Pg 401
WILLIAM KEMP, one of the pioneers of Louisa County, residing on section 8, Port Louisa Township, is a native of Somerset County, Md., born May 20, 1807, and his parents, John and Elizabeth (Brown) Kemp, were also natives of the same county, and of Scotch-Irish descent. The father was a farmer by occupation, and died when our subject was a small lad. He lived with his mother until ten years of age, when he left home and went to work on a farm, continuing in this employment until his marriage, which occurred in 1827, Miss Berzette Wright, a native of Caroline County, Md., becoming his wife. Four years later Mr. Kemp and his wife left their native State and went to Ohio, settling in Ross County, where they resided one year and then removed to Fayette County, remaining until the fall of 1855. At that time Mr. Kemp emigrated to Louisa County, Iowa, settling near Fredonia, where he rented land for three years. At the expiration of that time he became the owner of eighty acres of wild, uncultivated land on section 8, Port Louisa Township, which he immediately began to improve, and soon developed a fine farm. This still continues to be his home, though the farm now comprises 127 acres of fine land, which pays a golden tribute to his care and cultivation.
Three children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Kemp: Mary Elizabeth, wife of Peter Goodwin, whose home is in Washington County, Iowa; Harriet, A., who wedded Nimrod Fette, of Ohio; and John A., a resident farmer of Louisa County. On the 15th of December, 1833, the mother of these children, who was a sincere Christian lady, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, was called to her final rest. In 1836 Mr. Kemp was united in marriage with Hester Goodwin, who was born in Ross County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Levi Goodwin, also a native of the Buckeye State. By this marriage seven children were born: James, a farmer of this county; George W., who is engaged in farming in Custer County, Neb.; Aaron, living in Port Louisa Township; Martha J., who died at the age of sixteen years; Francis, a resident farmer of Louisa County; William T., also a farmer of this county, and Levi, a resident of Otoe County, Neb. On the 1st of March, 1872, Mrs. Kemp departed this life. Mr. Kemp is a member of the Christian Church. He is a self-made man financially. Having started out in life when only ten years old to make his own living, working for his board for a time, he has yet little by little added to his finances until he now has a comfortable competency. Politically, he is a Democrat, and has always been a temperate man.
Mr. Kemp has passed the allotted time of many, being in his eighty-second year, but he is still hale and hearty, and can look back upon a life well spent. His children have grown up, married, and reared families which honor the name. He has nine children, forty-three grandchildren and nineteen great-grandchildren, who will ever keep the memory green. It is with pleasure that we present to our patrons a portrait of this honored man.
