My Genealogy Hound

Obediah Kemp, one of the highly respected old residents of Oakland County, Michigan, residing on his snug little farm of 40 acres, located in section 22, Pontiac township, came to this county June 17, 1849, from the neighborhood of Battle, Sussex County, England, where he was born July 22, 1827. His parents were John and Dorothy (Millman) Kemp, both natives of Sussex County.

John Kemp was a son of John Kemp, who was also born and lived in Sussex County. The family has always been an agricultural one and is well known in England. The children of John Kemp, the elder, were: John, Richard, William, Henry, who also came to America; Mrs. Sarah Bryant, Mrs. Hannah Rollinson and George. John Kemp, the second, married Dorothy Millman, who died at the home of our subject, in January, 1888, at the age of 100 years. She accompanied her husband to America in 1850. Our subject’s father died at the home of his son Obediah, in July, 1871, aged 86 years. These parents were among the early supporters of the Methodist Church in their locality and led the sober, virtuous lives of good, Christian people. Mr. Kemp supported the Democratic party.

Obediah Kemp was the 11th born of a family of 12 children, as follows: Mrs. Mary King; Mrs. Mercy Pile; Mrs. Hannah Carey; Mrs. Sarah Adams, who now resides in Pontiac at the age of 90 years; John, who died in January, 1902, aged 86 years; Mrs. Dina Twaits, of England; George, deceased; Mrs. Jane Cooper, deceased; Mrs. Barbara Osmund, of England; William, of England; Obediah; and Mrs. Fannie Hardin, of Orion, Oakland County. This is a family of unusual longevity, the result of strong and vigorous parentage and quiet, orderly living.

Our subject was 22 years of age when he came to America. His training had fitted him for farm work, and, after two or three years of service in and around Pontiac, in 1854 he purchased his present farm, which at one time consisted of 182 acres, in section 22, Pontiac township. He has retained but forty acres for his own use, selling the remainder to his son William. Mr. Kemp has a beautiful home, the residence being large and convenient, and the grounds attractive and well cultivated. He has long been considered one of the best farmers in the township.

In 1850 Mr. Kemp married Sabina Selms, who was born in Sussex County, England, and died in November, 1898, leaving two children, William and Fannie. The former married Sarah Fetherson and resides in Pontiac, their three children being, — Ida, May and Raymond. Fannie married Frederick Dandison of Pontiac, and they have one son, Maurice. On June 5, 1902, Mr. Kemp married Mrs. Lucy Phillips, who is a daughter of James and Martha (Mortimer) Walter.

Mr. Kemp has been a consistent Democrat all his life, casting his first Presidential vote for Franklin Pierce. For the past three years he has been one of the careful, interested school directors of Pontiac township, and is a man much respected by all who know him.