Dr. Daniel Bemus

biography

Bemus, Dr. Daniel, eldest son of William and Mary (Prendergast) Bemus, was born in the town of Pittstown, Rensselaer Co., N. Y., on the 4th of September, 1784. His paternal grandfather, William Bemus, was, at the time of the battle of Saratoga, the owner of and resided upon the battle-field known as Bemus Heights. His future profession was early decided upon, and to fit him for it, extraordinary opportunities, for those times, were afforded him; in addition to the advantages of the public schools, he received the instruction of a private tutor. When nineteen years of age he commenced the study of medicine with his uncle, Jediah Prendergast, a physician in active practice in Pittstown. In the spring of 1805, in company with his father’s and maternal grandfather’s families, in all twenty-nine persons, he went to Tennessee to search for a new home possessing the advantages of a mild climate and productive soil. They proceeded by wagon and flat-boats to Duck River, near Nashville, Tenn., their intended location. Being dissatisfied with this country, the whole family turned northward, passing through Kentucky, Ohio, and western Pennsylvania, arriving at Erie the end of September, 1805. The following spring they removed to their permanent home, now known as Bemus Point, Chautauqua Lake. In the fall of 1805 Daniel went to Philadelphia for the purpose of attending medical lectures at the University of Pennsylvania, going the whole distance on horseback. The next spring he returned to the home of his uncle, Thomas Prendergast, at Westfield, N. Y., remaining there practicing and reading during the summer. His practice extended from Silver Creek, N. Y., along the Lake Shore road to Erie, Penn., a distance of over fifty miles. He returned to Philadelphia in the fall of 1806; attended lectures during the winter, and graduated in the spring of 1807 with the degree of Doctor of Medicine. Soon after his return to his father’s home, he was requested by Dr. Kennedy, a prominent physician of Meadville, Penn., then temporarily at his mills near Jamestown, N. Y. to take charge of his practice during his absence, and this resulted in Dr. Bemus locating permanently at Meadville, Dr. Kennedy retiring in his favor. On June 12, 1810, our subject was married to Jane, daughter of William Miles, of Union, Penn., who died August 2, 1826. To them were born two daughters Mary, born March 21, 1814, who married J. Stewart Riddle, an attorney of Meadville, and who died March 3, 1839, leaving one daughter, Arianna, married to Thomas B. Kennedy, of Chambersburg, Penn., and Julianna W., born February 26, 1816, died December 9, 1836. Dr. Bemus next married, June 19, 1835, Mrs. Jane Clark, widow of Conner Clark and daughter of Hon. John Brooks. By this second marriage was born May 8, 1836, Julia Prendergast, who married George H. Bemus, a lawyer of Jamestown, N. Y., now residing in Meadville. Their children are—William Marvin, a physician residing at Jamestown, N. Y.; George Prendergast, also at Jamestown; Selden, who died in infancy, and Dudley, residing with his parents. Dr. Bemus at once took a prominent position at Meadville, and was the leading physician for many years. He was one of the first Trustees of Allegheny College, doing much to promote the interests of that institution. The old college building was constructed upon a plan drawn by him. He was a member of the Episcopal Church and one of the first Vestrymen of Christ Church, Meadville. In politics he was first a Whig and then a Republican. During the war of 1812 he was Chief Surgeon of the division commanded by Maj. Gen. Mead. About 1828 he built extensive woolen, flour, lumber and oil mills on French Creek, about two miles above Meadville. As a business man he was successful, accumulating a handsome fortune, and at his death was possessed of considerable property. He died February 21, 1866, at the advanced age of eighty-three years. Few men of his time were better known or more highly esteemed in the community in which he lived.

History of Crawford County, Pennsylvania: containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc., portraits of early settlers and prominent men, biographies, history of Pennsylvania, statistical and miscellaneous matter, Chicago: Warner, Beers & Co., 1885, page 718.