My Genealogy Hound

Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Miller County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  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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Edward T. Hemperley, a prominent physician of Sulphur Township, Miller County, was born in Georgia (Campbell County), on March 20, 1841, being the son of Edward P. and Malinda (Foster) Hemperley, natives of Spartanburg District, S. C. They were married in South Carolina, and shortly after moved to Georgia, where they resided until their death, which occurred on February 10, 1863, and March 17, 1862, respectively, the father dying at the age of sixty-five, and the mother at the age of fifty-eight years, and both passing away in full communion with the Missionary Baptist Church. The father was a very successful farmer through life, and at his death had accumulated considerable property. He was a Democrat in his political views. His parents, Edward M. and Rachel Hemperley, were natives of Germany, and on emigrating to the United States, settled in Virginia, but later moved to South Carolina, and from thence to Georgia, where they spent the remainder of their life, he dying of pneumonia in 1861, and she of small-pox two years later. They died at the age of ninety-eight and ninety-six years, respectively, and before they were stricken by their last illness, were very active old people. Grandfather Hemperley was also a farmer by occupation. The subject of this sketch is one of two survivors of a family of nine children born to Edward P. and Malinda Hemperley; the other, a brother, Michael C, born December 26, 1829, is a farmer of Campbell County, Ga. Those dead are: Adam R. (who died in Georgia in 1841 in his twenty-fourth year), August (who died at the age of eighteen years), John M. (who died on July 7, 1841, aged six years), Rachel A. (born February 29, 1828, was the wife of W. H. Dodd, and passed from life in this county), Andrew S. (born on June 26, 1832, was a lieutenant in the Confederate Army during the late war, and was killed at the battle of Baker’s Creek), Mary J. (was the wife of J. T. Dodd, of Fayette County, Ga., and died on October 4, 1868, at the age of twenty-eight years), Joel M. (born March 10, 1836, enlisted in the Twenty-seventh Georgia Confederate Infantry during the late war, and was killed at Sharpsburg, Md.), Nancy M. (born March 13, 1838, was the wife of Thomas Abercrombie, of Fulton County, Ga.). The boyhood of Edward T. Hemperley was spent in Georgia, where he attended the common schools. In early manhood he commenced life as a farmer, but not liking this occupation greatly, he did not continue it long, and took up the study of medicine. In 1860 and 1861 he attended lectures at Macon, Ga., and in the latter year commenced the practice of medicine in Fayette County, Ga., which he continued until 1869, at which time he came to Arkansas. Selecting what is now Miller County as the scene of his labors, he established his home here, and has ever since continued to be a resident of this county. He has met with marked success here, for besides a large and lucrative practice which he has established, he is the owner of nearly 600 acres of land, 100 acres of which he hires farmed. His practice extends over the three States of Arkansas, Texas and Louisiana. At the outbreak of the late war he enlisted (in 1861) in the Twenty-seventh Georgia Infantry, but was soon discharged on account of disability. In September, 1863, he re-enlisted in the same regiment, was detailed as assistant surgeon, and served until the close of the war. During the time of his service he was in the battle at Lake City, Fla., and also in the last battle fought, that of Bentonville, N. C. His marriage to Miss Lottie A. Dodd, daughter of John S. Dodd, a native of South Carolina, took place on March 3, 1861, and the fruits of this union have been thirteen children, all of whom are living, viz.: Luella L. (wife of Seaborn S. Easau, a prominent farmer of this county), Edward V. (at home), Henry M. (a resident of this county), Cora O. (wife of C. C. Sexton, of Atlanta, Tex.), and Osceola G., John D. L., Robert T., Chesley M., Marcellus, Minnie Olah, Paul J., Jesse M. and Ethel M. Mrs. Hemperley was born in Georgia on April 2, 1844. She and her husband both belong to the Missionary Baptist Church, and are highly esteemed by all in the community. He is a member of the Alliance, and in politics votes the Democratic ticket.

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