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Message Board > John Kempster

John Kempster
The Tampico Area Historical Society encompasses parts of Whiteside County and Bureau County in Illinois. Focus is on Tampico, Hume Twp., Hahnaman/Deer Grove, & Prophetstown in Whiteside County & Yorktown & Thomas in Bureau County.

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RojAnnK 1 post Nov 23, 2006 11:01 PM	Looking for info on ggg Grandparents. John and Lydia (Hall) Kempster from Whiteside. Does anyone know where they are buried? I am also trying to find the name of his parents or siblings. He was supposedly born in Berkshire England. Also looking for Lydia's parents and siblings. She was born in either Sommerset NY/NJ. Both were born abt 1794.
Administrator Denise 458 posts Nov 25, 2006 6:34 AM	Roj, I see that ILWhites has responded and answered most of your questions. That is so great! Buried in Sharon Cemetery? I just discovered that cemetery on a country drive about a month ago. Sterling Library has the list, which I will eventually get a copy for our records. Message: 1 Date: Fri, 24 Nov 2006 10:06:43 -0600 From: "Dawn Everling" Subject: Re: [ILWHITES] John Kempster To: >From "History of Whiteside County, Ills." by Bent-Wilson (1877), page 358: "JOHN KEMPSTER was born in Berkshire county, England in 1794, and came to the United States in 1819, first settling in Oneida county, New York. He married Miss Lydia Hall, and came to Portland in 1837. The following are the children of this marriage: Jolia Ann, wife of Washington Rowe, living in Henry county, Illinois; J. Henry, who married Miss Eliza Ann Rowe, and lives in Portland; William W., who married Miss Margaret Hahn, and lives in Portland; and Ephraim H., who married Miss Rachel Spicer, and also lives in Portland. Mr. Kempster died in 1869." I found the burial information in "Morrison Chapter NSDAR Cemetery Records - Western Half of Whiteside County, Illinois- Miscellaneous Cemeteries" - Sharon Cemetery - 1841 - Located in N.W. corner of Sec. 29 Portland twp. Whiteside Co., IL--about 1 mile west of Spring Hill: Kempster, Frank E. Sept 12, 1868 - May 22, 1937 Kempster, Elbert A. May 7, 1872 - Nov 16, 1942 Kempster, Ephraim H. 1884-1912 Kempster, Rachel A. 1840-1920 - wife of E.A. Kempster, Loretta A., dau, 1860-1860 Kempster, Arthur E. 1862-1864 - son Kempster, Charles M., son, 1865-1867 Kempster, John Mar 5, 1795-Jan 1, 1869 Kempster, Lydia A., wife of John, Dec 24, 1797-Apr 1, 1843 Kempster, Myrtle Kempster Urick 1874-1929 Kempster, children of W.W. and M. Emma L. d Sept 4, 1862 -3 yrs Orpha d Mar 10, 1864 - 1 yr William E. d Oct 31, 1863 - 1 yr Anna I. d Aug 7, 1867 - 1 yr Ralph H. d Mar 9, 1881 - 3 yrs Kempster, William W. 1882-1911 Kempster, There is a slab that says "Mother" and one "Father" but no names or dates Kempster, Julia A., wife of G.W. Rowe, d Aug 8, 1888 - 61 yrs Kempster, Bertha D. 1875-1956 Kempster, Wallace R. 1868-1951 Kempster, William Wayne 1930-1935 Kempster, Besse R. Young 1877-1941 Kempster, Mabel Kempster Douglass 1882-1913 Dawn Everling Message: 2 Date: Fri, 24 Nov 2006 08:08:58 -0800 (PST) From: Christine Walters Subject: Re: [ILWHITES] John Kempster To: ilwhites@rootsweb.com Message-ID: <20061124160858.87330.qmail@web36609.mail.mud.yahoo.com> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Kempster Information.. On my Website http://genealogytrails.com/ill/whiteside/ Use the search engine -- Kempster has 6 good hits.. all of the related to your family.. Prophetstown Cemetery Burials (I just looked these up this morning - they will be on my website with the next update.. KEMPSTER, 1895 1950 . . KEMPSTER, Bertha 21 Feb 1870 13 Jun 1934 . (Believed to be Minnie Alberta Arnett) KEMPSTER, Marjorie (Greene) 1896 1962 . . KEMPSTER, Minnie Alberta (Arnett) 1870 1934 . George & Margaret (Sieben) Arnett KEMPSTER, Perry W. 05 Dec 1869 1931 Minnie Alberta Arnett Wm. & Margaret (Hahn) Kempster Kempster Marriages you can find on the IL Marriage Index http://www.library.sos.state.il.us/departments/archives/marriage.html I pulled out the Whiteside Marriages for you -- you might want to check various spellings on your own .. for instance.. Wm. W. Kempster married Margaret Hawn -- but the correct spelling of this family name is HAHN.. Josie Kempster -- is Mary Josephine Kempster.. Kempster Men KEMPSTER, EPHRIAM H SPICER, RACHEL A 05/15/1859 / 265 WHITESIDE KEMPSTER, JOHN H ROWE, ELIZA ANN 10/06/1853 00B/ 00000091 WHITESIDE KEMPSTER, WILLIAM W HAWN, MARGARET 11/01/1856 00B/ 00000521 WHITESIDE This is the men who married Kempster women HAHN, JOHN KEMPSTER, ELLA 02/21/1876 / 00004083 WHITESIDE CROOK, NATHAN M KEMPSTER, FLORA 11/25/1879 / 00005142 WHITESIDE ARNETT, WILLIAM KEMPSTER, JOSIE 11/30/1880 / 00005397 WHITESIDE ROW, GEORGE WASHINGTON KEMPSTER, JULIA ANN 02/21/1850 00A/ 00000347 WHITESIDE URICK, HENRY KEMPSTER, MYRTLE 01/23/1895 / 00009137 WHITESIDE ALSO - be sure and check the Tampico Historical Society Website -- Denise McLaughlin has a ton of Whiteside county information here -- http://www.tampicohistoricalsociety.citymax.com/Home_Page.html Hope this helps. Christine Walters http://genealogytrails.com ---------- Denise Family History Coordinator Tampico Area Historical Society
RojAnnK 2 posts Nov 28, 2006 5:39 PM	Dawn and Denise, I have to give it to you ladies, you are definitely quick to respond! Thank You so much for you help. Here is my next puzzle: My grandparents (who raised me) both taught school at the Kempsterville school after they were married. I visited there many times as a small child, but who pays attention then? I am trying to figure out what the connection was. How did Kempsterville get it's name? Who were the Kempsters that lived there, if any? When was it built? Who built it? Does anyone have information that they would like to share? I think that it is, or was in Hopkins twp. Which is just outside of Erie? What county is that? Once again, thank you!
RojAnnK 3 posts Nov 28, 2006 5:52 PM	Christine, A big thanks to you also. You just cleared up a name discrepancy for me!
RojAnnK 4 posts Nov 29, 2006 5:48 PM	Jack, I already have that info. I purchased that book. But maybe you could tell me this....where is the Dutch bottom? I haven't quite figured that one out yet. Thank You, Roj Ann Kempster
Administrator Denise 459 posts Nov 30, 2006 9:07 AM	Jack, Thanks for that info - it can still help others researching this line! Roj, You thanked Christine and Dawn on our msg board. Just an FYI, Christine Walters hosts the Genealogy Trails/Whiteside board (among several other counties). http://genealogytrails.com/ill/whiteside/ I am not sure where Dawn is from. Both subscribe to the ILWhites Msg Board. Continue to post responses on the ILWhites Msg Boards, as they will all get the info then. I hope you will also continue to post on our boards if we can be of more help. Denise Family History Coordinator Tampico Area Historical Society
JackP 9 posts Nov 30, 2006 1:59 PM	Roj, Dutch Bottom: Go Southwest from Springhill on the blacktop and out there some 2 - 2.5 miles turn right (West) on Hurd Road. I'm told that down in Dutch bottoms on the North side of Hurd road was one of the Kempster farms. The new brick Kempsterville school house should be very near the left turn onto Tobacco road. I'm told that it's abandoned today and the old wood frame Kempsterville school was raised and moved to the South end of Ferry Road. (1/4 mile West and then South) Ferry road at the South end is a couple hundred yards into Henry County. Over the years there were several saw mills in the area, but one that was on Ferry road in it's later days was the Smith saw mill, and could have been the Kempster mill earlier. Tobacco Road is very short and connects Hurd Road with (As I remember)1500E, which runs North and South between ILL. Rt. 92 and Hillsdale. Was there a Kempesterville proper? I don't think so, as it's kind of like another location in W-side that was tagged Foytown. Jack
RojAnnK 5 posts Nov 30, 2006 4:52 PM	Jack, That all fits with the imformation that I have. Someone in my family has a picture of a sign that says "Welcome to Kempsterville", I haven't seen it for years, but we are all looking for it. I think that it was just a gathering of houses and they called that "Kempsterville", as you said. I didn't have any idea that the school had been moved. Do you have any info on when it was moved? I know that it is considered a US Historical site. I would think that they would have information, but so far haven't been able to come up with anything. Thanks so much for your help, Roj Ann Kempster
JackP 11 posts Nov 30, 2006 5:15 PM	The source I talked to today is in his 80's, and lived in or around Dutch Bottoms (say) 1930's. Just from the way he expressed his memory, I would guess this evening that he would remember when the brick (still at site) was built. He commented that a family some years ago lived in the brick school house, but it's empty today. He just might remember where the original wood frame structure moved to, and it might be there today. (He only commented that it was at the end of Ferry Road) I should have a chance to see him tomorrow, as we'll be plowing snow for Portland Twp., in the morning, and I'll ask. Jack
RojAnnK 6 posts Nov 30, 2006 6:08 PM	Jack, There were actually 3 Kempster Farms. John Kempster originally purchased 80 acres in Sec 33 of twp 19N, and purchased a claim of JH Avery, on Sec 34. When his health begin to fail he divided the land among his 3 sons and each of them went on to purchase more. Henry (John H) had around 150 acres. William resided in Sec 34, but also owned 461 acres in Sec 27,33,34, and 35. Ephraim resided in Sec 33, Portland twp, and also owned another 370 acres in that twp. And as you already know, the 3 of them also owned the saw mill. Are these Sections in that Kempsterville area? I also just looked again to see where I came up with the "historical" deal on my prior message. I found it listed as a "historical school in Whiteside County" It maps the location for you. usahistoricsites.com/place.php?state=IL&feature=Kempsterville+School+(historical) So now its an empty property. Could we possibly find out who owns that property? And is the Sharon Cemetery in the same proximity by chance? Roj Ann
JackP 12 posts Nov 30, 2006 8:06 PM	Roj. I just pulled out a large W-side map that gives the Section numbers. I assume these section numbers are in Range 3 East. First however, the Sharon Church and Cemetery is very close to 1 mile West of Springhill, on the South side of the road. Ferry Road runs North and South for one mile and is approx. 1/4 mile into section 33 from the East. Meaning as you go South on Ferry, you will have 1/4 mile on your left, and 3/4 mile on your right, and one mile long. Section 34 is of course just East of 33, and 35 is east of 34. If you get onto Hurd Road from Springhill Road and travel West, you will be driving by the North edges of 35, 34, and 33, in that order to your left. 27 is directly North of section 34 and will be on your right off of Hurd. Hurd road has a stop sign at the West when you get onto Chase Road. I spoke of Chase road as 1500E in one of the earlier messages. Section 27 starts (East edge)about 1/2 mile East of this stop sign and lays on the North. The NW Quarter of 27 has Rock River in it, and a pretty nice sized island, named Kempster Island. Map was printed 1978. I'll see what I can find out about ownership of the brick school, and present data on the old wood structure. I wonder if Portland Twp. owns it? Jack
JackP 13 posts Dec 01, 2006 4:59 PM	A little information gained about the school: First I have a question about the historical account. Which building has the recording, the original wood, or the newer brick that rests on the old site? Second: I have a few rules at my key board. I make every effort not to comment on living people (relative or not)or their personal business or property. As both of these old structures are privately owned, I'll do my best to waltz around this in the following, and try to bring out the historical value. My source and I had a couple of pretty wonderful conversations about the Kempester school today. He went to seventh grade there but didn't put a year on it. He served in France and Germany in WWII, and went into the service about 1944. So with a little thought, if he was aprox. 12 in 7th. grade and at least 18 in 44, he was there in say 1937 or 38, as a guess. This would have been in the old school, and he remembers it as have being moved sometime between 1939 and 1941 as his best guess. He remembers it as have been sided with stucco and pink in color at the time of moving or shortly after. It is still being used today, and sets, just west of the south end of Ferry Road, in Henry County. Their is another old school beside it. It was the old Barnridge (spl.?)school that came form IL., Rt. 92 in Henry county. As we went by the brick school at the old location today, it sets at the intersection of Chase and Tobacco Roads. It appears to be in a derelict state, but my words might be a little harsh. I was told the present owner, and another name of a Kempster family relative that would have information on the family, but my rules apply while on the internet. This relative happens to own a portion of some of the old Kempster land. Good luck with your search, and I hope I have been a help. Jack
RojAnnK 7 posts Dec 01, 2006 5:00 PM	Jack, I am planning on coming home this summer, and that info will help when I take my drive to visit and take pictures of everything that I have found. My g Aunt, Margaret(Kempster) Wreath, and my Grandfather, Russel Kempster taught school in their younger days at the Brick school. We grew up hearing the stories about the school and the saw mill, we should have paid more attention and then we wouldn't be asking these questions. I spoke to Margaret's daughter last night. She has a picture of the original wood structure school house. She told me that the Henry Kempster farm house and the William Kempster farm house are still there. Ephriam Kempster's house is gone. She doesn't know who presently owns those farms. We too; were wondering who owns the brick school. She did say that the Kempster's donated the land for the school, and she was fairly sure that they had built the wood structure and that the lumber came from the sawmill. My g Aunt Margaret taught school for 50 years in Whiteside County in the Erie schools. She just passed away in 2001. She was our family historian, so her daughter now has the pictures. There are pictures of Henry Kempster & family, and William Kempster & family. As soon as I receive, I will be sharing those. By the way, I heard that you received quite a lot of snow! I imagine you were pretty busy today. My grown sons live in the Quad Cities, so I have my inside line on the weather up there. I'm not living in snow country any more, and the only time that I really miss it, is at Christmas! Sincerely, Roj Ann
RojAnnK 8 posts Dec 01, 2006 5:22 PM	Jack, I just read your prior message, and I appreciate your regard for privacy of the living. But I have to tell you, that sure peaked my curiosity. Thanks for your help!
RojAnnK 9 posts Dec 01, 2006 5:39 PM	Jack, I do not know which school house that they were talking about on the usahistorcsite. It just maps the location for you, and shows that it is located in Whiteside County. The old Kempster saw mill eventually burnt down. I have no idea when that was, or if it was ever rebuilt. I am quite surprised that I haven't been able to pick up an old newpaper story on that event yet. I would have thought that it would have been big news back then.
JackP 15 posts Dec 03, 2006 1:35 PM	Dear Cousin(?) RojAnn, I new there was another reason for me to take interest in your search. I did a little prowling on the internet, so don't take this as gospel, as you know how these internet genealogies can be wrong from the start. The following needs to be researched and sourced before taking it with any truth. Have you ever heard of John Hall 1584 - 1673 who m. Esther (Ann) Willocke? They had a daughter Sarah Hall 1622 - 1644, who married Dea. Thomas Whitmore. (later spl. Wetmore) If they are familiar to you then you have heard of a couple generations of my paternal side. I went to Gen. Trails - W-side and did a little reading on John Kempster and did some tracking on Lydia Hall. The following is a first pass, so be ware. Lydia Hall, (IGI Ind. Record) born 24 Dec. 1797 Unadilla, N.Y. Parents: Stephen (R.) Hall, & Patty (Hannah) Wilson. Stephen b. 24 Dec. 1765, Dracut, Middlesex, MA. and Patty b. (World Tree date) 9 June 1769, Pelham, Hillsborough, N.H. & married 19 April, 1788 in Dracut, MA. The following linage of Stephen Hall in brief: Ephraim Hall 1741 - 1821, m. Lydia Russell Ephraim Hall 1717 - 1793, m. Eunice Levestone Richard Hall 1676 - 1761, m. Abigail Dalton Richard Hall Abt. 1645 - 1730 m. Martha Kimball Richard Hall Abt. 1620 - 1681 m. Elizabeth Collicot and last.... John Hall 1584 - 1673 who m. Esther (Ann) Willocke, and are mentioned above. Appears this could make me a long lost relative of the Kempster's. Jack
RojAnnK 10 posts Dec 03, 2006 5:51 PM	Jack, Wouldn't that be wonderful! You could come to our annual family reunion! First, the info that you provided would all be news to me, because until just recently the DOB that I had for Lydia was off by 3 years. I have not been able to research John or Lydia with any luck because I knew very little about either. But I think that you may be on to something. I have a gut feeling that's her. If so, you would definitely be related. I was talking to my Dad and 2 of my uncles today. They remember much "talk" of the sawmill when they were growing up. I think that it was long gone by then, but you know how all generations talk about who had what, in the past. They remember going to Spring Hill as kids to visit Grandpa Wallace ( which would have been Williams son), but they thought that Wallace just worked on the farm that they visited. They thought that somebody named "Jacobs" owned that farm??? They also found it strange that their Dad (Russel) never mentioned all this farm land that was owned by their g Grandfather and g Uncles. They had heard plenty about the saw mill, but you would have thought that someone would have mentioned the fact that these guys were pretty big farmers. So, now I'm wondering if maybe they lost it in the depression? or if when the saw mill burnt they had to sell? I thought that maybe you could check with that nice gentleman that you have been talking too, to see if he remembers anything. I will start working on the info that you provided and see what I can come up with. The generations go like this John Kempster>William Kempster>Wallace Kempster>Russel Kempster>Roger Kempster>Roj Ann Kempster. If you feel that you have something that you wouldn't want to post for the general public, you can email me directly rojann1@cableone.net Roj Ann
JackP 16 posts Dec 03, 2006 7:17 PM	Roj Ann, I have a correction to make. John Hall is on my maternal side and not my paternal. As my parents were 9th cousins from the mid 1600's in CT., sometimes I loose track. For the people around Tampico and Leon area, I'll explain it this way. Buried out in Leon, is one of my 3rd Great-Grandmothers. Betsy (Averill) Burnham. She was b. N.Y. 1805, but her parents are one of my brick walls. Betsy's husband was Guy Carlton Burnham, (1791 - 1876)and one of his 4th. Great-Grandfathers was John Hall, that I speak of. As time allows, I'll do some more looking and try and strengthen this Hall/Wilson marriage, as it is a bit of a jump from the IGI entry to the Ancestry World Tree. Keep your hopes up! Jack
Becky Jones 1 post Dec 28, 2006 3:53 PM	I have a link to the Kempster family also, through Margaret Hahn, wife of William Ward Kempster. Margaret's mother (Caroline) was my gggrandmother. After Caroline's first husband died, she married a man named Jacob Schuck....and I am descended from them. Would there be anyone reading this that would have links to these folks? I am looking for descendants of these folks that may be able to shed some light on Margaret's life. Photos are always welcome too. I'm happy to share what I have. Margaret Hahn b. 21 Aug 1838 married William Ward Kempster b. 7 Jun 1832 Thanks, Becky Jones
RojAnnK 11 posts Dec 29, 2006 12:25 PM	Jack, I have been corresponding with Becky Jones, see prior message. After speaking with my cousin, I now know that the old farm houses that once belonged to William and John Henry are still standing today. You made mention of someone that is related to me, owns a parcel of the old Kempster land. I thought maybe that they owned one of the farms/houses that I just spoke of. I know that you didn't want to discuss living people but, is there anyway that you could contact that person and ask if they are interested in sharing information with Becky or myself? My research came to a stand still while getting ready for Chrismas, but I have been working on the Lydia Hall line the last couple of days. I'm coming up with a ton of discrepancies. Have you had a chance to work on it? Roj Ann
JackP 18 posts Dec 29, 2006 2:27 PM	Roj Ann, P.M. sent. Jack

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