Notes for OPHELIA L HOLLEY BEMIS:

Daughter of David and Elizabeth S (Randall) Holley.
Born: August 20, 1831 in New York.
Died: April 23, 1903 in New York City, New York.
Buried: Pierrepont Manor Cemetery, Pierrepont Manor, Jefferson County, New York.
Census:
1870 - Ellisburgh, Jefferson County, New York.
June 19, 1875 - E.D. 1, Ellisburgh, Jefferson County, New York.
1880 - Ellisburgh, Jefferson County, New York.
1900 - ED 17 Ellisburgh Township, Election Districts 3-5 Belleville village, Jefferson County, New York.
Married: Joseph A Bemis 1857 in Ellisburgh, Jefferson County, New York.

Obituary
Source: Jefferson County Journal, May 5, 1903
Ophelia Holley Bemis
Entered into rest at New York City, Thursday morning, April 23, 1903, Ophelia Holley Bemis, aged 71 years. A sad little note came to me a few days since asking me to write a few words for this dear "cousin" of ours—one so well known and much beloved for many happy years. Today there came to me a letter from a dear old neighbor and friend of my mother's also a friend of Mrs. Bemis, now living at Paullina, Iowa. She writes, "Words, especially written words are so meaningless, and how true we find it! When our eyes are filled with tears and our hearts with sorrow the few words we can write seem so inadequate. But the few words with love and sympathy be­tween the lines may bring a little comfort to those other sorrowing, motherless girls. We realize all we have lost, and as the little note says, "it is hard to go on without our dear mothers."

We have, however, many happy days to remember together, many pleasant visits in the two cheery, happy homes, and we can rejoice in that dear friends everywhere say such pleasant and beautiful things of those we loved, and we know we are not sad alone. This dear friend leaves with her many friends the memory of a smiling face and countless cheery welcomes to her much loved home and it will never see the same glad place again without her. In many homes and in many places her happy face and gracious iniuence will be sadly missed. To such true women who love so well the dear home places here, who are so lovingly loyal to their heart's dearest, what happiness must the heavenly borne bring and the presence of all the dear ones gone on before them. If only they could tell something of the happy country and the gladness of the days.

"Ah, vainly we question our pleading is vain.
For words the stilled lips cannot say.
Yet we feel your touch on our heart's sore pain
Your eyes smile a welcome, and yet we stay.

And clasping our crosses we'll try to wait.
No matter how many the summers be,
For whether our coming: be soon or late
We know there are years with the king of thee.

They can add no shadow of pain or care.
To dim the sweetness dear faces wore.
No lines of white to the soft, brown hair.
For all that is beautiful entering there
Is beautiful everywhere.