Hemp Family bio

History of the Hemp Family
written by Mamie Hemp Hoffman

In the village of Heiekafel, in Brandenburg, Germany lived the Hemp ancestors. On the map of Europe, it looks like this locality is 50 miles north of Berlin. Still, 50 miles farther north is the Baltic Sea.
There were Carl, Herman and Wilhelm Hemp and our grandfather, Ludwig Hemp's father was Herman {Christian} Hemp. Our Grandfather also had a sister, Caroline (1822-1883), who married August Bahr.
Ludwig never liked school and ran away from school sometimes, so he was anxious to come to America with his growing family, where there was freedom. Here, children weren't compelled to attend school and the young men didn't have to serve in the Army. He with his 12 year old son, Otto came as far as Jefferson County here in Wisconsin in about 1870. The family arrived later and the children were Fred, age 10; Louisa, 8; Adolph, 6; and Albert (our father) was 4. Ernest was the youngest and Grandmother Hemp passed him off as a breast-baby to save from paying passage for him. Whoever had charge of this on the ship commented, that Uncle Ernest was quite a big breast-baby. He cried alot, while on the ship and our father {Albert} is supposed to have asked one of the men to toss "our Ernest into the water". Uncle Ernest was quick to respond and said in his baby talk, that Albert should be tossed into the water.
They lived at Farmington, in Jefferson County, which I don't think is on the Wisconsin map. They mentioned Johnson's Creek too and that must of been small too. Grandfather Ludwig Hemp worked for well to do farmers there. He was no church-goer, but Grandmother went alone with a Joerster (Foerster?) family, that were catholics. They attended their church, in Jefferson and Grandmother attended a Luthern {Lutheran} Church there. She related an episode of the Foersters {Joersters?} taking a picnic-lunch along to eat after the church services. They had their Pastor bless it before they ate, and they remarked how good it all tasted just because he had blessed it. Grandmother took that with a grain of salt, because she figured the food tasted so good because they were so hungry. They ate breakfast early and then this long trip to Jefferson and long church services. None the less she liked the Foerster {Joerster?} family, and later named her 2 younest sons, Frank and Anton, after the Foerster {Joerster?} boys. Grandfather and Grandmother's oldest son, Otto was confirmed in the Luthern {Lutheran} Church in Jefferson.
About 1872, a daughter, Anna, who later married Gus Grap was born in Jefferson County {Wisconsin}. The family moved moved to a wooded area in Clark County {Wisconsin} about 1874 and in 1875 the son, Frank was born there. They lived in a shanty and Frank was born in July. Grandmother said it was an ordeal to give birth to a baby when it was so hot, and living in a "shanty". The youngest son, Anton was born in February 1877. I figure that the children were school-age, while the family lived in Jefferson County {Wisconsin} attended school there, because Fred, Louisa, and Adolph could read and write. Our Father {Albert} claimed that he attended school about 2 months in all. He could write his name and by himself, learned to read our school books. He got interested in our Country's history through this same channel, and he memorized the names of all our Presidents. He got to be a pretty good accordian player when he was young, but had to go a distance away from the house to sit on a stump to play it. Grandfather Ludwig seemed to have no sympathy with our father's musical efforts, although he himself had been a violin player in his younger days.
Grandfather put up the buildings, while the wooded area was cleared and he, also made furniture like tables and chairs. I remember a rocking chair. He made little vats to catch the sap at maple syrup time. They had so much maple syrup and cornbread, (they raised the corn to eat) that in later years our father couldn't see it for dust.
Eau County {Wisconsin} seemed to be more up and going and Grandfather and his oldest son, Otto went there to work during the wheat harvest. Otto got interested in the vicinity of Augusta {Wisconsin}, and married a nice girl there by the name of Rhoda Howe.
Grandfather was sought after for office, like in the Weston Town Board, and he was treasure of the schoolboard. His sister, Caroline Bahr felt she had an ailment that she wouldn't live very long and wondered where she would be buried. Grandfather saw to it that this hill near Immanuel Luthern {Lutheran} Church became a cemetery.
Some German Luthern {Lutheran} and reformed missionaries had been around holding services in the school, and in homes. On May, 1885, there was a log church building started and Grandfather was helping put it up. It was a hot day and Grandfather came down sick in the evening. Somebody on horseback went for a doctor but Grandfather died, that evening of Cerebral Hemorrage, at the age of 55.
He had been born in 1830 and Grandmother who was Augusta Schell was born in 1833. Their first 3 children died, but there were 9 children after that who grew up.
Going back to the original 3 Hemp men - Herman, Carl and Wilhelm - the latter was the father of Herman Hemp who came to America and moved to Clark Couty {Wisconsin} near what now is Immanuel Lutheran Church. He soon got the urge to go to North Dakota to take up a claim. He took his oldest son Willie with him, also 2 teams of horses to put up wheat. While he was gone, about 3 of his children died of diphtheria. He later took his family with him to live in Wimledon, North Dakota.
Now of the 3 original men - Carl in Germany went to Poland and was never heard of again.
{Correction by Sara Bader Hemp}

Christian Hemp
When a young man (Christian), he moved to Heidenkavel, Kreis Arnswalde, Prov. Bradenburg, Germany. Had 2 brothers: John (came to US at 25 yrs, enlisted in US Army, when quite old was placed in Soldier's Home for the aged in Washington, DC); Gottlieb (nothing known). Christian Hemp was well-to-do, owner of saloon and hotel. Was Treasurer and Mayor of Kreis Arnswalde. While out collecting taxes, he died by the roadside in 1856, at the age of 71. Died of heart trouble. These Hemps once lived in Poland, near the German border, which was colonized at the time by Frederick the Great of Prussia. But were oblige to flee to Germany during the Napoleonic Wars of Europe about 1813 and later, they then settled at Heidekavel, Kreis Arnswalde, Prov. Brandenburg, Germany.
The Village of Heidenkavel, I was informed is not on the map anymore. Was destroyed during the Napoleonic Wars since 1813 AD. written by William G. Hemp, 1-1-1922.

Christian Hemp's Children:

I. Ludwig Hemp
They also came to the US; lived on a farm at Neillsville, Wisconsin. The village of Heidekavel, I was informed is not on the map anymore. Was destroyed during the Napoleonic Wars since 1813 AD. Written by William G. Hemp, 1-1-1922.
See above Hemp History.

Ludwig's children:
A. Otto Hemp
       Came to US with his parents in 1871. Settled at Johnson Creek (Jefferson County), Wisconsin. In 1875, they moved to a farm at Neillsville, Wisconsin. Where he grew to manhood, receiving his public school education after with he engaged in the farming business at Augusta, Wisconsin, where he resides at present. Written by William G. Hemp 1-1-1922.

B. Fredrick "Fred" Hemp
      Immigrating to America in 1871 with his parents. Finally settled with them in Township of Weston, Clark County, Wisconsin where he grew to manhood, recieved his education in the public schools, shared the pleasures, hardship and privation which comes to most all the pioneers of those days.
   Having decided to cast their (Fred and Willamena "Minnie" (Wagner) Wegner} lots together {got married}, they engaged in farming near Neillsville, Wisconsin. Written by William G. Hemp 1-1-1922.

C. Louisa Hemp
       Came to America with her parents and settled in the Township of Weston, Neillsville, Wisconsin, where she grew to womanhood recieved her education in the public schools. After marriage {Louisa and August (Wagner) Wegner}, they engaged in farming near Neillsville, Wisconsin. Written by William G. Hemp 1-1-1922.

D. Adolph Augustus Hemp
       Came to America with his parents in 1871. Settled with parents in Weston Township, Clark County, Wisconsin. There he grew to manhood, receiving his public school education there, after which he took to farming near Greenwood, Wisconsin. written by William G. Hemp 1-1-1922.

E. Albert Hemp
       Came to America with his parents in 1871. There he grew to manhood, sharing all that was in store for the pioneers of those days, recieving a public school education. They {Albert and Anna Dudei} made their home on the old homestead, Neillsville, Wisconsin, where they reside at present. written by William G. Hemp 1-1-1922.

       1. Mayme "Mamie" A. Hemp Hoffman
           Wrote the above Hemp Family History

F. Ernest Hemp
      With his parents, came to America when quite young, settled in the Township of Weston, Clark County, Wisconsin, P.O. Neillsville. Here he grew to manhood, getting his education in the public schools. After their honeymoon {Ernest and Augusta Hagedorn}, they engaged in the farming business near the old homestead. Written by William G. Hemp 1-1-1922.

G. Anna Hemp
      In April 1875, with her parents, she moved to the Township of Weston, Neillsville, Wisconsin, where she grew to womanhood, received her education in the public school. After wedding {Anna and Gustavi E. Grap}, they engage in farming near their old home place (Hemp homestead), where they reside at present. written by William G. Hemp 1-1-1922.

H. Frank P. Hemp
       Born at Neillsville, Wisconsin where he grew to manhood, recieving his education in the public schools, later taking a four years course, in the Lutheran North-Western College at Watertown, Wisconsin, then engaging in the grocery business after completing his college course. Written by William G. Hemp 1-1-1922.

I. Anton "Tony" Hemp
     Never married. Farmed near the old homestead in Township of Weston, Clark County, Wisconsin. "Anton Hemp drank away 80 acres of tree." told by Marvin "Marv" LaVerne Hemp, Court Street, Neillsville, Wisconsin in February 1998.

J, K, and L
    Three Children that died early in their life.

II. William Hemp
William lived at Reier Ort, Prov. Brandenburg, Kreis Arnswalde, Germany. He was quite well-to-do. Owned a small farm, saloon and taxi line. He died at the age of 79. Was the owner of a saloon and hotel besides was in the transportation business. Written by William G. Hemp 1-1-1922.

    A. Herman L. Hemp

         1. William G. Hemp
             William wrote in a letter dated 1-22-1922 that gave me the original Information on the Hemp family. I got a copy from Marvin "Marv" Hemp on Neillsville, Wisconsin. They also gave me a copy of a letter from Mamie (Mayme) Hemp Hoffman writing about the Hemp's. received 12-26-1996.

        2. Albertine Hemp Schoenrock, William's daughter
          After her marriage, she and her husband, Albert Schoenrock suddenly left Reier Ort, destination unknown but surmised they went to South America. written by William G. Hemp, 1-1-1922.

III. Carl Hemp
Little is known as he stayed in Germany. Moved to Wiesenthal, Germany. Written by William G. Hemp, 1-1-1922.

IV. Caroline Hemp
Married August (Augusta) Bahr. Migrated to US; settled on a farm near Neillsville, Wisconsin.

Compiled by Sara Bader Hemp