My Genealogy Hound

WILLIAM H. DEMPSTER, farmer of Garfield township, Buffalo county, Nebr., was born in Adams county, Ill., in May, 1851, and was reared on a farm. His father, George Dempster, was a native of Ohio, who, when a young man, located in Illinois, and after living there for some years, married Miss Elizabeth Lewton of that state. Some years after marrying, he came to Nebraska (in 1872), and is now a resident of Hall county, this state. William H. Dempster is the eldest of a family of ten children, all of whom are living in Nebraska, excepting one brother, who is in Minnesota. William H. came to Nebraska in 1872 with his parents and other members of the family, and first located near Hastings, Hall county, where he pre-empted a quarter section of land while yet a single man, but made no improvements thereon. In 1876 he married Miss Augusta F., daughter of William H. and Mary A. Denman, who came from Illinois to Nebraska in 1858. Mr. Denman, a cattle ranchman, was a native of Ohio and died in 1886, at the age of sixty-eight years; his widow is now about seventy-four years old. To the union of W. H. Dempster and wife were born five children, viz. — Mattie M., Edgar, Evelyn and Ella, all living, and a twin to Ella who died at three months of age. Mr. Dempster, after his marriage, resided in Hall county, until fall of 1880, moved to Buffalo county, and entered a homestead and also a timber claim, one quarter section each, on the east half of section 20, township 12, range 14, about two miles from what is now Ravenna, and has ninety acres under cultivation in mixed crops; he also is engaged in stock-raising. When he first came to his present locality there had been but little improvement made, but he has seen railroads come in, towns spring up and the prairie put under cultivation and beautified. In the early day trading was done at Gibbon, and deer and other game was the chief meat supply. Mr. Dempster and wife are members of the Christian church and stand high in the esteem of their neighbors. In politics, Mr. Dempster is a republican, was the first clerk of his township, and has been road overseer since its organization three years ago.