Dr. Edward Herbert Bemis

THE BEMIS HISTORY AND GENEALOGY being an account, in greater part of the descendants of Joseph Bemis, of Watertown, Mass. ... By Colonel Thomas Waln-Morgan Draper ... Published 1900, San Francisco, California, p. 84

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Dr. Bemis was born in Bethel, Vt., March 4, 1849. His early life was passed in Marlboro, NH where he was educated in the public schools. Leaving school in early manhood, he began business as an optician. The experience he received in this line and through his natural ability and aptitude led him to assidiously apply himself to the special study of the eye and it's diseases. In 1872 he came to Glens Falls, NY. Later, he was for one year in New York, the student of Dr. Rowland B. Gray, specialist of national reputation and at one time the president of the Long Island Medical Society.

Since 1872 Dr. Bemis had resided in Glens Falls, NY. The sanitarium he founded for the treatment of eye ailments, and particularly for his specialty, the absorptionof cataracts, was located on the north corner of Glen Street on Sherman Avenue. He lived in the old Sherman home on the corner; the sanitarium and it's offices and boarding houses filled several buildings: the two structures now known as Bemis Place; "The Marion" on Notre Dame Street; The Allen house on Glen and Union Streets; The Marion Annex, 28 Union Street and the "Sunshine Cottage", adjoining Bemis Place on Sherman Avenue. For a number of years subsequent to locating in that village, Dr. Bemis spent his summers attending his patients in NYS and spent winters in Florida. Here he engaged in raising oranges as well as attending to his professional duties.

In 1890, Dr. Bemis established the Bemis Eye Sanitarium. The sanitarium grew and prospered to a remarkable degree. Patients came from 23 states and 3 foreign countries for treatments. The sanitarium was a major contributing industry to th economy of Glens Falls. This continued until 1900 when failing health required Dr. Bemis to give less of his time to his profession. Many remarkable cures were effected by Dr. Bemis, a notable one being that of Nelson Cook, the artist. Mr. Cook was 80 years old, blind in one eye and nearly so in the other with cataracts complicated with paralysis. Upon recovering his sight MR. Cook in a spirit of gratitude painted Dr. Bemis' picture.

November 3, 1873, Edward Bemis married Marion Estella French of Burlington.

At the time of his death, he was survived by one son and five daughters:

Edward E. Bemis, Mrs. Robert Crosbie, Mrs Leonard Baker, Miss Etta Mae Bemis, Miss Jennie E. Bemis and Miss Laura Bemis. The operation of the sanitarium was continued by his son, Edward.

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Born 1849, Bethel, VT. Received public school education at Marlsboro, N. H. Pupil of Dr. Roland B. Gray, President of Long Island Medical Society and specialist of national reputation. Moved 1872 to Glens Falls. Established Bemis Eye Sanitarium in 1893, where he met with great success as an eye specialist. Died Dec. 9, 1901.

• Residence: 1900 - Glens Falls village, Warren, New York, USA
• Race: White
• Ethnicity: American
  • Reference: 1900 United States Federal Census - SmartCopy: Dec 19 2017, 11:03:34 UTC
• Residence: 1850 - Bethel, Windsor, Vermont, USA
  • Reference: 1850 United States Federal Census - SmartCopy: Dec 19 2017, 11:05:19 UTC