Dr. Erastus Bemis was born near Brattleboro, Vt., October 3, 1817, and his early life was passed in his native State, where he received an elementary training. He engaged in teaching in his early days and during his vacations pursued a course of study. About 1840, or perhaps a little earlier, he came to Pigeon Creek, Washington County, Pa., and entered the office of Dr. Emery, remaining there some time. He attended Dartmouth College one year, after which he entered the University of New York, from which he was graduated in 1842, when he returned to Washington County and for a time assisted his former preceptor, Dr. Emery. After his marriage, in 1844, he settled in Buffalo Village, in Hopewell Township, and practiced there until 1847, when he moved to West Middletown, where the remainder of his life was passed. He became one of the most successful and well known physicians of the county, and in educational matters was a peer of any citizen in his vicinity. Originally he was a Whig in politics and was a leader in the Abolition party, taking an active part in the Underground Railroad, of which West Middletown was then a station. His death occurred in the prime of life , July 14, 1866. He was married February 14, 1844, to Ruth McCullough, who was born in Somerset Township, Washington County, Pa., April 30, 1819, a daughter of Isaac and Mary (McMillen) McCullough, the former a native of Somerset Township and the latter of Peters Township. The grandfather of Mrs. Bemis was Patrick McCullough, who was a native of County Antrim, Ireland and was 18 years old when he came to America. At that time he located in Somerset Township, Washington Co., Pa., where he became possessed of some 600 acres. Of this he received a patent for 439 1/4 acres, this document bearing the date of March 4, 1786, being now in the possession of the subjects of this sketch. The warrant for the land was October 29, 1784. Patrick McCullough served on the first jury in Washington County and he was one of the signers of the moral pact entered into by the people of that part of the county for the suppression of lawlessness. His wife was Hannah Smith. The wife of Dr. Erastus Bemis died March 8, 1901.
(The Bemis History and Genealogy" by Colonel Thomas Waln-Morgan Draper,1900, published San Francisco, CA)

Note: Birth Oct 23, 1817 Dummerston, VT Vital Records