Lockley, Fred.  "History of the Columbia River Valley, From The Dalles to the
Sea." Vol. 3.  S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., 1928.  p. 946.

HARRY KEMP

Harry Kemp, who owns and operates a fine farm in the Hood River valley, is a
member of one of the pioneer families of this locality, his father having been
numbered among those who literally hewed their farm homes out of the forest,
and the family has always been active and influential in affairs affecting the
welfare and progress of the community. Mr. Kemp was born in Harrison county,
Iowa, a son of Frederick and Alice (Raworth) Kemp, both of whom were natives of
England. His father came to America in young manhood, locating first in
Montreal, Canada, and shortly afterwards came to the United States. He learned
the blacksmith trade, which he followed in Illinois and Iowa, and was also
employed in railroad shops. About 1874 he went to Texas, but Indian troubles
soon drove him out and, with a mule team and covered wagon, he drove from that
state through the Indian territory to the vicinity of Springfield, Missouri,
where he worked at the blacksmith trade until 1877. He then turned his face
westward and, with a mule team and wagon, joined a large company of emigrants
whose destination was Oregon. They were four months and ten days on the road and
on reaching this state Mr. Kemp located in Marion county, where he bought a
small ranch, and also had a blacksmith shop. About 1880 he moved to The Dalles,
where he obtained work as a blacksmith in the shops of the Oregon Railroad &
Navigation Company. In 1883 he came to the Hood River valley and settled on
eighty acres of land, which he had bought in 1881, and which adjoins the town of
Odell, about seven miles south of Hood River. The land was densely covered with
timber and the only road to it was a mere trail. After building a small frame
house, he proceeded to the task of clearing the land and getting it into
cultivation, and there he spent his remaining years, his death occurring in
1896. To him and his wife were born eight children, as follows: Mary Elizabeth,
who is the wife of T.L. Roberts and lives in California; Alice Maud, who is the
wife of O.H. Rhoades and lives in the Hood River valley; Harry, Lela Emily, the
deceased wife of C. P. Odell; Frederick, deceased; Mrs. Nettie Randolph, of
Rupert, Idaho; William P. and D. R., who live at Odell. Mr. Kemp was a member of
the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons and was a charter member of Kemp Lodge No.
181, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, which was named in his honor. He
served on the school board and took an active interest in the development of the
educational facilities of his district. In religious matters he was
particularly active as a member of the Christian church.

Harry Kemp received a limited education in the district school of his home
neighborhood and helped his father clear the land and improve the home farm. He
became a good blacksmith, at which he was employed some away from home, working
in the Oregon Railroad and Navigation shops at The Dalles. He now owns and
cultivates the old home place, though he resides in Odell.

On April 15, 1908, at The Dalles, Mr. Kemp was united in marriage to Miss
Katherine E. Davenport, who was born and reared at The Dalles and is a daughter
of Louis J. and Mary (Hintz) Davenport, who were pioneers of this state. Mrs.
Kemp attended the public schools at The Dalles and took a summer course in
teaching in Portland, after which she taught school for several years prior to
her marriage. Mr. Kemp is a member of Kemp Lodge, No. 181, I.O.O.F., and is
deservedly popular among his associates. He has consistently supported those
things which tend to the betterment of the community and his record has won for
him the sincere respect and good will of all who know him.


Submitted to the OR. Bios Project in September 2006 by Jeffrey L. Elmer

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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Oregon Biographies Project. 
The submitter has no further information on the individual featured in the
biography.