History of Texas, Together with a Biographical History of Milam, Williamson, Bastrop, Travis, Lee and Burleson Counties. Page: 330

330 HISTORY OF TEXAS.

to Travis county, and his death occurred at
the latter place in 1881. He was a farmer
by occupation, a Democrat in his political
views, and a member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, in which he was Class-leader
and Steward. During the late war he
served in the State militia. William H.
Kemp was a son of Barnett Kemp, who
was a native of North Carolina, whence he
moved to Tennesgee. The Kemp family
came to America from Ireland. The m1other
of our subject, nee Nancy Brazier, was
a native of North Carolina, a daughter of
James and Polly (Smith) Brazier, natives
also of that State. Mrs. Kemp moved to
Tennessee when a child, and her death occurred
in Travis county, Texa-, in 1892.
She was buried with her husband at Merrilltown.
Mr. and Mrs. Kemp were married
in Tennessee, in 1832, and were the
parents of eight children, namely: James
B., the subject of this sketch; Robert, deceased;
Mary Lonui-e, wife of J. M. Smith,
of Merrilltown; Wilson, deceased; Sarah,
wife of A. J. Ford, of Brown county,
Texas; Nancy C., now Mrs. A. Weber;
Thomas L., a resident of Louisiana; and
Abijah G., a merchant of Merrilltown.
James E. Kemp, our subject, was born
in Tennessee, in 1833. He was apprenticed
to the blacksmith's trade in 1847,
where he continued until some years after
the late war, and in 1855 came to Texas.
lie went by railroad from Normandy to
Nashville, thence by water to New Orleans
and Galveston, and next by wagon to Port
Lavaca and Austin. lie worked at his trade
at the latter place two years, and then, in connection
with farming, followed the same occupation
in Fayette county. May 12, 1 69, Mr.
Kemp settled where his widow nob resides.
He began life for himself at the age of seven

teen, with no assistance, and on landing in
Texas his possessions consisted of about $50.
At his death, December 27, 1881, he owned
250 acres of good land. His widow still has
155 acres, 50 acres of which is under a fine
state of cultivation. During the late war
Mr. Kemp enlisted in Company B, Wall's
legion, and served as Captain until the close
of the struggle. He was captured at Vicksburg,
paroled and sent home, then worked
for a time in the Government blacksmith
shops at Austin and atter the war returned
to Fayette county.
In 1854 our subject was united in marriage
with Miss Eliza S. Woodward, who was
born in Franklin county, Tennessee, in 1833,
a daughter of Josiah B. and Nancy (Kitchens)
Woodward, natives of Tennessee and
North Carolina, respectively. The father
was a farmer by occupation, and both he
and his wife were members of the Methodist
Episcopal Church. The mother died in
Mason county, Texas, in 1886, and the fatiler
still resides in that county. Mr. Woodward
was a son of Marion and Jane (Brandon)
Woodward, natives of Tennessee. Mr. and
Mrs. Josiah B. Woodward were married in
1829, and were the parents of eight children,
viz.: Marion, deceased; Martha Jane, who
married J. H. Kitchens, who died while serving
in the Confederate army, and she is now
the widow of Frank Harmon, and a resident
of Mason county; Eleanor E. married H. P.
Strambler, and both are now deceased, the
latter dying in the Confederate army; Eliza
S., wife of our subject; Mary L., who first
married C. B. King, and after his death,
in 1858, she married Adam Thomas, of
Lee county, Texas; Rebecca, widow of F.
King, who died while serving in the Confederate
army; Samuel K., a resident of California;.
and Nancy Amanda, wife of Marion

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RISORYOF TXS