MY GREAT-GREAT GRANDPARENTS JOSEPH HENRY and MARY WEMETT
Joseph Henry Wemett about 1920
Obituary April 1922
My great-great grandfather had quite an interesting life. He was born and died in the same house that his father built in 1841 after moving down to Canadice, NY near Hemlock Lake from Canada. His story is told online at a website dedicated to the area of Hemlock and Canadice Lakes. Their daughter, Cora, was married to Edward Wolcott “Tinkie” Weeks, who I am named after. I remember Edward and Cora and visited them at their home in Glen Allen, VA in the 1950’s. I wrote another blog post about his life. https://www.hemlockandcanadicelakes.com/hcl_homestead_canadice_wemett_joseph.htm
The Joseph Wemett Homestead
Joseph Wemett came to the U.S. in 1814 at 14 years of age, settled first at Lowville in Lewis County and later moved to Canadice, NY. In 1824 he married Elizabeth Welch. He bought what was known as the Augustus Shepard Farm from his wife’s family, and in 1841 built the house which still stands on the site. At the time this house was built it was the finest house between Lima and Dansville.
At the time of Joseph’s death in 1870, the farm had grown to 500 acres. The next to occupy the homestead was the 2nd of Joseph’s sons, Henry Joseph Wemett. Born in 1841, he attended Genesee College. In 1865, he interrupted his college education to enlist in the Union Army for one year. Within days of reporting to duty he was promoted to the rank of 2nd Lt. in the 188th Infantry and fought in 10 battles in Virginia. He was at the surrender at Appomattox. After the war he finished his college and taught school for several years. During this time, he became Superintendent of Schools. In 1868, he married Mary Knapp. He was instrumental in the development of Hemlock Lake as a resort area. He owned and operated several steam ships on Hemlock and Honeoye Lakes. He died in 1922.
Next to occupy the homestead was Robert Roy Wemett born in 1881. He was married to Mary Laurita Willson in 1905. Robert was a carpenter and did some farming on the homestead until his death in 1956. His widow, Mary Laurita lived on the farm for the most part until her death in 1971.
In 1973, John Millard Wemett, one of the sons of Robert and Mary, moved on to the farm after his retirement from Rochester Gas & Electric Co. He moved from Rochester one year after the death of his wife, Edna Steamer Wemett, in 1972. He stayed on the homestead until his death in June of 1994 at the age of 86 years.
The homestead is now (2011) owned by Linda & Terry Sawyer.
On a recent trip to the area we found his gravestone and my great-great grandmother’s also, Mary Knapp Wemett in Union Cemetery, Livonia, NY.
One of the steamboats my great-great grandfather owned and operated. This one was named after his daughter, Cora.
5520 NY 15-A, Springwater, NY 14560
Mary Knapp Wemett, my great-great grandmother.
Edward ‘Tinkie’ Weeks standing left with his wife’s family, the Wemetts.
Another account of his and his father and the family history appears in a document available at https://www.richmondny.org/api/blob/viewBlob?rf=t&i=nGtXuFccKDBb7%2Fo5w4tYzX9H%252BRdToF1QefRWxlyd4cvq4rNPQVqse43balS6hx%252BR.
Henry Joseph Wemett (1841) was born February 1841. He attended Genesee College which his father had helped endow and upon graduation taught school for several years. Being of a jovial disposition and always joking, he was sought for near and far to complete the term of some
unfortunate teacher who had been thrown out of a school house window. In 1865, he interrupted his college education to enlist in the Union Army for one year. Within days of reporting to duty he was promoted to the rank of 2nd Lt. in the 188th Infantry and fought in 10 battles in Virginia.
He was at the surrender at Appomattox. Upon his return he was known as “Captain” Henry. This was a particularly fitting title since one of his occupations was the pilot of the Hemlock Lake steamer named [Seth Green]. After the war he finished his college and taught school for
several years. During this time, he became Superintendent of Schools. [Henry J. Wemett was on the school board for Hemlock School in 1911.] He was superintendent of schools for several years. In 1868 he married Mary Knapp. His children: Frank(1871-1946), Cora (1874-1958), Harry (1875-1922), Dora (1877-1922), Roy (1879-1879), Robert (1881-1956), and William (1885-1911). At the time of Joseph’s death in 1870, the farm had grown to 500 acres. The next to occupy the homestead was the second of his sons, Henry Joseph Wemett. He was instrumental in the development of Hemlock Lake as a resort area. He owned and operated several steam ships on Hemlock and Honeoye Lakes. He died in 1922.
