According to the Bemis Homestead Farm article:
Judson Moss Bemis, son of Stephen and Miriam T. Farwell Bemis, was born in Fitchburg on May 13, 1833. His name was chosen in commemoration of a local clergyman. Shortly after his birth, the Bemis family moved to Big Flat, New York, living on the same land as his maternal uncle, Henry Farwell, and his family.
The two families decided to seek new lands in the west. By the summer of 1838 they were on the move to Rock River country in (Ogle County)Illinois. The original claims, purchased by Henry Farwell the previous year, covered 320 acres and cost 900 dollars. They strove to make a living from farmng but life on the plains was difficult. Miriam Bemis died on January 24, 1840. Stephen was remarried several months later to Mary Neville, a widow. She already had a boy Judson's age and in the following years she and Stephen had six more children.
Stephen succumbed to the lure of California fold fields in the summer of 1849. He was grub staked by the local doctor and shop keeper. For three years he searched for gold but arrived home penniless as when he left. Judson was sixteen when his father left and was left to his own resources. He worked on various farms in the area during the summer months and attended Mount Morris Academy in winter.
At nineteen Judson was offered the position held by his older brother Stephen Allen in Chicago. Stephen, like his father, was going west to look for gold. Thomas W. Hale and company, agents for the Troy and Western line, gave Judson his first job in the city. He worked as a clerk, six days a week for a year and his total income was $250.00. Utilizing his savings, he became involved locally in successful real estate ventures. He owned a share of a small grocery store and his own drayage business as well. During this time he also became a member of the Know Nothing Party, a national movement based on anti-Catholic and anti-immigrant sentiment.
The Hale company was having serious financial difficulties in 1858 due to the panic of the previous year and the general decline of the forwarding business as a whole. Mr. Bemis left the company with a savings of $2,000 and started to look for his own business. He became interested in manufacturing bags because his cousin, Simeon Farwell, owned a moderately successful plant in town. Seeing that the Chicago market was already saturated he began to look for other cities in which to establish his business, finally deciding on St. Louis. the city was growing rapidly; its advantageous location soon made it a focal point for trade on the Mississippi. Many years later, Mr. Bemis reminisced: "I think it is fortunate that the bag industry presented itself to me at the time that I was watching for an opportunity to be my own employer. My great desire was to gain in experience as well as in money and to be building up a lasting industry for myself, instead of others. I also had the feeling that manufacturing something for the general use gave one a better reason for adding a profit than buying and selling an article for consumption, all ready for use at such a profit as was obtainable. It goes without saying before I began to comprehend the possibility of the volume to which our industry might attain with proper effort to extend it."
The most extensive undertaking of the Bemis Company was the development of Bemis, Tennessee. In this company town the Y.M.C.A., three public schools, and the city auditorium were all presented to the city by the company. In 1906, Judson donated the Bemis Union Church and $50,000 in stock which was to be set aside as a trust for its Sunday school and Day school.
Mr. Bemis in his seventies, felt that it was time to retire. He did so in February of 1909 resigning only his position as president but retaining his directorship and advising capacity. His son, Albert, assumed his position as president of the company. Mr. Bemis was now able to pursue his philanthropic interests centered in Colorado Springs, and Bemis, Tennesee.
Mr. Bemis made his home at Colorado Springs, CO. He died at his son Albert's home in Boston, MA, April 6, 1921 at the age of 88 years.
"Stand for that until you have mastered it. Stand at the head of your class. Stand at the head of your business. Stand at the head of your profession. Stand upright, physically and morally. Stand for character, that it may be equal to a shining light on the hilltop...in your ideas aim at the sun. You may hit the moon, but if your aim is the level of the earth, you will hit nothing better than you found it, your day in the world has been worth while." Judson Moss Bemis
Obituary - Wednesday, April 6, 1921 - Seattle Daily Times - Judson M. Bemis Dies - Recently Visited Daughter Mrs. R. H. Parsons - Nationally Known Manufacturer Had Branch Here - Owned Cowen's University Park - Judson M. Bemis, nationally known manufacturer and father of Mrs. Reginald H. Parsons of Seattle, died at the home of his son, Albert F. Bemis, in Wellesley Hills, Mass., in his 88th year, according to a telegram received this morning. Mr. Bemis was a frequent visitor in Seattle, one of his many factories having been established here years ago. He spent several weeks here last winter visiting Mrs. Parsons, returning March 5. Mr. Bemis founded the Bemis Bros. Bag Company in 1858, and now, the corporation owns and operates 15 factories in the United States besides a colossal plant in Calcutta, India. The corporation is known nationally and internationally in trade and commerce. Mr. Bemis 30 years ago was convinced that Seattle was to become the big commercial and maritime city of the North Pacific coast. He backed his faith in the city with his money, for in 1891 he acquired the property now known as Cowen's University Park. At various time he owned other large tracts of city real estate. He was born in Fitchburg, Mass, May 18, 1833, and was married in 1866 to Alice Cogswell of Cambridgeport, Mass. She died in 1916 in Colorado Springs, Col. Surviving children besides Mrs. Parsons are his son, Albert Farwell Bemis, head of Bemis Bros. Bag Company, and Mrs. Frederick M. P. Taylor, of Colorado Springs. Mr. Bemis was long a trustee of Colorado College in Colorado Springs, and gave the institution the College Bemis Hall, a women's dormitory, and also its School of Business Administration.
Obituary -- Thursday, April 7, 1921 - Colorado Springs Gazette - Judson Bemis Dies - Multimillionaire is Dead at the Home of His Son Near Boston - Once Resident Here - Gifts to College Counted in Thousands of Dollars While Here - Judson M. Bemis, father of Mrs. F. M. P. Taylor of this city, philanthropist, who had given much to Colorado college, died yesterday morning at the home of his son, A. F. Bemis, near Boston. He was one of the large manufacturers of the country, and in another month would have been 88 years old. Mr. Bemis was a former resident of Colorado Springs, having come to Colorado 38 years ago. His donations to Colorado college amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars. He built Bemis hall, and founded the Bemis department of business administration and banking a number of years ago thru a trust fund of $100,000. He gave liberally to the endowment fund at different times. From the year 1912 to 1919, Mr. Bemis was a member of the board of the trustees of the college, but as early as 1880 was taking a keen interest in its welfare. His own business success is one of the interesting stories of the manufacturing industry. He came west to Illinois with his family in a covered wagon when he was a child. His father was a chair maker, and the son always said of him with pride that not another man in the country could make a better chair. The future manufacturer left the farm on which they settled at an early age, and went to St. Louis, where he purchased a small bag manufacturing shop, making the bags himself. He became the greatest bag manufacturer in the country. Mrs. Bemis died in Colorado several years ago. He leaves another daughter, Mrs. R. H. Parsons, of Seattle, who also formerly lived in Colorado Springs.
Judson Moss Bemis, son of Stephen and Miriam T. Farwell Bemis, was born in Fitchburg on May 13, 1833. His name was chosen in commemoration of a local clergyman. Shortly after his birth, the Bemis family moved to Big Flat, New York, living on the same land as his maternal uncle, Henry Farwell, and his family.
The two families decided to seek new lands in the west. By the summer of 1838 they were on the move to Rock River country in (Ogle County)Illinois. The original claims, purchased by Henry Farwell the previous year, covered 320 acres and cost 900 dollars. They strove to make a living from farmng but life on the plains was difficult. Miriam Bemis died on January 24, 1840. Stephen was remarried several months later to Mary Neville, a widow. She already had a boy Judson's age and in the following years she and Stephen had six more children.
Stephen succumbed to the lure of California fold fields in the summer of 1849. He was grub staked by the local doctor and shop keeper. For three years he searched for gold but arrived home penniless as when he left. Judson was sixteen when his father left and was left to his own resources. He worked on various farms in the area during the summer months and attended Mount Morris Academy in winter.
At nineteen Judson was offered the position held by his older brother Stephen Allen in Chicago. Stephen, like his father, was going west to look for gold. Thomas W. Hale and company, agents for the Troy and Western line, gave Judson his first job in the city. He worked as a clerk, six days a week for a year and his total income was $250.00. Utilizing his savings, he became involved locally in successful real estate ventures. He owned a share of a small grocery store and his own drayage business as well. During this time he also became a member of the Know Nothing Party, a national movement based on anti-Catholic and anti-immigrant sentiment.
The Hale company was having serious financial difficulties in 1858 due to the panic of the previous year and the general decline of the forwarding business as a whole. Mr. Bemis left the company with a savings of $2,000 and started to look for his own business. He became interested in manufacturing bags because his cousin, Simeon Farwell, owned a moderately successful plant in town. Seeing that the Chicago market was already saturated he began to look for other cities in which to establish his business, finally deciding on St. Louis. the city was growing rapidly; its advantageous location soon made it a focal point for trade on the Mississippi. Many years later, Mr. Bemis reminisced: "I think it is fortunate that the bag industry presented itself to me at the time that I was watching for an opportunity to be my own employer. My great desire was to gain in experience as well as in money and to be building up a lasting industry for myself, instead of others. I also had the feeling that manufacturing something for the general use gave one a better reason for adding a profit than buying and selling an article for consumption, all ready for use at such a profit as was obtainable. It goes without saying before I began to comprehend the possibility of the volume to which our industry might attain with proper effort to extend it."
The most extensive undertaking of the Bemis Company was the development of Bemis, Tennessee. In this company town the Y.M.C.A., three public schools, and the city auditorium were all presented to the city by the company. In 1906, Judson donated the Bemis Union Church and $50,000 in stock which was to be set aside as a trust for its Sunday school and Day school.
Mr. Bemis in his seventies, felt that it was time to retire. He did so in February of 1909 resigning only his position as president but retaining his directorship and advising capacity. His son, Albert, assumed his position as president of the company. Mr. Bemis was now able to pursue his philanthropic interests centered in Colorado Springs, and Bemis, Tennesee.
Mr. Bemis made his home at Colorado Springs, CO. He died at his son Albert's home in Boston, MA, April 6, 1921 at the age of 88 years.
"Stand for that until you have mastered it. Stand at the head of your class. Stand at the head of your business. Stand at the head of your profession. Stand upright, physically and morally. Stand for character, that it may be equal to a shining light on the hilltop...in your ideas aim at the sun. You may hit the moon, but if your aim is the level of the earth, you will hit nothing better than you found it, your day in the world has been worth while." Judson Moss Bemis
Obituary - Wednesday, April 6, 1921 - Seattle Daily Times - Judson M. Bemis Dies - Recently Visited Daughter Mrs. R. H. Parsons - Nationally Known Manufacturer Had Branch Here - Owned Cowen's University Park - Judson M. Bemis, nationally known manufacturer and father of Mrs. Reginald H. Parsons of Seattle, died at the home of his son, Albert F. Bemis, in Wellesley Hills, Mass., in his 88th year, according to a telegram received this morning. Mr. Bemis was a frequent visitor in Seattle, one of his many factories having been established here years ago. He spent several weeks here last winter visiting Mrs. Parsons, returning March 5. Mr. Bemis founded the Bemis Bros. Bag Company in 1858, and now, the corporation owns and operates 15 factories in the United States besides a colossal plant in Calcutta, India. The corporation is known nationally and internationally in trade and commerce. Mr. Bemis 30 years ago was convinced that Seattle was to become the big commercial and maritime city of the North Pacific coast. He backed his faith in the city with his money, for in 1891 he acquired the property now known as Cowen's University Park. At various time he owned other large tracts of city real estate. He was born in Fitchburg, Mass, May 18, 1833, and was married in 1866 to Alice Cogswell of Cambridgeport, Mass. She died in 1916 in Colorado Springs, Col. Surviving children besides Mrs. Parsons are his son, Albert Farwell Bemis, head of Bemis Bros. Bag Company, and Mrs. Frederick M. P. Taylor, of Colorado Springs. Mr. Bemis was long a trustee of Colorado College in Colorado Springs, and gave the institution the College Bemis Hall, a women's dormitory, and also its School of Business Administration.
Obituary -- Thursday, April 7, 1921 - Colorado Springs Gazette - Judson Bemis Dies - Multimillionaire is Dead at the Home of His Son Near Boston - Once Resident Here - Gifts to College Counted in Thousands of Dollars While Here - Judson M. Bemis, father of Mrs. F. M. P. Taylor of this city, philanthropist, who had given much to Colorado college, died yesterday morning at the home of his son, A. F. Bemis, near Boston. He was one of the large manufacturers of the country, and in another month would have been 88 years old. Mr. Bemis was a former resident of Colorado Springs, having come to Colorado 38 years ago. His donations to Colorado college amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars. He built Bemis hall, and founded the Bemis department of business administration and banking a number of years ago thru a trust fund of $100,000. He gave liberally to the endowment fund at different times. From the year 1912 to 1919, Mr. Bemis was a member of the board of the trustees of the college, but as early as 1880 was taking a keen interest in its welfare. His own business success is one of the interesting stories of the manufacturing industry. He came west to Illinois with his family in a covered wagon when he was a child. His father was a chair maker, and the son always said of him with pride that not another man in the country could make a better chair. The future manufacturer left the farm on which they settled at an early age, and went to St. Louis, where he purchased a small bag manufacturing shop, making the bags himself. He became the greatest bag manufacturer in the country. Mrs. Bemis died in Colorado several years ago. He leaves another daughter, Mrs. R. H. Parsons, of Seattle, who also formerly lived in Colorado Springs.
According to the Bemis Homestead Farm article:
Judson Moss Bemis, son of Stephen and Miriam T. Farwell Bemis, was born in Fitchburg on May 13, 1833. His name was chosen in commemoration of a local clergyman. Shortly after his birth, the Bemis family moved to Big Flat, New York, living on the same land as his maternal uncle, Henry Farwell, and his family.
The two families decided to seek new lands in the west. By the summer of 1838 they were on the move to Rock River country in (Ogle County)Illinois. The original claims, purchased by Henry Farwell the previous year, covered 320 acres and cost 900 dollars. They strove to make a living from farmng but life on the plains was difficult. Miriam Bemis died on January 24, 1840. Stephen was remarried several months later to Mary Neville, a widow. She already had a boy Judson's age and in the following years she and Stephen had six more children.
Stephen succumbed to the lure of California fold fields in the summer of 1849. He was grub staked by the local doctor and shop keeper. For three years he searched for gold but arrived home penniless as when he left. Judson was sixteen when his father left and was left to his own resources. He worked on various farms in the area during the summer months and attended Mount Morris Academy in winter.
At nineteen Judson was offered the position held by his older brother Stephen Allen in Chicago. Stephen, like his father, was going west to look for gold. Thomas W. Hale and company, agents for the Troy and Western line, gave Judson his first job in the city. He worked as a clerk, six days a week for a year and his total income was $250.00. Utilizing his savings, he became involved locally in successful real estate ventures. He owned a share of a small grocery store and his own drayage business as well. During this time he also became a member of the Know Nothing Party, a national movement based on anti-Catholic and anti-immigrant sentiment.
The Hale company was having serious financial difficulties in 1858 due to the panic of the previous year and the general decline of the forwarding business as a whole. Mr. Bemis left the company with a savings of $2,000 and started to look for his own business. He became interested in manufacturing bags because his cousin, Simeon Farwell, owned a moderately successful plant in town. Seeing that the Chicago market was already saturated he began to look for other cities in which to establish his business, finally deciding on St. Louis. the city was growing rapidly; its advantageous location soon made it a focal point for trade on the Mississippi. Many years later, Mr. Bemis reminisced: "I think it is fortunate that the bag industry presented itself to me at the time that I was watching for an opportunity to be my own employer. My great desire was to gain in experience as well as in money and to be building up a lasting industry for myself, instead of others. I also had the feeling that manufacturing something for the general use gave one a better reason for adding a profit than buying and selling an article for consumption, all ready for use at such a profit as was obtainable. It goes without saying before I began to comprehend the possibility of the volume to which our industry might attain with proper effort to extend it."
The most extensive undertaking of the Bemis Company was the development of Bemis, Tennessee. In this company town the Y.M.C.A., three public schools, and the city auditorium were all presented to the city by the company. In 1906, Judson donated the Bemis Union Church and $50,000 in stock which was to be set aside as a trust for its Sunday school and Day school.
Mr. Bemis in his seventies, felt that it was time to retire. He did so in February of 1909 resigning only his position as president but retaining his directorship and advising capacity. His son, Albert, assumed his position as president of the company. Mr. Bemis was now able to pursue his philanthropic interests centered in Colorado Springs, and Bemis, Tennesee.
Mr. Bemis made his home at Colorado Springs, CO. He died at his son Albert's home in Boston, MA, April 6, 1921 at the age of 88 years.
"Stand for that until you have mastered it. Stand at the head of your class. Stand at the head of your business. Stand at the head of your profession. Stand upright, physically and morally. Stand for character, that it may be equal to a shining light on the hilltop...in your ideas aim at the sun. You may hit the moon, but if your aim is the level of the earth, you will hit nothing better than you found it, your day in the world has been worth while." Judson Moss Bemis
Obituary - Wednesday, April 6, 1921 - Seattle Daily Times - Judson M. Bemis Dies - Recently Visited Daughter Mrs. R. H. Parsons - Nationally Known Manufacturer Had Branch Here - Owned Cowen's University Park - Judson M. Bemis, nationally known manufacturer and father of Mrs. Reginald H. Parsons of Seattle, died at the home of his son, Albert F. Bemis, in Wellesley Hills, Mass., in his 88th year, according to a telegram received this morning. Mr. Bemis was a frequent visitor in Seattle, one of his many factories having been established here years ago. He spent several weeks here last winter visiting Mrs. Parsons, returning March 5. Mr. Bemis founded the Bemis Bros. Bag Company in 1858, and now, the corporation owns and operates 15 factories in the United States besides a colossal plant in Calcutta, India. The corporation is known nationally and internationally in trade and commerce. Mr. Bemis 30 years ago was convinced that Seattle was to become the big commercial and maritime city of the North Pacific coast. He backed his faith in the city with his money, for in 1891 he acquired the property now known as Cowen's University Park. At various time he owned other large tracts of city real estate. He was born in Fitchburg, Mass, May 18, 1833, and was married in 1866 to Alice Cogswell of Cambridgeport, Mass. She died in 1916 in Colorado Springs, Col. Surviving children besides Mrs. Parsons are his son, Albert Farwell Bemis, head of Bemis Bros. Bag Company, and Mrs. Frederick M. P. Taylor, of Colorado Springs. Mr. Bemis was long a trustee of Colorado College in Colorado Springs, and gave the institution the College Bemis Hall, a women's dormitory, and also its School of Business Administration.
Obituary -- Thursday, April 7, 1921 - Colorado Springs Gazette - Judson Bemis Dies - Multimillionaire is Dead at the Home of His Son Near Boston - Once Resident Here - Gifts to College Counted in Thousands of Dollars While Here - Judson M. Bemis, father of Mrs. F. M. P. Taylor of this city, philanthropist, who had given much to Colorado college, died yesterday morning at the home of his son, A. F. Bemis, near Boston. He was one of the large manufacturers of the country, and in another month would have been 88 years old. Mr. Bemis was a former resident of Colorado Springs, having come to Colorado 38 years ago. His donations to Colorado college amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars. He built Bemis hall, and founded the Bemis department of business administration and banking a number of years ago thru a trust fund of $100,000. He gave liberally to the endowment fund at different times. From the year 1912 to 1919, Mr. Bemis was a member of the board of the trustees of the college, but as early as 1880 was taking a keen interest in its welfare. His own business success is one of the interesting stories of the manufacturing industry. He came west to Illinois with his family in a covered wagon when he was a child. His father was a chair maker, and the son always said of him with pride that not another man in the country could make a better chair. The future manufacturer left the farm on which they settled at an early age, and went to St. Louis, where he purchased a small bag manufacturing shop, making the bags himself. He became the greatest bag manufacturer in the country. Mrs. Bemis died in Colorado several years ago. He leaves another daughter, Mrs. R. H. Parsons, of Seattle, who also formerly lived in Colorado Springs.
Judson Moss Bemis, son of Stephen and Miriam T. Farwell Bemis, was born in Fitchburg on May 13, 1833. His name was chosen in commemoration of a local clergyman. Shortly after his birth, the Bemis family moved to Big Flat, New York, living on the same land as his maternal uncle, Henry Farwell, and his family.
The two families decided to seek new lands in the west. By the summer of 1838 they were on the move to Rock River country in (Ogle County)Illinois. The original claims, purchased by Henry Farwell the previous year, covered 320 acres and cost 900 dollars. They strove to make a living from farmng but life on the plains was difficult. Miriam Bemis died on January 24, 1840. Stephen was remarried several months later to Mary Neville, a widow. She already had a boy Judson's age and in the following years she and Stephen had six more children.
Stephen succumbed to the lure of California fold fields in the summer of 1849. He was grub staked by the local doctor and shop keeper. For three years he searched for gold but arrived home penniless as when he left. Judson was sixteen when his father left and was left to his own resources. He worked on various farms in the area during the summer months and attended Mount Morris Academy in winter.
At nineteen Judson was offered the position held by his older brother Stephen Allen in Chicago. Stephen, like his father, was going west to look for gold. Thomas W. Hale and company, agents for the Troy and Western line, gave Judson his first job in the city. He worked as a clerk, six days a week for a year and his total income was $250.00. Utilizing his savings, he became involved locally in successful real estate ventures. He owned a share of a small grocery store and his own drayage business as well. During this time he also became a member of the Know Nothing Party, a national movement based on anti-Catholic and anti-immigrant sentiment.
The Hale company was having serious financial difficulties in 1858 due to the panic of the previous year and the general decline of the forwarding business as a whole. Mr. Bemis left the company with a savings of $2,000 and started to look for his own business. He became interested in manufacturing bags because his cousin, Simeon Farwell, owned a moderately successful plant in town. Seeing that the Chicago market was already saturated he began to look for other cities in which to establish his business, finally deciding on St. Louis. the city was growing rapidly; its advantageous location soon made it a focal point for trade on the Mississippi. Many years later, Mr. Bemis reminisced: "I think it is fortunate that the bag industry presented itself to me at the time that I was watching for an opportunity to be my own employer. My great desire was to gain in experience as well as in money and to be building up a lasting industry for myself, instead of others. I also had the feeling that manufacturing something for the general use gave one a better reason for adding a profit than buying and selling an article for consumption, all ready for use at such a profit as was obtainable. It goes without saying before I began to comprehend the possibility of the volume to which our industry might attain with proper effort to extend it."
The most extensive undertaking of the Bemis Company was the development of Bemis, Tennessee. In this company town the Y.M.C.A., three public schools, and the city auditorium were all presented to the city by the company. In 1906, Judson donated the Bemis Union Church and $50,000 in stock which was to be set aside as a trust for its Sunday school and Day school.
Mr. Bemis in his seventies, felt that it was time to retire. He did so in February of 1909 resigning only his position as president but retaining his directorship and advising capacity. His son, Albert, assumed his position as president of the company. Mr. Bemis was now able to pursue his philanthropic interests centered in Colorado Springs, and Bemis, Tennesee.
Mr. Bemis made his home at Colorado Springs, CO. He died at his son Albert's home in Boston, MA, April 6, 1921 at the age of 88 years.
"Stand for that until you have mastered it. Stand at the head of your class. Stand at the head of your business. Stand at the head of your profession. Stand upright, physically and morally. Stand for character, that it may be equal to a shining light on the hilltop...in your ideas aim at the sun. You may hit the moon, but if your aim is the level of the earth, you will hit nothing better than you found it, your day in the world has been worth while." Judson Moss Bemis
Obituary - Wednesday, April 6, 1921 - Seattle Daily Times - Judson M. Bemis Dies - Recently Visited Daughter Mrs. R. H. Parsons - Nationally Known Manufacturer Had Branch Here - Owned Cowen's University Park - Judson M. Bemis, nationally known manufacturer and father of Mrs. Reginald H. Parsons of Seattle, died at the home of his son, Albert F. Bemis, in Wellesley Hills, Mass., in his 88th year, according to a telegram received this morning. Mr. Bemis was a frequent visitor in Seattle, one of his many factories having been established here years ago. He spent several weeks here last winter visiting Mrs. Parsons, returning March 5. Mr. Bemis founded the Bemis Bros. Bag Company in 1858, and now, the corporation owns and operates 15 factories in the United States besides a colossal plant in Calcutta, India. The corporation is known nationally and internationally in trade and commerce. Mr. Bemis 30 years ago was convinced that Seattle was to become the big commercial and maritime city of the North Pacific coast. He backed his faith in the city with his money, for in 1891 he acquired the property now known as Cowen's University Park. At various time he owned other large tracts of city real estate. He was born in Fitchburg, Mass, May 18, 1833, and was married in 1866 to Alice Cogswell of Cambridgeport, Mass. She died in 1916 in Colorado Springs, Col. Surviving children besides Mrs. Parsons are his son, Albert Farwell Bemis, head of Bemis Bros. Bag Company, and Mrs. Frederick M. P. Taylor, of Colorado Springs. Mr. Bemis was long a trustee of Colorado College in Colorado Springs, and gave the institution the College Bemis Hall, a women's dormitory, and also its School of Business Administration.
Obituary -- Thursday, April 7, 1921 - Colorado Springs Gazette - Judson Bemis Dies - Multimillionaire is Dead at the Home of His Son Near Boston - Once Resident Here - Gifts to College Counted in Thousands of Dollars While Here - Judson M. Bemis, father of Mrs. F. M. P. Taylor of this city, philanthropist, who had given much to Colorado college, died yesterday morning at the home of his son, A. F. Bemis, near Boston. He was one of the large manufacturers of the country, and in another month would have been 88 years old. Mr. Bemis was a former resident of Colorado Springs, having come to Colorado 38 years ago. His donations to Colorado college amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars. He built Bemis hall, and founded the Bemis department of business administration and banking a number of years ago thru a trust fund of $100,000. He gave liberally to the endowment fund at different times. From the year 1912 to 1919, Mr. Bemis was a member of the board of the trustees of the college, but as early as 1880 was taking a keen interest in its welfare. His own business success is one of the interesting stories of the manufacturing industry. He came west to Illinois with his family in a covered wagon when he was a child. His father was a chair maker, and the son always said of him with pride that not another man in the country could make a better chair. The future manufacturer left the farm on which they settled at an early age, and went to St. Louis, where he purchased a small bag manufacturing shop, making the bags himself. He became the greatest bag manufacturer in the country. Mrs. Bemis died in Colorado several years ago. He leaves another daughter, Mrs. R. H. Parsons, of Seattle, who also formerly lived in Colorado Springs.
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