Obit: Hemphill, Mary D. (1864 - 1958)

Contact: Dolores Mohr Kenyon

Email: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 
 

Surnames: Hemphill, Curtiss, Dewhurst, Rodolf, Sollberger, Ruchaber, North, Brown, Hubing, Parry, Campman, Jackson, Knutsen 
 

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI.) January 16, 1958 
 

Hemphill, Mary D. (3 January 1864 - 12 January 1958) 
 

An important tie to the early development of Neillsville and Clark County was broken here January 12, with the death of Mrs. Mary Dewhurst Hemphill, at the age of 94. 
 

A lifelong resident of the community, she was little-known among those who have made Neillsville their home in recent years; but she represented two of the families which played an important part in the earlier life and development of the area. 
 

She had been in failing health for many years, and never left her beautiful, rambling home on top of the Hewett Street hill.  The house, however, was a landmark for more recent-comers, as well as an object of interest and inquiry for many travelers who daily passed on busy Highway 10. 
 

Mrs. Hemphill was born January 3, 1864, a year before the close of the Civil War.  She was the daughter of Richard Dewhurst, the founder of the Neillsville Bank, and Maira S. (Curtiss) Dewhurst.  Her marriage to the late Wallace L. Hemphill, one of Neillsville’s early leaders; brought together two of the important families of the County on June 10, 1889. 
 

Her father, who served in the Wisconsin assembly, and as a register of deeds for Clark County, engaged in extensive lumbering operations in the area; and along with his business activities, he found time to serve on two occasions as county judge, and to an unexpired term as County treasurer. His death on October 13, 1895, "removed from life’s scenes one of Clark County’s most useful and distinguished citizens," to quote the "History of Clark County" complied by Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge, and published in 1918. 
 

Mrs. Hemphill’s husband also was closely identified with the lumbering industry in Clark County; starting in the business with the John Paul Lumber Company, which had large operations in "Clark County in those early days, Mr. Hemphill purchased the Neillsville mills, and operated them for nine years. 
 

He became identified with the financial progress of the community in 1892, when he became a stockholder in the Neillsville Bank.  He became vice president and president, successively, of that institution; and also was a stockholder of banks in Cadott and Marshfield. 
 

Mrs. Hemphill, also, served for many years as president of the bank founded by her father and later successfully steered through financial shoals of the times by her husband.  She was succeeded to that position by the present head, Herman North. 
 

Surviving Mrs. Hemphill is a daughter, Mrs. Frances Rodolf. A resident of Tulsa, Okla., Mrs. Rodolf has spent most of her time here in recent years in the care of her mother.  Also surviving are three grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren. 
 

Christian Science services were held Monday from the Georgas Funeral Home, with Mrs. Albert Sollberger as the reader.  Burial was made in the Neillsville City Cemetery.   
 

Pallbearers were: William Ruchaber, Gust O. North, Walter Brown, Charles Hubing, David Parry, Wm. A. Campman and Leo Jackson of King. 
 

Out of town people attending included: Mrs. Frances Rodolf and John Rudolf of Tulsa, Okla.; Mr. and Mrs. Leo Jackson, King; and Mrs. R. S. Knutsen and Mrs. William (ink blotch) of Greenwood.