The Kentucky Kempers
Henry Kemper was the eighth child of John Kemper, the emigrent, and was born in Germantown about 1720. He became a minister in the Baptist faith. He married Miss Latitia Whiteside and moved to Kentucky in 1800, settling near the Forks of Dicks River, in which locality their son John had already settled, as will be presently mentioned. Their third son, Reuben Kemper, was a noted character in the southeast.{ see p. 36 }
John Kemper [1] was the first child of Henry Kemper and Letitia Whitesides. He was born in Fauquier County, Virginia,
November 27, 1757. He married Judith Burdett. [2] In 1777 and seven years later they emigrated to Kentucky. At that time they had three children, Thornton, Fannie and Joshua.The oldest of these, Thornton, was only four. The great westward movement at this period, unharnessed at last by the ending of the revolution, greatly agitated by accounts of the fertile soil of the great Kentucky country, the prospect of large grants of rich lands, { or at least which could be purchased at a pittance}. and the free and open life which this new territory afforded, induced hundreds of Virginians to seek homes there. Some were mere adventurers, "land grabbers" or "squatters." others were of poorer class who saw a chance to come out to the new country and became rich. There were many traders, lawyers, etc. Still others were wealthy Virginia planters from among the gentry of the seacoast. [3]
John Kemper belonged to this class, and though the dangers of travel both by land and water were greatly increased by the hostile indians, in 1784 he and his small family embarked from Wheeling, and went down the Ohio river in a flat boat, like hundreds of others, finally landing at the mouth of Beargrass Creek, just above the rapids or Falls of the Ohio.
At this point it was quite a little settlement, the nucleus of which was Floyd's Fort, "sometimes called the Mouth of Beargrass Fort," this blockhouse was erected in 1776 by Colonel John Floyd, but was almost immediately abandoned by him. It continued to serve as a shelter, however, for the many emigrants who came down the ohio river.
One of the pioneers at Beargrass who was suffering from a severe case of "ager" {ague} offered to sell to Mr Kemper his entire section of land, including his cabin, for $640.00. ]4] however , Mr Kemper was not impressed with the low and swampy land in that vicinity, and the fact that many of the settlers at this point suffered with chills, rheumatism, fever and had other similar ailments, caused him to refuse the offer, little dreaming when he did so that this very ground was later to become the center of the city of Louisville. [5] He journeyed on into the interior country, probably taking the old trail which led through Boone's and Harrod's town. [6] And finally settled in what is now Garrard county, near the old "Forks of Dicks River" church, six miles north of Lancaster on the road to Lexington.
After their arrival in Kentucky, nine children were born to John and Judith Kemper. Both of the the parents of this goodly sized family are buried in the old graveyard of "Old Forks" church.
[1]- Known as "Smiling Johnny" - always in good humor.
[2]- Judith Burdett was the daughter of Frederick and Mary Smith Burdett. After his first wife's death, Frederick Burdett married Dorothy Kemper, an aunt of John Kemper.
[3]- See vol.2, "winning of the west"
[4]- A section of land consisted of 640 acres, making the price of this tract $1.00 an acre.
[5]- Part of Third, Fourth and neighboring streets, Louisville, now occupy the ground where this settler lived, and what then could have been bought for $1.00 an acre is now the center of business of the city. At that time the town of Louisville contained " 63 houses finished, 37 partly finished, 22 raised but not covered, and more than a hundred cabins." {collins history of kentucky.}
years ago the old mouth of Beargrass Creek was filled up and the warf extended over it.
[6]- see filson's map of kentucky, made in 1784.
John Kemper [1] was the first child of Henry Kemper and Letitia Whitesides. He was born in Fauquier County, Virginia,
November 27, 1757. He married Judith Burdett. [2] In 1777 and seven years later they emigrated to Kentucky. At that time they had three children, Thornton, Fannie and Joshua.The oldest of these, Thornton, was only four. The great westward movement at this period, unharnessed at last by the ending of the revolution, greatly agitated by accounts of the fertile soil of the great Kentucky country, the prospect of large grants of rich lands, { or at least which could be purchased at a pittance}. and the free and open life which this new territory afforded, induced hundreds of Virginians to seek homes there. Some were mere adventurers, "land grabbers" or "squatters." others were of poorer class who saw a chance to come out to the new country and became rich. There were many traders, lawyers, etc. Still others were wealthy Virginia planters from among the gentry of the seacoast. [3]
John Kemper belonged to this class, and though the dangers of travel both by land and water were greatly increased by the hostile indians, in 1784 he and his small family embarked from Wheeling, and went down the Ohio river in a flat boat, like hundreds of others, finally landing at the mouth of Beargrass Creek, just above the rapids or Falls of the Ohio.
At this point it was quite a little settlement, the nucleus of which was Floyd's Fort, "sometimes called the Mouth of Beargrass Fort," this blockhouse was erected in 1776 by Colonel John Floyd, but was almost immediately abandoned by him. It continued to serve as a shelter, however, for the many emigrants who came down the ohio river.
One of the pioneers at Beargrass who was suffering from a severe case of "ager" {ague} offered to sell to Mr Kemper his entire section of land, including his cabin, for $640.00. ]4] however , Mr Kemper was not impressed with the low and swampy land in that vicinity, and the fact that many of the settlers at this point suffered with chills, rheumatism, fever and had other similar ailments, caused him to refuse the offer, little dreaming when he did so that this very ground was later to become the center of the city of Louisville. [5] He journeyed on into the interior country, probably taking the old trail which led through Boone's and Harrod's town. [6] And finally settled in what is now Garrard county, near the old "Forks of Dicks River" church, six miles north of Lancaster on the road to Lexington.
After their arrival in Kentucky, nine children were born to John and Judith Kemper. Both of the the parents of this goodly sized family are buried in the old graveyard of "Old Forks" church.
[1]- Known as "Smiling Johnny" - always in good humor.
[2]- Judith Burdett was the daughter of Frederick and Mary Smith Burdett. After his first wife's death, Frederick Burdett married Dorothy Kemper, an aunt of John Kemper.
[3]- See vol.2, "winning of the west"
[4]- A section of land consisted of 640 acres, making the price of this tract $1.00 an acre.
[5]- Part of Third, Fourth and neighboring streets, Louisville, now occupy the ground where this settler lived, and what then could have been bought for $1.00 an acre is now the center of business of the city. At that time the town of Louisville contained " 63 houses finished, 37 partly finished, 22 raised but not covered, and more than a hundred cabins." {collins history of kentucky.}
years ago the old mouth of Beargrass Creek was filled up and the warf extended over it.
[6]- see filson's map of kentucky, made in 1784.