Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1891
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 367
PETER CHARLES KEMMISH

Peter Charles KEMMISH, a farmer residing in Union Township came to the county in March, 1870, and located at Reeder's Mills, commonly called "Hard Scratch," where he followed the wheelwright's trade for three years, at the end of which time he moved to the site of his present home, which he purchased in 1870. His first tract consisted of eighty acres, but he now owns three hundred and twenty acres, all of which is surrounded by a hog-tight fence. His first residence was built of mostly native timber, and was 14 x 16 feet. This was built in the spring of 1872, and several additions have been made, until he now has a house the upright of which is two stories high 17 x 36 feet with an addition 16 x 24 feet.

Our subject was born in Portsmouth, England, February 8, 1844. He is the son of Charles and Elizabeth (WILKIE) KEMMISH. The father was a native of England as was also the mother. The family cam to America in the winter of 1853, and landed at New Orleans, from which point they came by boat to Keokuk, Iowa, and from there they emigrated with ox-teams to Salt Lake, Utah, where they remained three years, then removed ninety miles South, where they stopped until the spring of 1859. They then started overland by ox-teams for the states, making believe they were going to settle at Pravo, and when they got there said they were going to another place, and so on until they made good their escape. They came by the way of St. Joseph to Fremont County, Iowa, where they remained three years and moved to Pacific City, in Mills County, and in 1862, to a point about five miles east of Council Bluffs, where they halted one year, then moved into Council Bluffs, where they operated the "Farmers Inn" until three months before coming to Harrison county.

Our subject started for himself in the autumn of 1864, when he began working by the day, following this for six months, in Council Bluffs, after which he spent two and a half years in learning the wagon-maker's trade, receiving $7.50 per week for the first six months. After having mastered his trade he started a shop of his own at Tabor, Fremont County, which he ran for three years, afterward removing to Reeder's Mills as above related.

He was married near Council Bluffs, November 20, 1864, to Susan LIDGETT, a native of England, born June 14, 1846, the daughter of Nathan and Mary Ann (CROSLEY) LIDGETT, and is the eighth child of a family of nine children. Her people came to America in 1850, and died in Mills County, Iowa. The home of our subject and wife has been blessed by the advent of seven children, all of whom are living, except one who died in infancy. The children's names are as follows: Charles W., Annie M., James F., Nathan A., Curtis O., George B. and Sadie G.

Upon leaving home our subject had the sum of $40 in money, and when he was married had a very limited amount of household furniture and also $5 in cash. He has always been a hard working honorable man and reasonably prosperous. Both he and his wife are members of the Latter Day Saints church. Mr. KEMMISH was the oldest son in his father's family, and his father being in ill health, followed basket-making for a livelihood. Thus many of the family cares devolved upon the oldest son and his mother. He and his father bought grain of the Mormons, near Salt Lake, and hauled it by night time, and sold it to the Government soldiers, making a profit of about $1 per bushel. They really had to smuggle the grain through as Brigham Young and his followers were not in full sympathy with the government army. At this time our subject was a lad of but fourteen summers, hence it will be seen, that his has been a life of care, toil, and hardship.

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