The postings about Ephraim and J.N. Bemis were a huge help for me two years ago when I found them. And recently I found the post that Sally (Sarah) Bemis married Abel Perkins and that made me able to follow her family. Sally was a sister to J.N. Bemis. More specifically James Nelson Bemis. This family did move to Bremer County and were the first settlers in Sumner, Iowa. Then a few years later James and his father Epraim Simeon moved to Fayette Co., Iowa. ( The two counties are side by side.) J. N. moved to Kansas for a few years and then moved back to Fayette, County, Iowa. The father Ephraim Simeon and his wife Mariah
( we think Nelson or Wilson) and James Nelson were all three buried in the Sumner Wilson Grove Cemetery. Ephraim Simeon was a War of 1812 Vet. James is my GG Grandfather. I cannot find a date of death for his wife Emmeline and don't know that she has a stone in the cemetery. STill trying to find out her death and her parents. Her name was Emaline Farewell or possibly Farwell or Farrel. But my family usually recorded it Farewell. She was born in N Y but don't know where or who are her parents.
The line is like this:

Joseph the immigrant from England.

Ephraim 1 b.Watertown, Mass. 1856-d.17++ Conn.M. Elizabeth

Ephraim 2 B.1702/1710 Conn.-d.1792/93 Conn.m. Lydia Thomas

Simeon b. abt. 1858 Ashford, Conn.-cannot find his death-
M. Sally (Sarah) Russ dau. of Amaziah Russ d.?

Ephraim Simeon b.1794 Ashford, Conn.-d. Auburn, Fayette Co., Iowa-1860-M. Mariah ? Nelson or Wilson, b. 1798 in Mass.-d.1866 in Auburn, Fayette Co., Iowa. Buried in Sumner,Iowa, Wilson Grove Cemetery.

Ephraim and Mariah had 5 children b. in N Y as far as I know. Polly b. 1819, Ephraim Simeon 1821, Sally 1823, James Nelson 1826, Edwin P. 1828. The dates could be a bit off. Polly may have died young but wonder if she married first a man with the last name of Hart or Rowe. Two Kids named Hart live with her brothers in 1860. The Hart kids were born in Michigan. Which is where Polly likely married if she did marry. My family says she died young.

The family was in Middlebury, Genessee County, New York in 1820. Possibly Greenfield, Erie Co., Pennsylvania in 1830. In Michigan in 1840 and Will Co., Illinois in 1850 and Iowa in 1860. After 1860 which is when their father died the brothers and sisters seem to go in different directions. Brother Ephraim is in Algona, Iowa in 1870 and then moves back to Michigan in 1880. His wife Sibbel was from Michigan and that was probably the motivation. Maybe her family still lived there. Sally and Abel Perkins moved to Kansas and Sally died in the 1870's. James Nelson died in 1888 and is bur. in Wilson Grove cemetery, Sumner, Iowa. His wife Emaline seems to be the next census but not after that.

I have found land records for Ephraim Simeon in New York and Will County, Illinois and in Iowa.

That was a lot of moving around and I am amazed at how much they did move around in those days. I have found out a lot and pretty much put the itinerary together but there are pieces missing still. I did this from memory so I might be off on a date or two.

1 Who is Emaline Farewell's family?
2 Who is Mariah Nelson or Wilson's family?
3 Simeon b. abt 1758 Ashford, Conn. is a weak link. His birth is not recorded. However back in 1969 my grandmother and a cousin were reseaching our family. Leona Bemis joined the Conn. Genealogy Society and a lady looked for records on Simeon. 1758. What she found was land record and maybe part of a probate record where Simeon, Alexander and Jonathan Bemis sell the land of their honored father Ephraim Bemis in March of 1793. This is my only link for Simeon to be Ephraim 2's son. I do not have a copy of this record. Only Leona's letter to my Grandmother that it exists and a part of what it says. It names the heirs and all the children are alive except for Jotham and Elijah. (So their children inherit. Actually Ican't remember but Jotham may not be mentions.

I do not know if Simeon and Sally (Russ) Bemis had any more children. Seems as though there were more than one man in the household with Ephraim in 1840 census. I do not know if Simeon and Sally went to N Y. with them. I rather think so. Ephraim Simeon lived in Middlebury but bought land in Cattauragus or Chatauqua counties.
If this helps anyone or if anyone has any pieces of the Bemis puzzle please post what you know to help me a little more. Again thanks to all of you who have put info out there for us.

There is another Bemis family that went to the Chicago area aand they are of the Bemis Packaging Co. fame. Stephen Bemis. They decend I think from Joseph and then John. Related but more distantly.

There is also another Simeon Ephraim Bemis who went to Iowa. This one was b. 1839 malone, N Y. and died in Estherville, Emmett Co., Iowa. Vet of Civil War. Again related but more distantly he decends from John and Hannah Warren Bemis. Because of the name similarity it can be confusing. But there is an age gap.

Again check out what I have written if it pertains to you. You may find something I didn't. And I would love to have any info puzzle pieces that you may contribute. Sherry