Reuben Bemis

Reuben Bemis was born in Sudbury, Massachusetts in 1767. His parents were John Bemis IV and Abigail (Sanderson) Bemis. Reuben married Lois Spencer on July 23, 1794 in Springfield, VT. Lois was born in Springfield, VT on January 15, 1775, daughter of Timothy and Lois (Hill) Spencer. She died in Baltimore, VT on September 14, 1829 at the age of 54. Reuben and Lois had nine children; Enos, Cyrus, Lyman, Aaron, Esther; Rebecca, Lewis Chester, Nathan Lincoln, and Lorinda. Reuben then married Clarissa Spooner on December 9, 1830 in Springfield, Vt. Reuben and Clarissa had three children; Norman, Charles and Henry. Norman died October 5, 1835. Charles was born in 1831 and died in 1839. Henry was born April 1, 1832 in Ludlow, VT and died July 13, 1911 in Chester, VT. Reuben died May 5, 1839 at the age of 72. Clarissa married Lysander Davis of Chester, VT on April 29, 1840. Reuben Bemis was a patriot and a backwoods pioneer. He was among the first settlers of Baltimore, Vermont with his brother Amos, settling there around 20 May 1792, when there weren't many people in the territory of the new state of Vermont. Reuben obtained a deed of land from Asaph Fletcher of Cavendish, VT. Reuben was the first to obtain a deed of land and have it recorded. Reuben's house that he built was the fourth best house in town at that time. In 1806, Reuben deeded the southern half of the southern half bordering on the Chester line (78 acres) to his brother Amos for $94.00. This farm, in later years, was owned by George Cook. Reuben was a land speculator in Baltimore, VT and also quite prominent in local affairs. Six times he was elected lister, twice as town treasurer, and six times as selectman. There is no question he loved the little community he chose to make his home. The town of Baltimore has in 1997 only about 200 inhabitants total, but still maintains its own little schoolhouse and town hall. It sits on the topside of a beautiful little mountain named Hawk's Mountain. The views from up there are just magnificent. Reuben moved to Springfield, VT but his son Cyrus lived in the house that Reuben built until 1828.