Albert Rodman Kemps 1870

Albert Rodman Kemps

1870 – 1958

Clara Mae Rountree Kemps

1881 – 1957

Photographs Courtesy of Philip Smith

Albert Rodman Kemps was born on June 1, 1870 in Oakdale, Illinois. He died on April 4, 1958 in Sparta, Illinois.

His parents were Scotch-Irish Covenanters:

Samuel Henry Kemps (3/27/1842 - 4/2/1921)

Clara Amanda McClurken (6/7/1849 - 5/27/1936)

Albert was the oldest of seven children. His siblings were:

Lawrence Edward (4/20/1872 - 10/5/1873)

Luther James (2/25/1876 – 11/22/1935)

William Henry (10/29/1878 – 10/2/1964)

May Belle Kirkpatrick (6/14/1881 – 2/16/1964)

(Clara) Ethel Boyle (12/23/1882 - 2/27/1953)

Edna Adella Smith (8/26/1885 – 12/20/1932)

The 1880 Census shows Albert R. living on a farm with his parents, two younger brothers and two boarders in the Elkton Precinct of Washington County, Illinois.

The 1900 Census shows Albert R., at age 29, living on a farm with his parents, two brothers and three sisters in the Oakdale Township of Washington County, Illinois. His occupation was listed as farmer, as was his father and brother, Luther.

On May 30, 1906, Albert married Clara Mae Rountree (10/22/1881 – 11/3/1957). Clara Mae Rountree was born in Cardes, Illinois. Her parents were William R. Rountree and Hannah Hilderbrand, both born in Illinois. Albert and Clara Mae had no children. The 1907 St. Louis City Directory shows Albert working as a machinist and living at 5014 Vernon Avenue.

The 1910 Census, shows Albert and Clara Mae living on a farm in the Oakdale Township of Washington County, Illinois.

The “History of Oakdale Township” has two references to Albert Kemps:

· Page 71 indicates that the Honeywell Hot Air balloon landed at Albert’s farm in 1910.

· Page 82 lists Albert Kemps as a member of the Oakdale Band who played the tenor horn.

The 1920 Census shows Albert and Clara Mae living on a farm that they owned on Elkton Road in the Nashville Township of Washington County, Illinois.

The 1930 Census shows Albert and Clara Mae living at 4490 Forest Park Boulevard in St. Louis, Missouri. Albert was working as a watchman at a shoe factory.

Clara Mae and Albert in the early 1930s

The 1940 Census shows Albert and Clara Mae living at the U.S. Marine Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri where Albert was the caretaker.

At some point, they moved back to Illinois. In 1957, Albert and Clara Mae were living just across from the North corporate limits of the Village of Coulterville, Illinois on an extension of Poplar Street. They had a three room dwelling with a new circulating fireplace in the living room. It sat on a 70 x 140 foot lot with two outbuildings, a nice garden, strawberry patch and grape arbor.

Clara Mae Rountree Kemps died on November 3, 1957, after a six day stay in the Sparta Hospital, in Sparta, Illinois; see Clara Mae Kemps Death Certificate.jpg. She is buried in Oakdale Cemetery, Old Section, Row 14, Grave 39. To see an image of the headstone, see this link.

Albert Rodman Kemps died five months later, after a three week stay in the Randolph County Nursing Home, in Sparta, Illinois on April 4, 1958; see Albert Kemps Death Certificate.jpg. He is buried in Oakdale Cemetery; Old Section, Row 14, Grave 40. To see an image of the headstone, see this link.

Since he died without a will, all of his property was sold and his estate was divided amongst his heirs, in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois; see Albert Kemps Estate.pdf.

Reference files:

Oakdale, Illinois

Covenanters

Scotch-Irish

1880_Samuel_Kemps.jpg see line 16

1900_Samuel_Kemps.jpg see line 82

1910_Albert_Kemps.pdf see line 78

1920_Albert_Kemps.pdf see line 4

1930_Albert_Kemps.jpg see line 37

1940 Albert Kemps.jpg see line 1

1907 St. Louis City Directory

History of Oakdale Township and references