McKEMEY, Joseph Alison - 1890 Bio (1815-1898)

MCKEMEY, ALISON, SLAGLE, HEMPHILL, DE VICMON, CHESTER, WILSON, SUTTON, DEVECMON, DAVECMON

Posted By: Joey Stark
Date: 8/16/2007 at 21:01:22

Portrait and Biographical Album of Jefferson and Van Buren Counties, Iowa, Printed 1890 by Lake City Publishing Co., Chicago
Pages 243-245

Joseph Alison McKEMEY, an honored pioneer of Iowa of June, 1839, was born in Washington, Washington County, Pa., March 27, 1815. His parents, James W. and Martha (ALISON) McKEMEY, were also natives of the Keystone State. The father, who was born in Franklin County, in 1785, died in 1816, at the early age of twenty-nine years, and his wife was born in the same county, March 19, 1793. Within a few years after the death of her husband, Mrs. McKEMEY married Jacob SLAGLE, a most estimable man, in whom Joseph A. (the only child of the first marriage) found a kind and indulgent father. Mr. SLAGLE was a saddler and harness-maker by trade and with him our subject served a regular apprenticeship, continuing in the shop until twenty-one years of age. He then traveled and worked as a journeyman in various cities in Ohio and Indiana until the spring of 1839, when in company with three old men, he set out on horseback from Washington, Pa., for the Territory of Iowa. They journeyed through three States -- Ohio, Indiana and Illinois -- and after a month spent upon the road reached Burlington, Iowa, on the 24th of June. Among the many incidents of interest that occurred during the journey was one made memorable by subsequent events. Having reached Decatur, Ill., on a certain Friday evening in April, they stopped at the same hotel where Abraham Lincoln and Stephen A. Douglas were guests. The recent rains had swollen the Sangamon River to such an extent that it was not fordable and they were obliged to lay over from Friday night until the following Tuesday. During this delay there were well entertained by the conversation and sallies of wit between the two young men who have since become prominent characters of the Nation. On reaching Springfield our travels found Mr. Lincoln already there, he having preceded them on foot. Twenty-two years later that gentleman was making another journey beset with peril greater than floods, when he assumed the office of President. Mr. McKEMEY proceded from Burlington to Bentonsport, where he opened a little country store and harness shop, continuing at that place until 1842, when he removed to Jefferson County, where he purchased a claim of four hundred and eighty acres which was situated about two miles south of Fairfield. He entered the land at the land sales and immediately began the improvement of a farm.

On the 28th of February, 1844, Mr McKEMEY was united in marriage with Miss Cynthia A. HEMPHILL, who was born in Bedford County, Pa., and is a daughter of Adley HEMPHILL. She removed with her parents to Wayne County, Ohio, in childhood and thence came with her family to Jefferson County, Iowa, in 1842. Seven children were born to Mr. and Mrs. McKEMEY, namely: Martha Jane, who is now the wife of Daniel De VICMON and resides in Denver, Col; Margaret, who died at the age of thirty years; the third child died in infancy; Elizabeth, is the wife of Capt. S. J. CHESTER, of Fairfield, whose sketch appears elsewhere in this work; Jacob S., is a lawyer of Fairfield and is also represented in this volume; Mary A., is the wife of Roland J. WILSON, son of Senator WILSON and a lawyer of Fairfield; Flora, the youngest of the family, is the wife of Dr. J. C. SUTTON of Libertyville, Jefferson County, Iowa.

Mr. McKEMEY removed to Fairfield in 1845 and opened a harness shop, successfully carrying on business in that line until elected County Treasurer in the fall of 1857, when he sold out and entered upon the duties of the office, October 1, 1857. He was twice re-elected and held the position for six years. Declining to again enter the field as a candidate, he bought out a man who was running a harness shop in Fairfield and put matters in shape to resume business without loss of time. So well did he succeed that on turning over the treasurer's office to his successor, he walked down to the harness shop and resumed work before he returned to his home. From that time until December, 1885, Mr. McKEMEY did a lucrative business, when having reached the age of three-score and ten and having secured a competency, he retired from active business.

In politics, Mr. McKEMEY was first a Whig with strong anti-slavery views. In 1847, he met with seven others at Fairfield and organized an anti-slavery association for the purpose of opposing slavery and aiding escaping fugitives to secure their liberty. When the Republican party was formed he joined that organization and was a delegate to its first State convention in 1854. Until the Presidential election in 1888, he was a zealous supporter of the principles of that party, when, believing the best interests of society would be served by the success of the Prohibition party, he withdrew from the Republican ranks and voted for Fisk and Brooks, the prohibition Presidential nominees. He is now classed as a most uncompromising Prohibitionist. Mr. McKEMEY received his early religious instruction under the auspices of the strict old fashioned Presbyterian school and became a member of that church in Fairfield, maintaining his connection with the same until 1860, when, failing to find within it that warm sympathy for the victims of slavery that he expected and desired, he withdrew from it and with his wife joined the Congregational Church, of which they have since been consistent members.

Mr. McKEMEY's mother died at St. Louis, Mo., May 15, 1858, while on her way to visit her children in Iowa. While now in his seventy-sixth year Mr. McKEMEY is well preserved; his mental faculties are strong and active and his interest in current affairs of the world is as earnest and lively as ever. He is happily situated in the enjoyment of a safe competency while he has been enabled to assist his children to start in life for themselves, and enjoys the satisfaction of knowing that they are all well-to-do and that they are useful and respected members of society. He is a man whom to know is to love and esteem. His sympathies are always with the weak and oppressed, and his whole course of life has tended to encourage and point the way to a higher standard of usefulness and morality than is found in the everyday walks of life.

[Transcriber's note: I have also seen 'De VICMON' as DEVECMON and DAVECMON.]

*Transcribed for genealogy purposes; I have no relation to the person(s) mentioned.