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Kinyon Digital Library

History of Adair
County, Iowa, 1915.

Biographical.  Volume 2.

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John W. Hemphill.

Two hundred and forty acres of fine land on section 18, Prussia township, pays tribute to the care and cultivation which its owner, John W. Hemphill, bestows upon it, and its excellent condition testifies to his energy and good management.  He was born in Pike county, Missouri, February 29, 1872, of the marriage of James and Mary (Humphrey) Hemphill, an accout of whose lives appears in the sketch of O. H. Hemphill.

Our subject passed the days of his boyhood and youth in Jasper, Cass and Adair counties, Iowa.  His parents removed to Jasper county in a very early day, subsequently took up their residence in Cass county and came to this county in 1885.  Mr. Hemphill of this review remained under the parental roof until he attained his majority and then began his independent career by renting land in Eureka and Prussia townships.  He farmed land belonging to others for about twelve years but in the meantime carefully saved his money with the aim of eventually purchasing land.  At length he bought two hundred and twenty-five acres in Jackson township at ninety dollars per acre and two years later sold the farm for one hundred and twenty-five dollars per acre.  He then purchased his present place, which comprises two hundred and forty acres on section 18, Prussia township, and he has since concentrated his energies upon the development of his farm.  He grows the usual crops but also raises thoroughbred Duroc-Jersey hogs and high grade Aberdeen Angus cattle.  Both his farming and stock-raising interests are well managed and both yield him a good profit.

Mr. Hemphill was married on the 25th of November, 1903, to Miss Ella Giles, a daughter of John and Mary (Lehman) Giles, natives respectively of Henry county, Illinois, and of Germany.  They removed to Adair county about 1880, and the father who was a farmer by occupation, purchased land in Walnut township, which he improved and operated until his failing health compelled him to retire from active life.  He died on the 24th of July, 1914.  His widow is now living in Canby, Iowa.  The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Hemphill passed away during the Civil war in Andersonville prison.  She received a good education, attending the Earlham Academy, and was for some time a teacher in the rural schools of Adair county.  Mr. and Mrs. Hemphill hae three children:  Bernard LeRoy, ten years of age;  Donald Wayne, six years old;  and Hilma Leone, an infant.

Mr. Hemphill supports the republican party at the polls and in religious faith adheres to the Friends church.  He is enterprising and progressive and the gratifying measure of success which he has gained is well deserved.  His conduct has always measured up to high standards of morality and his circle of friends is almost coextensive with that of his acquaintances.

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