Dr. Zachariah Willis Kemp of Kingston, N.H. Biography from A History of Rockingham County, New Hampshire (1915)

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View the portrait of Z. Willis Kemp at
http://www.usgwarchives.net/nh/rockingham/biopics/KempZWillis.jpg

Page 824

   DR. ZACHARIAH WILLIS KEMP, principal of Sanborn Academy at
Kingston, N. H., was born April 12, 1855, at Otisfield, Me. His parents
were Charles E. and Sybil J. (Wardwell) Kemp. The father, born at
Gorham, Me., August 15, 1830, was a successful farmer; he died in Decem-
ber, 1907. The mother, born in Otisfield, Me., December 24, 1835, is now
a resident of that place. They were the parents of six children, of whom
four are now living. The origin of the Kemp family is found in England,
having been traced back to 1380, when flourished John Kemp, an ecclesiastic
of the English church, who later, during the reign of Henry V, held the sees
of Rochester, London and York, became archbishop of Canterbury and Lord
High Chancellor, and was created Cardinal by the title of St. Rufina. The
first of the family to come to America, as far as there is any record, landed
here about the year 1700, and settled at Groton, Mass. Ebenezer Kemp,
Dr. Kemp's paternal grandfather, fought for American Independence and
was wounded at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Another ancestor, Col. Brad-
street, was in the British expedition to Prince Edward's Island.
   At the age of three years, Z. Willis Kemp began attending country
school, walking the distance to and from his home, about a mile each way.
He continued to do so until he was eighteen years old, at which time he
began teaching, in order to earn enough money to pay his way through
college. He studied one term at Hebron Academy, and then entered Bridge-
ton Academy, from which he was graduated in 1879. Entering Bowdoin
College in 1880, he completed the prescribed course and was graduated from
that institution in 1884, with the degree of A. B. He then taught for one
year at Norway, Me., being principal of the high school there. Being elected
principal of the high school at Fairhaven, at an increase of $400 a year in
his salary, he accepted the position and was there four years. He then left
to accept the position of vice-principal of the Tabor Academy at Marion,
Mass., where he taught Latin for four years. After this he went to the
French-American College at Springfield, Mass., as professor of Latin, and
after being there two years was elected dean of the college. In 1901 he
came to Kingston, N. H., to become principal of the Sanborn Academy,
which position he has retained for the last thirteen years. Since he took
charge of this institution the number of students has been increased from
75 to 140, and there are now eight teachers. In 1912 Dr. Kemp conferred
honor upon the Academy by having his team win the state championship
in debate. He received the degree of A. M. from Bowdoin College in 1887,
and that of Ph. D. from Illinois Wesleyan University in 1895. He belongs
to the college fraternity known as Theta Delta Chi.

[Pages 825 and 826 contained a portrait of Z. Willis Kemp]

Page 827

   Dr. Kemp was married, December 24, 1885, to Miss Mary L. Boynton,
a daughter of Gardner B. and Sarah G. Boynton, of Norway, Me. Her
father, now deceased, was a prosperous tanner of that town, and a Civil war
veteran. Her mother is still living.
   Dr. and Mrs. Kemp are the parents of eight children, as follows: Ida
B., wife of Arthur B. Grant, of South Poland, Me.; Charles W., married,
who is principal of Colebrook Academy, at Colebrook, N. H.; Marion T.,
unmarried, a graduate of Bates College, class of 1911; Sybil M., unmarried,
a graduate of Brown University, 1914; Alice B., unmarried, a graduate of
Sanborn Academy, 1914, who won first prize from the New Hampshire
Peace Society for an article on "Peace;" Ralph B., now a freshman at
Sanborn Academy; and Ruth H., and Robert D., who are attending public
school.
   Dr. Kemp is a Republican in politics. He belongs to the Masonic Order,
in which he is a past master, and to the Odd Fellows, in which he is a past
grand; he is also a member of the New Hampshire Peace Society. Mrs.
Kemp belongs to the Eastern Star, and to the Rebekahs, being past matron
in the former lodge and past grand in the latter. She and her husband
attend the Congregational church. They are people of culture and refine-
ment, who take a warm interest in the moral and material development of
the community in which they reside, and whose aid and influence may
usually be enlisted on behalf of any worthy cause.