Hemphill, Samuel C.

HEMPKILL

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/29/2021 at 11:50:09

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.895

SAMUEL C. HEMPHILL
The agricultural interests of Lincoln Township have a worthy representative in S. C. Hemphill, whose home is on section 31. He was born in Montgomery County, Indiana, on the 8th of February, 1834, and is a son of Newton and Mary (Irvin) Hemphill, natives of North Carolina, where they were reared and married and where two children were born to them ere their removal to the Hoosier state. They located in Montgomery county and there spent the remainder of their lives. By occupation the father was a distiller. In the family were three sons and three daughters but only two are now living: S. C., of this review, and Mrs. Margaret Hoover, a widow, residing in Indiana.
During his boyhood and youth S. C Hemphill attended the public schools near his home and he also acquired an excellent knowledge of farm work as he aided in the improvement and cultivation of the home place. He remained under the parental roof until coming to Iowa in 1855. He first located in Hamilton county, where he engaged in farming for about five years, and in 1867 came to Warren county, where he has since made his home. His first purchase consisted of one hundred and fifty-eight acres of land in Lincoln township, which he commenced to improve and cultivate, erecting thereon a good residence substantial barns and other outbuildings for the shelter of grain and stock. As time passed and he prospered in his undertakings he added to his property until he had two hundred and sixty-five acres of land, and now has three sets of farm buildings upon his land. Stock-raising has also claimed much of his attention and he has met with excellent success in all that he has undertaken.
In 1863 Mr. Hemphill was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Hill, who was born in Virginia but spent her girlhood in Iowa. To them have been born four children who are still living, namely: Jane, the wife of William Stewart, a farmer living near Milo, by whom she has two children, Ethel and Lena; James F., a merchant of Summerset, Iowa, who is married and has one son, Keith; Leonard I., on the home farm, who is married and has four children, Elsie, Don, Ray and Virgil; and Ina, who is at home with her parents. They also lost three daughters: Eveline, who died at about the age of twelve years; and Ida and Allie, who died in early childhood.
Since casting his first presidential vote for James Buchanan, Mr. Hemphill has never wavered in his allegiance to the democratic party, but he has never cared for political positions. For forty years he served as school treasurer in his district and now his son Leonard J. fills that office. An upright, honorable life has gained for him many friends throughout Warren county, and wherever known he is held in the highest regard.