished service. By agreement those places could not all be filled before the year 2000. Before the dedication, a committee of one hundred able men of inde- pendent judgment, including such men as Pres. Eliot of Harvard College, Pres. White of Cornell University, the Judges of the U. S. Supreme Court, eminent historians, Chief Justices of the Su- preme Courts in every state, and others equally distinguished for judicial qualities of mind-voted singly in their own respective places of abode on a list of names thought worthy of admittance
IOI
SAMUEL BEMIS.
to this Hall, and which had been placed in nomination by the American public. It had been agreed that fifty names might be selected in the year 1900 and from thence on five names at the
ELIAS HOWE SR.,
Son of Elijah Howe, Jr., and great grandson of Samuel Bemis Sr., Born in Spencer, Dec. 27, 1792. Married Polly Bemis of Ches- ter. They were published Sept. 29, 1816, and married Oct. 22, 1816; he died Dec. 23, 1867.
end of every five years, until the year 2000 when all the panels would be filled. A majority vote only could elect, and it was found after the votes had all been sent to the University of New York and counted, that only 29 persons had been chosen. Under
IO2
SKETCHES OF SPENCER HISTORY.
the rules a reyote could not be taken, and so the election of further candidates was deferred until the year 1905, when it will be 'in order to choose twenty-six additional names. The names of those
ALPHA BEMIS, Son of Jonas Jr. and great grandson of Samuel Sr. Born in Spencer, March, 1790. Died January 4, 1860.
who failed of an election last year by ten votes or less are here- with annexed.
James B. Eads
received 41 votes.
John Lothrop Motley
41
1 6
Benjamin Rush
42
Joseph Henry
44
Horace Greely
45
Rufus Choate
47
Elias Howe Jr.
47
Mark Hopkins
48
John Quincy Adams
48
Andrew Jackson
48
James Madison
49
John C. Calhoun Wm. Cullen Bryant
49
49
a total of thirteen and in view of all the facts it appears probable that at the next election these names will be chosen as members
IO3
SAMUEL BEMIS.
of what will become in time the immortal band of one hundred and fifty, whose fame is to be perpetuated in bronze and marble in the Queen City of America. What a just tribute of honor to the life work of Elias Howe Jr. would his election be, and low highly prized by the Howe and Bemis families! What an honor conferred on the town of Spencer! When we analyze and com- pare the real value to the world of some of the so-called great men, men who have made history, like Napoleon the Great, men who like him have expended their strength to gratify an unworthy
ELIAS BĖMIS,
Son of Joshua Sr. and grandson of Samuel Sr. Born in Spencer, Dec. 23, 1773; removed to Lyndon, Vt., where he died Jan'y He was a farmer and a good business inan
24, 1849. and accumulated a handsome estate.
ambition, sowing seeds of discord and misery and scattering de- struction broadcast wherever they went; how striking in com- strast, appears to the world the beneficent results flowing from the efforts of intelligent New England citizens like Tyler, William and Elias Howe Jr. The value of a peaceful and honorable avo- cation compared with the fame won by the warlike Napoleon was never more fully illustrated then in the following extract from a speech by Col. R. J. Ingersoll. He said:
" A little while ago I stood by the grave of the old Napoleon -a magnificent tomb of gilt and gold, fit almost for a dead deity
104
SKETCHES OF SPENCER HISTORY.
-and gazed upon the sarcophagus of black Egyptian marble where rest at last the ashes of that restless man. I leaned over the balustrade and thought about the career of the greatest soldier of the modern world. I saw him walking upon the banks of the Seine, contemplating suicide-I saw him at Toulon-I saw him putting down the mob in the streets of Paris-I saw him at the head of the army of Italy -I saw him crossing the bridge of Lodi with the tricolor in his hand-I saw him at Egypt in the shadows of the pyramids-I saw him conquer the Alps and mingle
)
THOMAS A. PROUTY, Donor of land for the site first selected for the Bemis Monument. Born in Spencer, Aug. 11, 1822. Has been a school teacher, far- mer and merchant, and served the town as assessor, over- seer of the poor and member of the school committee, and the state twenty-eight years as justice of the peace, and three years as trial justice. (Photo- graphed by Edward L. Jaynes. 1901.)
the eagles of France with the eagles of the crags-I saw him at Marengo-at Ulm and Austerlitz-I saw him in Russia where the infantry of the snow and the cavalry of the wild blast scattered his legions like Winter's withered leaves-I saw him at Leip- sic in defeat and disaster, driven by a million bayonets back upon Paris, clutched like a wild beast-banished to Elba, I saw him es- cape and retake an empire by the force of his genius-I saw him upon the frightful field of Waterloo, where chance and fate com-
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