Page:Sketches of representative women of New England.djvu/599

450 a native of Sturbridge, took place on January 1, 1856. Dr. Bemis at that time was superintendent of the State Lunatic Hospital at Worcester, where he had previously been assistant to Dr. Chandler. Retiring from the State Hospital in 1872, after nearly twenty-five years' service, he founded a private hospital, Herbert Hall Asylum, named for George Herbert, the English divine and poet. It is for mentally diseased patients.

Although now (1903) in his eighty-third year, Dr. Bemis is in full possession of all his faculties. He is the manager of the hospital and an interested worker in public affairs in Worcester, being always ready to advance every good cause.

For nearly twenty years Mrs. Bemis was the efficient matron of the Stafe Lunatic Hospital at Worcester. In her early labors she received the friendly council of the distinguished philanthropist, Dorothea L. Dix. Mrs. Bemis continues her active duties as matron at Herbert Hall, dispensing comfort and happiness to all with whom she associates. Cheerfulness is one of her principles, and combined with an unselfish spirit has made her life work eminently successful. During extended travels abroad some years since, she visited hospitals and other institutions, adding to the value of her experience by study of foreign methods. Dr. and Mrs. Bemis have one son. Dr. John Merrick Bemis. He was born February 14, 1860, and is now assistant physician at the Herbert Hall Asylum.

UGUSTA MERRILL HUNT, the first president of the Portland branch of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union, is a native of Portland, Me., being the youngest daughter of the late George Simonton and Ellen (Merrill) Barstow, of that city, and until her marriage known as Augusta M. Barstow. In 1863 she became the wife of George S. Hunt, a leading merchant of Portland.

For many years Mrs. Hunt and two of her sisters, Mrs. Susan E. Bragdon and Mrs. G. B. McGregor, following in the footsteps of their mother, have been prominently identified with educational and philanthropic work. Mrs. Bragdon was the first president of the Woman's Literary Union and a devoted worker in the Portland Fraternity. Mrs. McGregor is the founder and promoter of the Maine Home for Friendless Boys. Mrs. Hunt retained the office of president of the Portland Woman's Christian Temperance Union for fifteen years. Under her direction the Coffee House and Friendly Inn, the Flower and Diet Missions, Day Nursery, and Free Kindergartens were adopted as branches of the work of this organization; and the office of police matron was also established, Portland being the first city to recognize the importance of having a woman to care for the unfortunate of her own sex. In the National Christian Temperance Union Mrs. Hunt has been the superintendent of several departments. In 1884 she was chosen by the Governor of the State to co-operate with a Legislative Committee in the interests of the boys at the State Reform School. Here her womanly tact and kindness, combined with a thorough knowledge of the school, made her advice and services valuable to the institution, and she was indirectly the means of bringing about some needed improvements that proved of great benefit to the boys. On the death of her mother, Mrs. Ellen M. Barstow; in 1873, Mrs. Hunt succeeded her on the board of management of the Home for Aged Women, and for the ))ast sixteen years has been the honored president of this well-known society. She has been prominently connected with woman's suffrage organizations, and at present is Maine superintendent of franchise of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. For ten years she was the president of the Portland Woman's Council, auxiliary to the National Council, which consists of eighteen affiliated societies having a membership of several thousand, lender her leadership the Council was instrumental in having a law passed which gives to a mother an equal right with the father in the care and guardianship of minor children, and also a law which permits the election of women to the school board.

Mrs. Hunt is well known at the State Capitol by her appeals to the Legislature for the establishment of the cottage system at the Reform