My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM PRENDERGAST BEMUS, M. D., a descendant of one of the early pioneer families of southern Chautauqua county, was a successful physician of Jamestown for nearly forty years. He was the fifth son and seventh child of Lieutenant Charles and Relepha (Boyd) Bemus, and was born at Bemus Point, Chautauqua county, New York, October 4, 1827. The Bemus family settled at an early day in Saratoga county, at Bemus Heights, which were named after the family, and on which Arnold and Morgan defeated Burgoyne, and prevented the British conquest of New England and New York. Dr. Bemus’ great-grandfather, Major Jotham Bemus, was reared at Bemus Heights and served as an officer in the Revolutionary war, and died at Pittstown, Rensselaer county. His son, William Bemus, was born at Bemus Heights, February 25, 1762, and removed in early life to Pittstown, where, on January 29, 1782, he married Polly, daughter of William Prendergast, Sr. In 1805 he accompanied his father-in-law and the families of the latter’s sons and daughters, twenty-nine persons in all, in their removal to Tennessee, and came back with them to Chautauqua county, where he settled in 1806 at Bemus Point (which was named for him), on Lake Chautauqua, in the town of Ellery. He died January 2, 1830, aged sixty-eight years, and his wife, who was born March 13, 1760, passed away July 11, 1845, at eighty-five years of age. Their children were: Dr. Daniel, Elizabeth Silsby, Tryphena Griffith, William Thomas, Lieutenant Charles, Mehitabel Hazeltine and James. Lieutenant Charles Bemus (father) was born at Pittstown, August 31, 1791, and died at Bemus Point, October 10, 1861. He served as a first lieutenant in the war of 1812, and was a spectator at the burning of Buffalo. On February 28, 1811, he married Relepha Boyd, who was born July 20, 1790, and died January 2, 1843. They were the parents of ten children: James, Ellen Smiley, Matthew, Daniel, Jane Copp, John, Dr. William P., Mehitabel P. Strong, Dr. E. M. and George H., a lawyer.

William P. Bemus obtained a good high school education at Fredonia, and also received instruction under private tutors of ability and qualification. He then read medicine with Dr. Shanahan, of Warren, Pa., attended lectures at Oberlin college, and was graduated from the Berkshire medical institute, of Springfield, Mass. After graduation he opened an office at Ashville, New York, but soon removed to Jamestown, where he practiced his profession successfully and continuously for forty-two years. He held a prominent position in the ranks of his profession, was a liberal and sympathetic physician and his “free practice” was large, as he rendered his services to all who asked them of him. He stood high with the people, whose confidence he enjoyed to the fullest extent. He never went to law during his lifetime to collect any account for medical services rendered by him. He was an ardent democrat in politics, served as president of the Cleveland democratic club, and although always active in the interests of his party, yet never aspired to, nor would accept of, any political office. He was secretary of the board of pensions at Jamestown, and a member of the Protestant Episcopal church of that city, which was organized in 1853.

In 1855 he married Helen O. Norton, daughter of Squire Morris Norton, of Ashville, New York. They had two children, a son and a daughter. The daughter, Helen, is the wife of Frederick E. Hatch, who is engaged in the drug and book business; and Dr. Morris K, the son, was graduated from Rutgers college. New Jersey, in 1885, read medicine with his father, and entered the college of Physicians and Surgeons of New York city, from which leading medical institution he was graduated in 1888. He then took a full post-graduate course, after which he became a partner with his father, and since the death of the latter, in 1890, has continued successfully in the practice of his profession in Jamestown until the present time. Mrs. Bemus died March 7, 1874. On June 3, 1875, the doctor married Sarah E., daughter of Abram C. and Sarah M. Prather. Sarah E. Prather was born in Venango county, Pa.

Dr. William Prendergast Bemus was active in his professional labors until his summons came to lay down the cares of earthly life. He sank to sleep on September 19, 1890, and his remains were interred in Lake View cemetery.