James W. Kemps
1845 - 1867
By: Roger Kemps © 2008
James W. Kemps was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on August 30, 1845. He died on September 12, 1867 in Washington County, Illinois.
His parents were James William (1807 - June 11, 1887) and Isabella Gay Kemps (November 11, 1811 - May 5, 1867) who came from Ireland in 1836.
His siblings:
· Mary was born in Philadelphia in 1836, the year her parents arrived.
· Samuel Henry was born on March 23, 1843 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He died on April 2, 1921 and is buried in the Oakdale Cemetery (Old Section, Row 12 Grave 49).
· Elizabeth Olivia was born on January 6, 1847 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She died June 24, 1920 and is buried in the Oakdale Cemetery (New Section, Row 20, Grave 29).
James shows up in the 1850 Census, along with his parents, three siblings, and Aunt Sarah Kemps, age 27.
The family lived at various places in Philadelphia. In 1861, the family resided at 724 Shirley. Shortly thereafter, the family moved to Oakdale, Illinois and began farming.
James shows up in the 1865 Illinois Census along with his parents and three siblings.
The following information was extracted from the Veterans Section of the Genealogy Trails Washington County, Illinois website (most of it appears on his discharge):
James W. Kemps, a farmer from Ashley, Washington Co., IL. stood 5' 6" tall with dark hair, gray eyes and a fair complexion.
Served
during the Civil War with the Union Army, with Co. D, 13th Illinois Consolidated Cavalry.
Enlisted on Janaury 25, 1864 in Ashley, Washington Co., IL.
Mustered in on February
12, 1864
at Camp
Butler, IL.
Transferred on March
1, 1864 to
Co. G, 13th Illinois Consolidated Cavalry
Promoted to Corporal.
Mustered out on August
31, 1865
in Pine
Bluff, Arkansas.
James W. Kemps was born on August 30, 1845. He died on September 12, 1867 at the young age of 22, and is buried in the Oakdale Cemetery (Old Section, Row 14, Grave 44). To see an image of the headstone, see this link.
Reference sources and files:
Genealogy Trails Washington County, Illinois Website
Oakdale Cemetery Letter 1987.pdf
1850_James_Kemps.jpg see line 38
1865_IL_James_Kemps.jpg see line 4
Last updated 7/29/2010
