The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1913-08-28
DR.. VIM. KEMPER DEAD.
Was Pioneer and for many years a
Resident Of Oskaloosa.

OF the death of a gentleman who
Will be remembered by many old.time
residents of Oskaloosa, the Muncie,
Indiana, Press of August IS, said.
William Kember, Muncie's Oldest
resident, passed away at his home,
900 West Howard street, Sunday
shortly after noon at the age of 50
years, following few days illness.
Mr.. kemper has been in poor health
for more than two years, but his
condition was not regarded as SER
ious until last week. Mr.. Kemper was
well known by the oldest residents
of MHncie.. He had lived here for
thirty years. The life of the deceas-
ed was long and interesting one.
He was the son of Sanford Kemper
and Catherine Sheats Kemper, and
was born on the western edge of the
Blue Ridge mountains in Virginia,
September 20, 1915.
When Mr.. Kemper was thirteen
years of age his father came with
the family to Ohio, travelling a dis
lance of 400 miles In carriages and
wagons, arriving at Bellefountaine,
Ohio, after having spent many weary
days on poor roads cut through the
forests. The elder Kemper purchased
farm in Logan county near Belle
fontaine. 1t was partitlly cleared and
the family completed the improving.
On August l, 1S43, Mr.. Kemper was
united in marriage at Kenton, Ohio,
with Elizabeth Jane Elsey, a young
pioneer woman of that section, and
they returned to Logan county to
live. Mr.. Kemper had secured good
Cd. In, Nh4 80 IL.
and Ohio, and he talked very interest
ingly of his early days up until almost
the end. In 1S49 Mr.. Kemper went
with, his family to Oskaloosa, Iowa.
He Travelled across Indiana and ILL
nois with q family which was bound
for the California gold fields. The en-
tire trip was made in wagons and car
riages and in travelling across all that
stretch of country Mr.. Kemper saw
but one railroad, the Illinois Central.
Mr.. Keihpef entered government land
in Iowa at $1.25 an acre in the ad-
ministration of President Polk. The
family remained in Iowa until 1882,
when Mr.. and Mrs. Kemper came to
Muncie. Mr.. Kemper was the young
est of eight children, all of whom
preceded him across the great divide.
His wife passed away in 1901. The
deceased is survived by four daugh-
tiers, Mrs G. w. H. Kemper, Mrs. o.
A. Johnson, Mrs. o. L. Meeks and Mrs.
Harry Wysor, all of Muncie, and two
sons, George L. Kemper, of Muncie,
and w. C. Kemper, of Sheldon, Iowa.
The funeral services were held at
be tn late residence Tuesday afternoon
' at o'clock In charge of Rev. c. U.
Wade, of Greencastle. Interment was
made in Beech Grove cemetery.
Throughout his long life Mr.. Kem-
per had been an active member of
the Methodist church. After coming
to Muncie he united with the High
Street M. E. church and for, many
years was a class leader He was a
member of the official board up I'M
til the time of his death, and at his
advanced age he was regular at
tendant until about year before his
death. Mr.. Kemper was one of those
hardy pioneers, fast disappearing,
who by outdoor life and clean habits
: was able to round out term of years
not usually given to the average per-
son. His mind was keen and active
and he was always willing to discuss
the interesting early days in the his
tory Of the nation.