Postby dognose » Sun Mar 27, 2022 5:48 am
DEATH OF FRANCIS T. BEMIS
The death of Mr. Francis T. Bemis, of the well known retail jewelry firm of Bigelow, Kennard & Company, which occurred Jan. 24 at his residence 22 Newbury street, has thrown a gloom of sadness over all the trade in this city. Mr. Bemis was a native of Massachusetts, having been born 52 years ago in the little town of Lincoln. Armed with a little more than a common-school education and a naturally keen business faculty, he came to the metropolis at an early age and entered almost at once the employ of the above mentioned house. There he remained until his maturity, displaying an unswerving faithfulness to duty and close observation of details, and finally in 1863 he became associated with the firm in partnership. Conscientious, untiring and genial in all his business relations, he bore with him the elements of that success — moral as well as material — and popularity which comes of these and other characteristics of a public-spirited citizen. It was then he earned the deserved esteem of his associates, whether transient or permanent, equal or subordinate, and there is no better evidence of the general regard in which he was held than the prompt and touching tribute offered by the other leading houses in the trade. Prompted by their long and agreeable business relations with the deceased, and desiring to publicly signify their high appreciation of his character, the following firms closed their places of business at noon on the day of his funeral:
Shreve, Crump & Low, Palmer, Bachelder & Co., Robbins, Appleton & Co., A. Stowell & Co., Henry D. Morse & Chas. M. Foss, Geo. H. Richards, Jr., & Co., Howard Watch & Clock Co., J. V. Kettell & Co., Rand & Crane, C. A. W. Crosby, N. S. Wood & Son, Clarkson & Schrieber, B. A. Hersey, Henry Guild & Son, Lewis E. Jenks, Farrington & Hunnewell, Brooks & Pike, Harwood Bros., Floyd, Pratt & Rounds, D. C. Percival & Co., Morrill Bros. & Co., Whitney Bros., Henry T. Spear & Son, Ripley Howland Mfg. Co.
The cause of Mr. Bemis’ death was pneumonia, which developed suddenly, after a few days’ illness. He held a deserved prominence in the Art and Merchants’ clubs and other home organizations, besides having a wide and peculiarly tender, private circle of attachments. There are two sons and a daughter left to mourn his loss.
Source: The Jewelers' Circular and Horological Review - May 1888
Trev.