Walter B. Kemp Biography


	This biography is from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated
 	compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography,
	including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and 
	representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & 
	Co., Chicago, 1899. Pages 495

	Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger,mkrueger@iw.net, 1998. 

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WALTER B. KEMP, mixed farmer, living on the northeast quarter of 
section twenty-seven, In Lyon township, who, with his son possesses 
three quarter-sections of land, is one of the substantial citizens of 
Brule county, and has been in Dakota long enough to recount failure and 
successes in his farm experiences.  

Our subject is a native of New York,and was born October 12, 1846.. His 
father, Benjamin Kemp, practiced law during his life, in Oswego county, 
New York. His mother, Katheryn (Furman) Kemp, died when our subject was 
but five years of age. When he was seventeen years of age he engaged in 
broom making, and in 1871 he went to Marshalltown, Iowa, and farmed 
some, and was also foreman of the stone quarries for twelve years. In 
the spring of 1883 he he went to Dakota, with a few thousand dollars, 
filed on land, erected a frame house and a small barn, and engaged in 
raising wheat. This venture brought failure, and he changed his course 
to that of stock raising, which has been successful; He now has ten 
cows, thirty to forty head of stock, and in 1895 began patronizing a 
creamery. He cultivates about one hundred acres, which is about evenly 
divided between wheat and corn The water from a township artesian well, 
a few miles north of his farm, flows through his land, and furnishes 
irrigation for about one acre of ground for a garden, affording an 
abundance of vegetables. His farm is now being. conducted on a 
successful basis, and bears evidence of thrift and industry.  

Mr. Kemp was married in 1868, to Miss Josephine I. Farley, a native of 
New York. Their home has been brightened by the presence of two 
children, Etta L., a teacher, and Fred, who resides with his parents. 
Mr. Kemp is a Republican, favors high license and equal suffrage. He is 
well read, and thoroughly posted on the topics of the day, and is 
keenly interested in the welfare of his community. Mrs. Kemp has the 
post office in their home and she is postmistress, an office which she 
has held for nine years.