| General William Harrison Kemper, M.D. | |
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| Dr Kemper was born in Rush county, Ind, on the 16th day of December, 1839. His parents, Arthur and Patience (Bryant) Kemper, were natives of Garrard county, Ky, and were of German descent. The early life of their son was not unlike that of the majority of farmers' boys. His father died in 1849 and at the age of ten years he began the battle of life for himself. The next seven years, his time was employed in working on his mother's farm during the summer and attending the district school during the winter. In 1856 he removed to Montezuma, Iowa, and spent a year as a clerk in a dry goods store. An opportunity presenting, he accepted employment in a printing office, which he eagerly embraced, stimulated a desire for more and in the early winter of 1859 he removed to Greensburg, Ind, and entered the City Seminary. Here his studies were industriously pursued until January, 1861. A desire for the study of medicine had been cherished for some time and at the age of twenty-one he entered upon the study of this profession in the office of John W Moody. M D. He had progressed but a few weeks with his studies when the tocsin of war sounded and the President called for volunteers in words which appealed to the patriotism of every American citizen. Young, strong and full of enthusiasm he responded promptly and enlisted as a private soldier in Company B, Seventh Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry on the 24th of April 1861. This was the first company to enter service from Decatur county. While serving as a private in this company he participated in the battles of Philippi, Laurel Hill, and Carrick's Ford, West Virginia. At the expiration of this term of enlistment-three months-he re-enlisted and was appointed Hospital Steward of the Seventeenth Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry and was mustered as such on the 25th day of September 1861. From this position he was promoted to that of Assistant Surgeon of the same regiment on the 20th of February, 1863. With this regiment he participated in the battles of Hoover's Gap, Tenn; Chattanooga, Tenn; Rock Springs, Ga; Chickamauga, Ga; McMinnville, Tenn; Farmington, Tenn; Missionary Ridge, Tenn; Cleveland, Tenn; the siege of Knoxville, Tenn; Dallas, Ga; Big Shanty, Ga; Noonday Creek, Ga; Kenesaw Mountain, Ga; and the battle before Atlanta, Ga. He was honorably discharged at the expiration of his term of service on the 27th day of July 1864. Having during his service gained large practical experience, he returned to private life, resolved to complete the theoretical part of his education; and accordingly in the winter of 1864-65 he attended a course of medical lectures at the University of Michigan. In the following spring, he went to Brooklyn, N Y, and attended a second course of lectures at Long Island College Hospital, where he graduated in June 1865. He then located to Muncie where he has ever since been engaged in the practice of his profession. On the 15th of August 1865 he was united in marriage to Miss Hattie, daughter of William Kemper, Esq, of Oskaloosa, Iowa. They were the parents of three children-Georgetta Moodey, Arthur Thomson and William Winton Kemper. In 1872 he formed a copartnership with Dr Robert Winton, a successful physician of Muncie which continued until 1882. He is a member of the Delaware county (Ind) Medical Society, president, 1879; of the Delaware District Medical Society; of the Indiana State Medical Society of which he was treasurer from 1879 to 1885 inclusive and president in 1886-'87; a member of the American Medical Association; of the Mississippi Valley Medical Association; of the National Association of Railway Surgeons; of the American Public Health Association; of the Grand Army of the Republic; of the Military Order of the Loyal Legion; a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and Superintendent of its Sunday school. He is a strict temperance man and a zealous laborer in the temperance cause. In politics he is an ardent Republican. Dr Kemper was assistant to the chair of obstetrics and diseases of women, Central College of Physicians and Surgeons,Indianapolis Ind, during the session of 1875-'76; has been a member and secretary of the board or trustees of the Medical College of Indiana, Indianapolis, since 1890; was coroner of Delaware county, Ind, 1870-'75; and U S examining surgeon for pensions from May 1872 to July 1893 (out two years for political reasons). The life of Dr Kemper is an example worthy of imitation by the young men showing the position in society and success attainable by those who are guided by correct principles, united to industry and perseverance. In 1882, Dr Kemper built one of the best and most convenient office buildings in the State located at No 112 west Adams street on the same lot with his dwelling. The rooms are convenient and commodious. In March 1889 a copartnership was formed with Dr Hugh A Cowing and the business has since been conducted as the firm of Kemper & Cowing. The Doctor has a fine collection of relics and fossils and has them nicely arranged in his reception rooms in the office building. | |
November 10, 1896 |