Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1888-01-20
OBITUARY.
Hon. mornce Rcmis.

HON. hOfhce heutH3
A NATIVE OF THIS COUNTY, AND FOR MANY
YEARS LEADING LAWYER IN HoRNELLs-
VILE, N. Y.
Hon. Horace Bemis, a native Of Dunn
merston, and brother of DR.. S. n. Bemis
now of Bratteboro, died at his home in
Hornellsville, n. Y, last Friday morning,
of an apoplectc stroke. Mr.. Bemis had
been a resident Of Hornellsville since 1850
and had attained to eminence as a member
Of the Steuben county bar. The lIolnels
vile Times, in sketch Of his life says
Mr. Bemis came Of good old Puritan stock, be
ing the eighth descendant ON his mothers side
from Henry Dumster, one Of the first presidents
Of Harvard college, while his fathers ancestors
were among the early settlers Of Massachusetts.
His health during his bpyhUOd was very intirm,
and It was not until he arrived at manhood that
he developed his wonderful physical powers. llav-
ing learned the trade uf saddpr aud harness
maker he moved from his home In Dummerstun,
VT to Saratoga, to obtain the benefit Of the min
pra springs Here he worked at his trade, and
with the money thus earned, afterwards attended
the High school at BrattlebUro, Vt, and thrreaf-
ter taught school and engaged in the study Of law.
At Adrian, Mich. h. continued his law studies
and was an intimate friend and associate Of chief
Justice Cooley Of Michigan, who was a young
lawyer at that time practicing at Adrian lie
came TO Hornellsyille IN 1850 and taught school
for several winters, continuing his law studies and
practicing whenever an opportunity offered He
was member Of the New York Legislature for
assembly in the years 1863 and 1863 Although
Mr. Bcmis's advantages at school were limited.
he was thoroughly educated man, possessing an
unusually rrtentive memory and taste for read
ing. lie mastered the old English classics So
that he became thoroughly familiar with all that
is best in English literature. One of the present
justices Of the supreme court Of New York, while
ON a visit to the home of Sir Walter Scott, said to
the Old keeper who was in attendance at Ahbuts
ford, that he knew man in America who knew
more Of Sir Walter Scott aud his writings than
any man in Abbotsford The old keeper, deeply
impressed. broke on branch Of the yew tree
that had been planted by SCOTS own hand. and
requested the Judge to carry 1t to the gentleman
who was none other than Mr.. Bemis with the re-
quest that he keep it as mrmcnto of him whom
they both rryercd. The token came in due time
into Mr. Bcmis $ possession, and was treasure
highly priced
No man had more natural aptitude for the
profession Of law than he; and no man ever rN
hbted more zeal and industry in the preparation
Of a case in which he was Interested. His great
memory gave him an immense store of ready
knowledge Of law, and his of hand opinions up
on law questions were usually accurate. lie liked
the practice Of criminal las, where his quick per
/ cepttons and his ingenuity in dealing with facts
made him very successful. lie defended y men
upon indictments charging them with murder iu
| The ifsl degree u greater number 1t Is believed,
than any other lawyer in New Nurl, state ever de
! Tended, with two exceptions. In these cases hr
was remarkably successful. only one of his eli
rnts having been convicted of murder IN the first
degree and that conviction hring ltained, as Mr..
Bemls always declared In consequence Of not
! following his directions. Mr. Bemis was a lawyer
/ uf the old school, which did not believe ia making
thr regal profession medium ul acquiring
] wealth. aud he was always satisfied with "A r-a.
Suuahlr compensation for his services: never.
! however. refusing 10 devote his time and talents
TO the defence Of any one. however poor he might
/ bt, whose cause he believed to be- Just
But II was the private character of Mr.. Bemis
/ as known to his most iutim1t" friends. that wae
/ most attractive. Generous, kind hearted. unset
/ fish, the motive ut nus life seemed to he 10 for
ward the interests Of his friends rather than OF
! himself. Careless Of his own interests. thought
u