Obit: Hemp, Fred (1860 - 1937)

Contact:  Crystal Wendt

Surnames: Hemp, Wagner, Jahr, Grap, Kluhsman, Nemitz, Miller, Naedler, Foemmel, Pflughoeft, Gerhardt, Lemple, Kearney, Bethe, Hagedorn, Fitch, Grinde, Darling, Heise, Van Syckle, Pierson, Dhalstrom, Helbing, Johnson, Blum

----Sources: Neillsville Press (Neillsville, Clark County, Wis.) 28 Oct. 1937

Hemp, Fred (9 Sept. 1860 - 21 Oct. 1937)

Fred Hemp, 76, one of the best known and most highly respected pioneers of this community, died suddenly last Thursday at the home of his son, William P. Hemp, city clerk, with whom he had been making his home the past five years. Mr. Hemp had been in apparently excellent health and working about the lawn and garden as usual when he was suddenly stricken. His death came as a great shock to relatives and friends.

Fred Hemp was born at Heidekavel, Brandenburg, Germany, Sept. 9, 1860. When a boy 11 years of age, he came with his parents to Jefferson County, Wisconsin. In 1875, the family moved north to Clark County and settled in the town of Weston, where Mr. Hemp grew to manhood, helping clear the home farm and working in lumber camps.

April 12, 1871, he was united in marriage with Miss Minna Wagner of Pine Valley and immediately thereafter settled on a farm in that town, later known as the Mound Park farm. This place he continued to improve making it into a beautiful farm home.

In 1905 he sold the farm and was in business for several years in Neillsville but for some time has been retired.

Six year ago, Mrs. Hemp preceded him in death, and after remaining part of a year in the old home, he went to live with his son, Wm. P. Hemp, and family, where he made his home until his death.

Mr. Hemp had a wide circle of friends; he had a rare talent for friendliness and doing kindly things. In later years, after the more strenuous time of his life was past, he did a great deal of reading and took a keen interest in the affairs of the world and the community. He was a charter member of St. John’s Lutheran "Men’s Gathering" and was long active in its work.

Mr. Hemp is survived by one son, Wm. P. Hemp, and one daughter, Mrs. Helen Jahr. A son, Louis, died two years ago, and a daughter, Elsie, died in infancy. He leaves also a three grandchildren; four brothers, Otto Hemp and Frank Hemp, Neillsville, and Anton Hemp, town of Weston; also one sister, Mrs. (blurred) Grap, town of Seif.

The funeral was held Sunday afternoon with German services at the home and English services at St. John’s Lutheran [a section is missing here, do to being cut off.] officiating. A duet was sung by Paul Blum and Mrs. F. W. Kluhsman.

The pallbearers were Wm. Nemitz, Ed. Miller, Wm. Naedler, Wm. Foemmel, Ferd. Pflughoeft, and Wm. Gerhardt.

From out of town attending the funeral was Otto Hemp, Augusta, Mrs. Erna Lempke, Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Grap, Viola Grap, Billy Hemp, Mary Kearney, and Henry Betha, all of Milwaukee; Theodora Hemp, Menominee Falls; Evelyn Hagedorn, Milwaukee; Mr. and Mrs. Roy Fitch, Madison.

Mrs. Joe Grinde, Madison; Mr. and Mrs. H. F. Darling, Eau Claire, Mr. and Mrs. A. W. Kearney and family, Mr. and Mrs. Ray Heise, Mr. and Mrs. C. D. Van Syckle, Mr. and Mrs. Ed. Pierson, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Dahlstrom, Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Helbling, all of Merrillan; Miss Lulu Johnson of Black River Falls.