John Dempster (b. 1841)

DEMPSTER, TEMPLETON, VOSHELL, SMITH, LOW, HUMMEL, DOERFLER, MOORE, PERKINS

Posted By: Dorothy Gosse (email)
Date: 1/7/2004 at 11:49:12

John Dempster who is engaged in farming on Section 26, Fairfield Township, is an enterprising citizen and sagacious business man who by efforts of industry, economy and good management has worked his way upward from the lower rounds of the ladder of life until he is numbered among the substantial citizens of the county. He was born in Ypsilanti, Wayne County, Michigan, October 6, 1841, but the family is of Scotch origin. His father John Dempster, was born in Embry Castle while his father was a soldier serving in Ireland in the war between the Protestants and Catholics. The members of the family were weavers by trade and John was reared to that occupation. He also led the life of a shepherd upon the hills of his native land and could shear seventy sheep per day and weave forty yeards of cloth. His educational advantages were limited and when he was permitted to attend school he had to walk a distance of six miles.

On the 26th of June, 1829, in the Parish of Dalrymple, Ayreshire, our subject was united in marriage with Miss Margaret Templeton, the Rev. Robert Wallace officiating. Twelve years they spent in their native land and on the the 10th of August, 1841, with their five children they started for America. The ocean voyage was accomplished in safety and they became residents of Wayne County, Michigan, where Mr. Dempster secured land and engaged in farming. Mother and children aided in the work of securing a competence. On leaving the fields in the evening the father would return home and take his place at the loom where in this manner, in odd moments, he wove twenty-two hundred yards of cloth. The family made sugar while he wove and thus added not a little to the income. Selling out in 1852, the family came to Iowa. Thirteen of them crossed the Mississippi in a little skiff with the water only one inch from the top of the boat. Rockford, Illinois, was then the nearest railroad station. They settled in Fairfield Township where Mr. Dempster purchased eighty acres of wild land on Section 14. No fence was around it, not a furrow had been turned or improvement made. For thirty years he made it his home, transforming it into a rich and productive farm and then sold out, going to live with our subject where he spent his last days, dying July 2, 1884, at the age of eighty-two years and three months. His wife is still living and is well preserved for one of years which is more than four-score. He was a member of the Presbyterian Church, a good citizen, a republican in politics and a successful and just business man.

The children of the family are: William who resides in Plano, Illinois; Margaret, a resident of Augusta, Wisconsin; Thomas, who died in 1843; Anaple, wife of J. Voshell; James, a farmer in of Fairfield Township; John, of this sketch; Mrs. Mary C. Smith who is living in Kansas; Mrs. Elizabeth Low who resides near Volga City; Rebecca Jane who also lives near Volga City; Lavina, Susanna, Luanna and David are all deceased.

At the age of of twenty-two John left the parental roof ad began life for himself as a farmer, following agricultural pursuits in Michigan until in March, 1853, when he came to this county and purchased one hundred and eighty acres of land. He has largely improved his place, adding many conveniences and the needed accessories of a model farm. In connection with general farming he has also engaged in buying and shipping stock to a considerable extent and the same success which has crowned his efforts in other directions he has met here.

An interesting event in the life of Mr. Dempster occurred in Fairfield Township in 1862 --- his marriage with Miss Eliza Hummel, a native of Mt. Carroll, Illinois, who was brought by her parents to Iowa when two years old. Her father is deceased but her mother is still living in Brush Creek. They have nine children living; Luanna, wife of G. A. Doerfler, of Brush Creek; George S., married Effie Moore and lives in Clayton, County; James E. who married Myrtle Smith and is a merchant of Brush Creek; Dora M. wife of Warren Perkins, of Washington; Miranda, at home; Frank and Raymond both deceased; Jessie May, Thomas Lee, Robert M. and Charlotte J., at home. The children were all born and reared in this county and received good educations in the public schools, thus fitting them for the practical duties of life.

Fayette County Portrait and Biographical Album (1891), page 177