KEMP, ANDREW FRANCIS

KEMP, MITCHELL, WOODARD, BLAIR

Posted By: Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert (email)
Date: 5/4/2002 at 20:58:51

Decatur County Journal
Thursday, March 25, l920

One of the pioneer settlers of Decatur County and a man highly esteemed by those who knew him for his upright Christian life was called from earthly scenes to the joys of the Heavenly home, having departed this life at his home in Leon after a brief illness, Tuesday night, March l6th, l920, at l2:l0; age 80 years. ANDREW FRANCIS KEMP was born in Pennsylvania in the year, l840, and when a small child came with his parents to Cincinnati, O., where he spent his boyhood days. His parents removed from Ohio and settled in Eden Township, Decatur County, in the fall of l858. Soon after the beginning of the Civil War, he tried to enlist in the service of his country, but was rejected. Soon after this he crossed the plains to California when he again offered his services to his country and was again rejected. Soon after the close in l868, he returned to Eden Township where he resided for a number of years.

Here he was united in marriage to MISS SARAH MITCHELL, April 20th, l870. To this union were born four children, one daughter and three sons as follows: MRS. BERT WOODARD, Leon, Iowa; EDWARD, of Storm Lake, Iowa; LEE, of Savannah, Georgia; FRED, of Des Moines; all of whom were present at the funeral except LEE, who was enroute. On his return from California he followed the occupation of carpenter for a period of fifty years. Many buildings in Leon and vicinity as well as elsewhere, bear silent testimony to his faithfulness and untiring zeal as an architect and builder.

He was reared in the Roman Catholic Faith and at the age of 30 years in company with two brothers and two sisters and the father, accepted Christ as his Savior and with them were buried with him in baptism to arise to walk in the newness of life. He was an earnest, devoted Christian, serving Christ and the church lovingly and unselfishly these many years. He was an active elder in the church for many years serving faithfully and well. No sacrifice was too great for this good man to make in the interest of Christ and His church. The Lord has been good to him through all the years. He has enjoyed health and strength and been privileged to work at the trade he loved.

On the Saturday preceding his death he made plans for going to the country on Monday to complete a building but it was otherwise decreed and on Sunday night or morning about 2 a.m. he was stricken with partial paralysis leaving him in an unconscious state from which he never recovered. He leaves to mourn his departure, the faithful, devoted wife and mother, the loving children, four grandchildren as follows: NANCY and BERT, of Storm Lake; FRANCES and CHARLES, of Des Moines; Brothers: JACOB, of Colorado Springs, Colorado; PHILLIP and CHRIS, of Manhattan, Kansas, and sister, MRS. LANIE BLAIR, of Van Wert, Iowa, and other relatives and many friends.

Funeral services were held at the Church of Christ, Friday afternoon, March l9th, at 2 p.m., conducted by Rev. P.H. Green, assisted by Evangelist W.B. Crewdson. By request, old familiar hymns were sung by Mrs. Mollie Harris, Mrs. Mary Boone, Ralph McGinnis and Lester Gardner. Mrs. Ralph McGinnis was pianist. The pall bearers were J.W. Sell, U.G. Benefiel, Fred Fisher, Burley Russell, Wm. Fletcher, George Penniwell.

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Copied by Nancee(McMurtrey)Seifert
April 28, 2002