Hales & Winans Family Obituaries
Bemis, William Edward
WM. E. BEMIS, OF STANDARD OIL, DIES
New York Company Vice President is Stricken While Duck Shooting Near Port Jervis.
DEVELOPED CHINA'S FIELDS
He Was Decorated by the Sultan for His Many Humanitarian Services to Turkey
William Edward Bemis, a Vice President of the Standard Oil Company and one of the foremost authorities on the export oil business, died suddenly yesterday morning at his Summer home, Webland, near Port Jervis, N. Y. The news of his death came as a shock to his associates at 20 Broadway, as he left for his Thanksgiving vacation in the best of health.
Mr. Bemis was duck shooting on Friday, and complained of pains in his chest, which grew so bad that he was taken home. On Saturday he improved, but grew worse again on Sunday, sinking gradually until he died.
Mr. Bemis was born in Cleveland, Ohio, and was in his fifty-second year. As soon as he left school in 1882, he obtained a position with the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey, rising rapidly until he was placed in charge of the foreign trade, spending much of his time abroad. When the Standard Oil Company of New Jersey was dissolved, he was elected one of the Vice Presidents and a member of the Board of Directors of the Standard Oil Company of New York.
One of the most noted achievements of his career was when he went to China for the Standard Oil, and in February, 1914, signed an agreement with the Chinese Government, on behalf of his company, for the development of the oil fields of that country. Under his direction the work was soon commenced and it is estimated will have cost nearly $10,000,000 before it is completed. This was said at the time to have been the first time that an Imperial Government had entered into partnership with a private enterprise for the development of its own resources.
In July, 1915, Mr. Bemis went to Turkey, and was located in Constantinople for some time. The Sultan decorated him with the Order of Osmanieh of the second class for his many humanitarian services.
Mr. Bemis was married in 1896 to Miss Frances Lavinia Ford of Cleveland, who accompanied him on many of his trips abroad, and survives him. Mr. Bemis made his permanent home at Harbor Lodge in Larchmont, N. Y.
He was a member of the Larchmont Yacht Club, the Ohio Society of New York, the Campfire Club of America, the Caughnawanna Hunting and Fishing Club, and the Apawamis Golf Club. His body was taken to his home in Larchmont.
The funeral will be held at St. John's Church, Larchmont, on Thursday morning at 11 o'clock.
Obituary printed in The New York Times, November 30, 1915 edition,
page 13
Obit found in the Rootsweb online database of Steve Dahlstrom.
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Last Updated: June 12, 2009