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JAMES R. KEMP, one of the early settlers of Louisa County, now residing on section 6, township 74, is a farmer and stock-raiser. He was born in Fayette County, Ohio, in 1838, and was the eldest of a family of seven children born to William and Hester (Goodwin) Kemp, who were natives of Maryland, but emigrated to Ohio at an early day, the father there engaging in farming until his removal in 1855. Coming to Louisa County, he located in Grand View Township, and rented a farm of George W. Reeder, which he cultivated for some time, and then removed to Port Louisa Township, and purchased the farm where he yet resides. His excellent wife died in 1873, between the ages of fifty-five and sixty.
Our subject was reared to farm life, receiving his . . .
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. . . education in the district schools of Ohio, and came to Louisa County when a young man. He was here married in 1865, becoming the husband of Lavina Adams, a native of Iowa, and a daughter of Holsond and Aletha Adams, who were born in New York, but settled in the northern part of this State at an early day. The death of the father occurred in 1885, but the mother is still living, and resides in Jefferson Township.
After his marriage Mr. Kemp purchased a farm of sixty-eight and one-half acres of improved land, upon which he has built a nice residence, and has added to it from time to time until he now owns 400 acres in Grand View, and ten acres in Concord Township, comprising one of the best farms in the county. He has planted a good orchard, and his stock is of the best grades, including the fine Durham cattle, which he makes a specialty of buying and selling. He casts his ballot with the Democratic party, though is not a politician, having never sought or desired public office. He is a friend to education, believing in providing the best schools and securing the most efficient teachers, and he assisted in organizing the school districts in his township.
In 1866 the death of Mrs. Kemp occurred, her disease being quick consumption. She left one child, William Holsond, who is now married and resides in Port Louisa Township. Two years after the death of his first wife, in 1868, Mr. Kemp led to the marriage altar Mary Bacon, who was born in South Carolina, and is a daughter of Uriah and Mary Bacon. Her father was a manufacturer of cotton gins, and is supposed to have been killed in Georgia.
To Mr. and Mrs. Kemp has been born a family of seven children—Leoran, Martha Jane, Abner Rosdon, Ernest Ormond, James Otto, John Walters and Vinnie Edna. The children are all yet at home, and enjoying the advantages afforded by the schools of the community. Mr. Kemp was in limited circumstances when he came to this county, but with that energy which characterizes all his actions, he began to make for himself a home, and by industry and frugality has secured a comfortable property. His farm is pleasantly situated about eight miles from Columbus Junction, four miles from Wapello and seven miles from Letts. He has witnessed almost the entire growth of the county, has participated in its progress and development, and is highly esteemed among its prominent citizens.
