Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Bemis, Melvin 1901
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Sandy Heintzelman sheintz@iserv.net December 28, 2017, 7:01 am

Belding Banner, 4 Jul 1901, page 1

Drowned at Long Lake.

Melvin Bemis of Ionia the Victim – A Graduate the Day Before.

It was a very sad accident which occurred at Long Lake, about six miles east of
Belding, last Friday afternoon when Melvin Bemis, oldest son of Charles L.
Bemis, superintendent of the Ionia schools lost his life while in swimming with
a couple of companions.  Melvin was a member of the graduating class from the
Ionia school the commencement exercises having taken place only the day
previous.  Friday the classes of ‘01 and ’02 were at Long Lake enjoying a
picnic, a sister of Melvin’s, Delia, being also of the party.

Along about 3 o’clock Dan Morse, Harry Allen and Melvin crossed the lake for a
swim.  They remained in the water an hour and all became pretty thoroughly tired
out swimming and diving from their boat.  They had all started for shore, the
other two somewhat in advance of Bemis, who was following them pushing the boat.
 They soon heard a cry for help, and his two companions swimming back found
Bemis exhaused and ready to sink.  They held him up as long as possible, but the
dead weight soon became too great for them and they were obliged to let him
drown, but not until they themselves had been drawn under twice.  His dead body
was recovered soon after and every effort made to resuscitate the boy but
without avail.  A quantity of blood which flowed from the mouth and nose caused
it to be thought that blood vessel was the direct cause of his death, however
his father subsequently stated that he had been afflicted with heart trouble and
in working with his arms raised above his head he had several times been caught
with severe pain, and this may be an explanation.  Young Bemis was about 20
years of age and possessed a fine musical talent.  He was leader of an orchestra
and also a band member.

The funeral services were held from the Church of Christ Sunday afternoon and it
was unable to hold all who wished to attend.  The casket was literally buried
under an immense load of flowers.  The remains were interred in Highland Park
cemetery.  Chas. Clement of this city was an intimate friend of the deceased and
attended the funeral, acting as one of the pall bearers.


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