James Draper Bemis

"I was born in Spencer, Mass, July 1, 1783. My father, Col. Benjamin Bemis, was a merchant and farmer, but failed in 1790. He removed toWorcester, where be kept tavern, &e. At ten years of age I went to Boston to learn printing. After ten months, left to go to school again, but being fond of my trade I went to it again and finished seven years of apprenticeship in Albany. At 18 I became a journeyman, worked hard by day and studied nights. I never had but two years of school advantages, but taught myself in the printing office. I was a good printer and qualified myself as well as I could for editing, by close application, after coming to Canandaigua (I lived in Troy one year). In the fall of 1803 my employers in Albany, Backus & Whitney, proposed to furnish a bookstore, with a partner's interest, to be established at Little York (Toronto), Canada. I left Albany early in November for that place, but my goods were frozen in the Mohawk the first night of their shipment. I left Schenectady in the stage, and was six days reaching Utica, going half of the way on foot with ten other young men, all going West for the first time. My stock arrived six days after my arrival. I remained in Utica six weeks. With some merchants, situated like myself, two 8-horse wagons were chartered, and I got on one of them with my goods. The turnpike from Utica to Canandaigua was then new, and the mud so deep that we could make but 8 to 12 miles per day, and at East Onondaga the teamsters gave up. Here I remained two weeks, when, snow falling, I hired a 3-horse large sleigh to take me on to Canandaigua.

'I arrived at Canandaigua, January 14, 1804, and was persuaded to open my store there, which I did, in the chambers over Wyvill's tailor shop, with a stock worth $4,000 or $5,000. So you see it was an accident that settled me in Canandaigua. After about ten months, finding it rather dull, I sold out to Myron Holley, intending to go into business in Albany, but was persuaded to remain and buy half of the printing office and old press and types, worth in all 1300 dollars, and I took the half at 700 dollars. It was then the only paper west of Utica. My partner, John. K. Gould, died in 1808, a worthy man, but of habits that killed him.

'In 1810 Mr. Holley wanted me to buy back the stock I sold him, and I did so for 1,200 dollars. I had put up a two-story building in the corner of Capt. Israel Chapin's garden—where E. Hale's stores now are (now Kinde's—N. T. C), put my family below, and my office and store with a small bindery in the chambers; the next year I put on a wing and took the front lower rooms for the book store. My boys of the printing office slept in the garret. As business grew, I built where we now are (immediately below Anderson's store—N. T. C), taking my old stand. Capt. Chapin offered me his whole lot, 60 acres, for 11,000 dollars, but I did not feel able to take it, but paid him 2,000 dollars for the acre on which I built my house and other buildings, which cost considerable more than the lot. Here I have lived since 1815, and from time to time spread my business over the country—to set up young men in business from Onondaga to Detroit. In this way fifteen book stores were sent abroad. I established the first presses and book stores in Erie, Wayne, Livingston, and Onondaga counties at a pecuniary loss to myself of from 20,000 to $25,000 but with the satisfaction of knowing that I had put a goodly number of young men into active and successful business.

'I was successful man for about thirty j-ears, when my health began to give way under the great responsibilities I had assumed. In the fall of 1843 I went to Europe, accompanied by my daughter, and was absent 14 months. I returned with my health much improved, but it proved only a temporary relief, for on resuming my work again I found I was unfitted for any further severe work.'

'My only object in life was to do good and to help these who were in need. My weakness was I did not value money. I did value the reputation of an honest and independent editor. It was the ailment of my life, and have allowed its loss to disturb me. During my business career I had ten partners, and I am satisfied that I never was a good judge of character, and my devotion to the pleasures of editing ruined my business experience.

'In recurring to my youth and my manhood, up to 1833, when I was about 50 years old, and when I was beguiled to swing off from business, I hardly think there was much in my life worth relating. I can only say that I was a faithful apprentice, an efficient and painstaking journeyman, an indulgent master, yet a sovereign one, with a disposition somewhat spoiled by bringing up about 80 boys, with many journeymen, clerks, girls, and directing outdoor persons. For many years there were from 40 to 60 souls dependent in various ways on the 'old establishment.'

'To allude to the numerous social or local positions in institutions would look like boasting. I have been engaged in almost every enterprise of my time—too many perhaps for my interest. I have always sought to help the poor and weak, and for many years was regarded as a medium person in society, who could communicate with the rich and poor. I was vain enough to think that I had the confidence of both classes, and this thought made a considerable portion of my contentment. The nature of my business made my store a sort of rendezvous, and I was in the way of being in all that was going on.

'When in 1828 I sold out the Repository to my brother-in-law, Chauncey Morse, and my nephew, Samuel Ward, I was in excellent health and very happy in my growing prosperity. Up to that time nothing uncommon marked my career, except that the fame of an old and long-established concern was worth having. It was this, the papers, the business, the headquarters—not myself—that made up all the reputation and all my comfort. I had rather continue as I was to my end than to have been Governor of the State. My anxiety for its continuance was so great that under its pressure my health gave way and left me but a wreck upon the society I had so faithfully served, and by which I had been so often honored.

'I close the letter to you by an incident illustrating the pride of my old position. Five or six years ago a well-dressed, educated young man introduced himself to me in the old store. He said he had long desired to see Mr. James D. Bemis, and would hardly believe that it was me whom he saw. He expected to see a gray-haired old man, and wished to hear him talk, to get his maxims, so famous had he been for giving tone to public feeling, &c.'

"Mr. Bemis adds: ' I confess it was the honest pride of such a reputation that formed all my comfort. It was as I said, my paper, my old position— not me—that was respected. I was so identified with all of it, that to lose it was fatal.'

'James D. Bemis.'

After Mr. Bemis sold the paper to Morse & Ward he kept on with his book store ; yet the vigor of his life was perceptibly weakening. This led him in 1843 to make a long visit to Europe, accompanied by his daughter Ann. On his return, after fourteen months abroad, he was welcomed by the citizens of Canadaigua probably with more magnificence and heartiness than has ever before or since been shown to any of our distinguished people. He was a grand man in every way, of large, stately form, a genial presence, and everybody's friend and helper. And his paper was the greatest of all the weekly papers of the country. The old Ontario Repository was a model—full of news as it was possible to be in those days, full of wisdom in the carefully written editorials, and full of those suggestions that comfort the old and stirred the enthusiasm of the young. It is safe to say that none of its successors, either single or compounded, have ever reached the dignity or power of the old household paper, and no personality like that of old Mr. Bemis has ever since gone out of it to the homes in Western New York. Verily, he was "The Father of the Western Mew York Press" as he was the father of the boys

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. 133-136

Canandaigua, Ontario County

Ontario Repository

Repository Editor, James D. Bemis

[Draper 133-136]:

"An autograph letter of Mr. James D. Bemis, bearing date November 17, 1846, in which he tells briefly the story of his early life in Canandaigua and refers to the struggles and labors through which he reached the distinguished position he held in the community. I let the letter tell its own story:

"I was born in Spencer, Mass. July 1, 1783. My father, Col. Benjamin Bemis, was a merchant and farmer, but failed in 1790. He removed to Worcester, where he kept tavern, &c. At ten years of age I went to Boston to learn printing. After ten months, left to go to school again, but being fond of my trade I became a journeyman, worked hard by day and studied nights. I never had but two years of school advantages, but taught myself in the printing office. I was a good printer and qualified myself as well as I could for editing, by close application, after coming to Canandaigua (I lived in Troy one year). In the fall of 1803 my employers in Albany, Backus & Whitney, proposed to furnish a bookstore, with a partner's interest, to be established at Little York (Toronto), Canada. I left Albany early in November for that place, but my goods were frozen in the Mohawk the first night of their shipment. I left Schenectady in the stage, and was six days reaching Utica, going half of the way on foot with ten other young men, all going West for the first time. My stock arrived six days after my arrival. I remained in Utica six weeks. With some merchants, situated like myself, two 8-horse wagons were chartered, and I got on one of them with my goods. The turnpike from Utica to Canandaigua was then new, and the mud so deep, that we could make but 8 to 12 miles per day, and at East Onondaga, the teamsters gave up. Here I remained two weeks, when, snow falling, I hired a 3-horse large sleigh to take me on the Canandaigua.

I arrived at Canandaigua, January 14, 1804, and was persuaded to open my store there, which I did, in the chambers over Wyvill's tailor shop, with a stock worth $4,000 or $5,000. So you see it was an accident that settled me in Canandaigua. After about ten months, finding it rather dull, I sold out to Myron Holley, intending to go into business in Albany, but was persuaded to remain and buy half of the printing office and old press and types, worth in all 1300 dollars, and I took the half at 700 dollars. It was then the only paper west of Utica. My partner, John K. Gould, died in 1808, a worthy man, but of habits that killed him.

In 1810 Mr. Holley wanted me to buy back the stock I sold him, and I did so for 1,200 dollars. I had put up a two-story building in the corner of Capt. Israel Chapin's garden--where E. Hale's stores now are (now Kinde's---N.T.C.), put my family below, and my office and store with a small bindery in the chambers; the next year I put on a wing and took the front lower rooms for the book store. My boys of the printing office slept in the garret. As business grew, I build where we now are (immediately below Anderson's store---N.T.C.), taking my old stand. Capt. Chapin offered me his whole lot, 60 acres, for 11,000 dollars, but I did not feel able to take it, but paid him 2,000 dollars for the acred on which I build my house and other buildings, which cost considerable more than the lot. Here I have lived since 1815, and from time to time spread my business over the country--to set up young men in business from Canandaigua to Detroit. In this way fifteen books stores were sent abroad. I established the first presses and book stores in Erie, Wayne, Livingston, and Onondaga counties at a pecuniary loss to myself from 20,000 to $25,000 but with the satisfaction of knowing that I had put a goodly number of young men in active and successful business.

'I was successful man for about thirty years, when my health began to give way under the great responsibilities I had assumed. In the fall of 1843 I went to Europe, accompanied by my daughter, and was absent 14 months. I returned with my health much improved, but it proved only a temporary relief, for on resuming my work again I found I was unfitted for any further severe work.'

• * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

'My only object in life was to do good and to help those who were in need. My weakness was I did not value money. I did value the reputation of an honest and independent editor. It was the ailment of my life, and have allowed its loss to disturb me. During my business career I had ten partners, and I am satisfied that I never was a good judge of character, and my devotion to the pleasures of editing ruined my business experience.

'In recurring to my youth and my manhood, up to 1833, when I was about 50 years old, and when I was beguiled to swing off from business, I hardly think there was much in my life worth relating. I can only say that I was a faithful apprentice, an efficient and painstaking journeyman, an indulgent master, yet a sovereign one, with a disposition somewhat spoiled by bringing up about 80 boys, with many journeymen, clerks, girls, and directing outdoor persons. For many years there were from 40 to 60 souls dependent in various ways on the "old establishment.'

'To allude to the numerous social or local positions in institutions would look like boasting. I have been engaged in almost every enterprise of my time--too many perhaps for my interest. I have always sought to help the poor and weak, and for many years was regarded as a medium person in society, who could communicate with the rich and poor. I was vain enough to think that I had the confidence of both classes, and this thought made a considerable portion of my contentment. The nature of my business made my store a sort of rendezvous and I was in the way of being in all that was going on.

'When in 1828 I sold out the Repository to my brother-in-law, Chauncey Morse,and my nephew, Samuel Ward, I was in excellent health and very happy in my growing prosperity. Up to that time nothing uncommon marked my career, except that the fame of an old and long-established concern was worth having. It was this, the business, the headquarters--not myself--that made up all the reputation and all my comfort. I had rather continue as I was to my end than to have been Governor of the State. My anxiety for its continuance was so great that under its pressure my health gave way and left me but a wreck upon the society I had so faithfully served, and by which I had been so often honored.

'I close the letter to you by an incident illustrating the pride of my old position. Five or six years ago a well-dressed, educated young man introduced himself to me in the old store. He said he had long desired to see Mr. James D. Bemis, and would hardly believe that it was me whom he saw. He expected to see a gray-haired old man, and wished to hear him talk, to get his maxims, so famous had he been for giving tone to public feeling, &c.

"Mr. Bemis adds: 'I confess it was the honest pride of such a reputation that formed all my comfort. It was as I said, my paper, my old position--not me--that was respected. I was so identified with all of it, that to lose it was fatal.'

'James D. Bemis.'

'After Mr. Bemis sold the paper to Morse & Ward he kept on with his book store; yet the vigor of his life was perceptiby weakening. This led him in 1843 to make a long visit to Europe, accompanied by his daughter Ann. On his return, after fourteen months abroad, he was welcomed by the citizens of Canandaigua probably with more magnificence and heartiness than has ever before or since been shown to any of our distinguished people. He was a grand man in every way, of large, stately form, a genial presence, and everybody's friend and helper. And his paper was the greatest of all the weekly papers of the country. The old Ontario Repository was a model--full of news as it was possible to be in those days, full of wisdom in the carefully written editorials, and full of those suggestions that comfort the old and stirred the enthusiasm of the young. It is safe to say that none of its successors, wither single or compounded, have ever reached the dignity or power of the old household paper, and no personality like that of old Mr. Bemis has ever since gone out of it to the homes in Western New York. Verily, he was "The Father of the Western New York Press" as he was the father of the boys and girls who once a week were cheered and encouraged by his gracious words.

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[1850 Census - Canadaigua, Ontario, New York - September 18, 1850 - page 81, image 81]

James D. Bemis, 67, no occupation, real estate $10000, born in Massachusetts, insane;

Ruth Bemis, 66, born in New York;

George W. Bemis, 37, bookseller, born in New York;

Catherine Bemis, 30, born in New York;

Ann Bemis, 32, born in New York;

Martha Bemis, 28, born in New York;

Mary Bemis 23, born in New York...