Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 862
JOSEPH DEMPSIE

This sterling citizen is a man who has never by conscious word or deed worked harm to anyone. By unremitting effort and a steady aim in life, he has acquired a good farm and gained a competency. Mr. DEMPSIE has shouldered the burden of heavy farm work since his early youth.

Joseph DEMPSIE was born in Henry county, Illinois, March 10, 1873, the son of David H. and Martha (Torens) DEMPSIE, and is the eldest of nine children born to his parents, all of whom are living. David H. DEMPSIE is a native of Scotland, where he was born in 1848. At the age of 25, he left his native land, came to America and settled in Morristown, Illinois, where he worked as a coal miner. Coming to Logan, Harrison county, Iowa, he bought land in Calhoun township on which he farmed until 1899, when he disposed of his land holdings and went to Nebraska, where he homesteaded, reclaiming the land and improving it. After a four-year stay on this homestead, David DEMPSIE lived in Denver, Colorado, three years. He then removed to New Mexico, the Cactus State, where he now makes his home in Albuquerque. Martha Torens, who became the wife of David DEMPSIE, was born in County Derry, Ireland, in 1844 and died on the farm west of Logan in 1895.

With a good common school education acquired in the schools of Calhoun township, Joseph DEMPSIE early decided to follow the vocation of his father and remained on the home farm until he was 19 years of age, when he went to Nebraska, where he worked as a farm hand for one year, later taking charge of his father's land, as well as the land belonging to his father-in-law. All this time, he slowly forged ahead, adding to his capital until about 1901 he was able to buy 100 acres of land in Jefferson township, which he cultivated for four years, during which time he made a number of improvements. At the end of the four years, he rented 924 acres from C.A. Bolter, who owned the farm known as the Jeddo farm. In the meantime, Mr. DEMPSIE acquired 148 acres of land in La Grange township on which he moved in the spring of 1815.

Mr. DEMPSIE has acquired fame as a breeder of valuable mules, and has also been very successful in the feeding of cattle and hogs for the market. In 1897, Mr. DEMPSIE was married to Lida Colver, who was born at Missouri Valley, Iowa, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Roland) Colver. Mr. Colver was born in Ohio, while his wife was born in Indiana, both of whom are now deceased. To Mr. DEMPSIE and his wife have been born four children: Theron, Martha, Mary Dorothy, and one who died in infancy.

The political sympathies of Mr. DEMPSIE are given to the Prohibition party, although he has never aspired to office. He and his family are active and valued members of the Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. DEMPSIE's life bears out the impression that his life is guided by his religious convictions. Mr. DEMPSIE has acquired a wide acquaintance in his locality, and few can boast of more devoted friends than he, because his nature is such as to make close friendships which endure through any trial or vicissitude.

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