She was essential to extending my knowledge of Bemis, and also ensured that my research was historically accurate. Polly Bemis was a remarkable woman. She overcame poverty in China and racism in Western America. Many Chinese women who were forced into prostitution killed themselves in order to escape their hardship.
Where is Polly Bemis Ranch?
The Polly Bemis Ranch is a designated National Historic site. The Ranch is a 26-acre estate located on the main branch of the Salmon River, 44 miles east of Riggins, Idaho.
Did Polly Bemis have children?
The Bemis’ did not have children, but Polly was well regarded for her garden, the strategies they used to visit neighbors on the river, and her love for, and care of, animals. Polly outlived her husband by 10 years and her last house is now a museum and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
When was Polly Bemis born?
Although Idaho’s Polly Bemis is the Pacific Northwest’s most famous Chinese American woman, almost nothing is known about her life or her family except that she was born in northern China, near Beijing on September 11, 1853.
How tall was Polly Bemis?
She arrived in Warrens on July 8, 1872. Bemis was 53 inches (130 cm) tall.