JOHN W. HEMPHILL

HEMPHILL, HUMPHREY, GILES, LEHMAN

Posted By: Norma Nielson (email)
Date: 7/15/2004 at 21:12:08

Two hundred and forty acres of fine land on section 18, Prussia township, pays tribute to the care and cultivation which its owner, John W. Hemphill, bestows upon it, and its excellent condition testifies to his energy and good management. He was born in Pike county, Missouri, February 29, 1872, of the marriage of James and Mary (Humphrey) Hemphill, an account of whose lives appears in the sketch of O. H. Hemphill.
Our subject passed the days of his boyhood and youth in Jasper, Cass and Adair counties, Iowa. His parents removed to Jasper county in a very early day, subsequently took up their residence in Cass county and came to this county in 1885. Mr. Hemphill of this review remained under the parental roof until he attained his majority and then began his independent career by renting land in Eureka and Prussia townships. He farmed land belonging to others for about twelve years but in the meantime carefully saved his money with the aim of eventually purchasing land. At length he bought two hundred and twenty-five acres in Jackson township at ninety dollars per acre and two years later sold the farm for one hundred and twenty-five dollars per acre. He then purchased his present place, which comprises two hundred and forty acres on section 18, Prussia township, and he has since concentrated his energies upon the development of his farm. He grows the usual crops but also raises thoroughbred Duroc-Jersey hogs and high grade Aberdeen Angus cattle. Both his farming and stock-raising interests are well managed and both yield him a good profit.
Mr. Hemphill was married on the 25th of November, 1903, to Miss Ella Giles, a daughter of John and Mary (Lehman) Giles, natives respectively of Henry county, Illinois, and of Germany. They removed to Adair county about 1880, and the father, who was a farmer by occupation, purchased land in Walnut township, which he improved and operated until his failing health compelled him to retire from active life. He died on the 24th of July, 1914. His widow is now living in Canby, Iowa. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Hemphill passed away during the civil war in Andersonville prison. She received a good education, attending the Earlham Academy, and was for some time a teacher in the rural schools of Adair county. Mr. and Mrs. Hemphill have three children: Bernard LeRoy, ten years of age; Donald Wayne, six years old; and Hilma Leone, an infant.
Source: The "History of Adair County Iowa and its People," Volume II. (Chicago, The Pioneer Publishing Company) 1915.