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Below is a family biography included in The History of Smith County, Tennessee published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1887.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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W. L. Kemp, Jr., was born in Smith County in 1842, and is of a family of thirteen children born to Asa and Mary (Williams) Kemp. The father was born in 1823, in West Virginia, of English descent. He moved to North Carolina with his parents in 1833, and in 1840 came to Smith County, where he now resides. He is a prosperous farmer owning 220 acres of fine land. He is an influential and respected citizen. The mother was born in Smith County in 1827, and died in 1882. Our subject received a fair education in the schools of his native county. In 1861 he entered the Confederate Army, in William H. Hart’s independent company Tennessee Infantry Volunteers. Soon after the organization he was elected orderly sergeant, and served in that capacity until 1863, when he was transferred to the command of Gen. John H. Morgan, cavalry brigade, when he was again elected to the same rank. He took an active part in the battles of Farmington and Corinth, Miss.; LaVergne, Stone River, Snow Hill, Milton, Dixon Springs and Greasy Creek, Ky. December, 1863, he was made prisoner and taken to Carthage, where he took the oath of allegiance and returned home. In 1864 he married Sarah T., daughter of William D. and Lucy H. McCawley, who was born in 1848, and died in 1869. Two years later, in 1871, Mr. Kemp was united to Mary A., daughter of William and Jane Hockette, who was born in 1855. To this union there are seven children: Claude E., Maud L., Eva S., Eddie M., Asa E., Sallie J. and Hettie L. In 1870 our subject was chosen to fill the unexpired term of eighteen months, of C. W. West, justice of the peace, of the Fifth District. August, 1871, he was elected by a large majority to the same office, which he held for six years, being re-elected at the end of the term. He was again called to fill out the unexpired term of E. J. Yeaman, deceased. In 1886 he was commissioned by Gov. William B. Bate as notary public, for four years. For seventeen years he has been one of the leading commercial men of the county. He was a heavy lumber dealer, and built two saw mills. In February, 1882 he had the misfortune to lose heavily by the rising of the Cumberland River, a large quantity of lumber being carried away by the water. He is now a member of the firm of Witt & Kemp. They have an extensive mercantile trade, and are among the most enterprising and successful merchants in the section. Mr. Kemp is a Democrat, and gave his first presidential vote for Horatio Seymour in 1868, and is also a member of the Masonic order. He is an earnest and respected communicant of the Missionary Baptist Church.

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This family biography is one of 62 biographies included in The History of Smith County, Tennessee published in 1887.  The History of Smith County was included within The History of Sumner, Smith, Macon & Trousdale Counties of Tennessee. View the complete description here: History of Sumner, Smith, Macon and Trousdale Counties of Tennessee

View additional Smith County, Tennessee family biographies here: Smith County, Tennessee

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