HENRY KEMPLE
BIOGRAPHY
History of the Upper Ohio Valley
Brant & Fuller, 1890; Vol. II, page 591.
HENRY C. KEMPLE, a prominent citizen of Bellaire, and one of the most expert
dentists in Belmont county, first saw the light of day in Wheeling, W. Va.,
November 11, 1844. He is the son of Charles and Eliza (Hukill) Kemple,
natives of the states of New Jersey and Pennsylvania, respectively. Charles
is the son of Jacob Kemple, who was born in New Jersey, and came to Virginia
about 1820, locating at Wheeling, where he was a cooper. He died near Wheeling
about 1867 or 1868. Five of the ten children born to him are still living.
The wife died in 1840. Charles Kemple was born in the year 1811. Having
received a limited education before coming from New Jersey when still young
he began to work with his father at coopering. Working at his trade until
1845, when he turned his attention to farming, and was engaged in this
occupation at the time of his death. His marriage to the mother of the
subject of this biography took place in 1830, and nine children, six of whom
are now living, was the result of this union. The mother is still living,
having reached the advanced age of eighty years. Henry C. Kemple acquired
his early education in the schools of Marshall county, W. Va., afterward
finishing at the university at West Liberty. In 1858 he was apprenticed to
Hout & Taylor, machinists, and was employed in this vocation when the war
broke out. He enlisted in May, 1861, in the First Virginia regiment, Company
H. Remaining with this regiment during the ninety days they enlisted for,
at the expiration of which time he re-enlisted for the remainder of the war
in Company K, same regiment. Mr. Kemple was in ten important battles during
the war, including the battles of Winchester, Bull Run, Cedar Mountain, and
was taken captive in one battle and was held a prisoner for five months,
during which time he was confined in different rebel prisons, among them
being the famous Andersonville. He was exchanged in November, 1864 and
served his country until the close of the war. After the war he returned to
Wheeling, and engaged in milling, but afterward took up the study of dentistry
with Dr. J. M. Surgison, of Wheeling. In 1871 he entered the Philadelphia
medical college. Dr. Kemple first practiced at Clarington, Ohio but in 1887
came to Bellaire. December 28, 1863 he married Lottie B. King, by whom he
has had four children: Minnie A., Fred C., Nellie and Rhea. He is a Mason,
a member of the G. A. R., and Knights of Pythias, and is an active republican.
