Tazewell Republican. [volume] (Tazewell, Va.) 1892-1919, 1902-11-13
COLONEL C. SLEhP.
Sketch of Ju dge Rhes's Opponent In the
Ninth District.

oressioral district of Virginia indicate
victory for the Republicans and the elec'
ton of Colonel Slemp to succeed Judge
w. F. Rhea in congress. The election
was quiet and orderly throughout the dis
trict, with but few exceptions, and the
full poll was not cast.
Col. Campbell Slemp, the successful
candidate, is a resident of Big Stone Gap,
where he has beautiful home on Poplar
Hill. His career of farmer, soldier, pohti'
clan and statesman has been an eventful
one, and has made him well known
throughout Southwest Virginia.
Colenel Slemp was born December 2.
1889, and, is, consequently, in his 63rd
year, though hale and vigorous as man
of 40. His father, Sebastian S. Slemp, at
one time member of the Virginia state
senate, was man noted for his energy,
courage and stalwartness of character and
physique-just one Of those sturdy men
that would have the courage to penetrate
beyond the frontier and convert wilder
ness into fruitful country.
Sebastian Slemp's great-9randfather
came from Germany at the age of l3, and
found a home in Virginia. He spelled
his name Schleimp. He settled in Smyth
county, and later moved to Lee county,
where one branch OF the family has lived
ever since. Another branch Of the family
moved to Tennessee, where come of its
members have gained political distinction
in local affairs. Col. Fred Slemp, men,
ber of the Tennessee branch, served in
his state legislature.
Campbell Semp got his education in the
common schools of Lee county and at
Emory and Henry College. On account
of the death of his father, he had to
leave college in bis senior year be-
fore graduation, and consequently never
received his degree.
A young man of % at the beginning of
the civil war, he threw himself with
characteristic energy into the thick of tie
struggle and formed the first company got
ten up in Lee county. He was made cap
tain of this organization. Afterwards, as
reward for bravery, be was promoted to
the rank of colonel, and was assigned to
the Sixty.fOurth regiment of Virginia. He
served under Morgan in Kentucky, and
later under General Buckner and General
Frazier. His battalion was held in the
mountains of eastern Kentucky, southwest
Virginia and east Tennessee to guard the
mountain passes, and did good service.
At Cumberland Gap, when General
Frazier surrendered, Colonel Slemp asked
to withdraw bis command. Permission
was granted and he called bis men
together, and with one hundred brave fol.
lowers escaped through the lines, and with
this as nucleus, got up another battalion.
The war closed, and to this day Colonel
Slemp has not surrendered. He was in
the fighting at Saltville, Abingdon, Cum
berland Gap, and Pound Gap, and also in
other minor engagements.
Colonel Slemp is of sunny, CHEEKY
disposition, and bis war experiences afford
fund of anecdote and reminiscence that
enables him to keep himself and friends
lanohinoy oil the vaar rOund
He has been before the people of his
county, district, or state many times, and
has taken lively interest in nearly every
campaign since the war.
Shortly after the war he ran for the
state senate against Gen. A. L Pridemore,
and was defeated. In 1879 he was elected
to the legislature from his native county,
Lee, as a Readjuster, over five competi.
tors for the Office. He was reelected in
1881 by large majority, but was defeated
for the state senate by Q. F. Flanary,
Democrat, in 1888.
In 1885 he ran on the ticket with
Gen. William Malone and Hon. w. 5.
Lurty for lieutenant-goYernor of the state.
In this campaign he canvassed the state.
In 1892 he was on the presidential
electoral ticket from the Ninth district of
Virginia, as an elector for Harrison. Since
that time until the present he has quietly
watched the drift of matters in the politi-
cal arena of bis district, and considering
the time ripe to make a successful cam
paign for congress, accepted the nomina-
ton at the hands of bis adopted party on
September 8.
Colonel Semp was until the Readjuster
times a staunch Democrat, and served his
party in several offices. He espoused the
cause of Readjustment, and from that
went with Malone over into the Republi-
can fold.
Colonel Slemp Is man of energy and
push. He was the promoter and suppor-
ter of the best school in bis county, large
farmer and cattle raiser, and an investor
in coal lands. By his energy and thrift
he has accumulated fair fortune. He is
man of good judgment in both business
and political affairs.
He married well known lady, Miss
Nancy V. Cawood, of Kentucky, and has
family of two daughters, Mrs. j. P. Ed
wards and Miss Saney Slemp, and two
sons Maj @. B. slemp at one time a
teacher in the Virginia Military Insti-
tute, and William Slemp, deputy revenue
collector for thedistrict.