The Stiever Family

Francis was probably named for his grandparents given the names of his maternal and paternal grandparents. Sponsors were Henry MILLER and Catherine HOSCH. Christened at St. Mary's Church at Lake City, Minnesota. They honeymooned in Chicago. Teh Best Man at the wedding was Albert WALCH. The Bridsmaid was Effie WALCH. When Francis was a child he would help out in his father's store as a clerk. In 1902, he became a senior partner. In 1914, when his father retired, the store became known as Kemp and Roschen. This partnership continued until 1941. He continued to operate the store until his retirement in 1943. He served on the Lake City Board of Education for 18 years and was a charter member of the Wabasha Knights of Columbus and later directed the organization of the Lake City Council where he served for fourteen years as Grand Knight. He helped organize the Lake Pepin Valley Historical Society and played clarinet in the Lake City Band. He was in the Independent Order of Red Men and on the Lake City Charter Commission. His main hobby was collecting coins and he a very large collection and was sought out by other collectors for advice. Francis and Esther WALCH met on the Nicholas WALCH farm at Oak Ridge Twp., in Winona County. Francis was there visiting his Aunt Clara (KEMP) WALCH, sister of his father and Esther was visiting from Detroit to see her Uncle Nicholas WALCH, brother of her father. During most of their married life the Francis and Esther lived at 217 South Oak St. <u>HISTORY OF WABASHA COUNTY, MINNESOTA</u> Compiled by Franklyn Curtiss-Wedge and Others Published Winona, MN by H. C. Cooper, Jr., & Co., 1920 Republished Currently by Higginson Books Kemp, Francis H. (page 513), a prosperous business man of Lake City, senior member of the firm of Kemp & Roschen, general merchants of Lake City, was born in the city where he still lives, June 3, 1897, son of Michael H. and Anna (Hosch) Kemp. He passed through the graded schools of Lake City and graduated from the Lake City high school in 1894. As a boy he helped in his father's store during this spare moments and during vacation time, and upon graduation he became associated with his father as clerk, and in 1902 at the reorganization of the firm he became senior partner in the company of Kemp, Roschen & Co., which since 1914 has been Kemp & Roschen. The company does a large business, and handles dry goods, men's and women's furnishings, groceries, crockery, flour, produce and provisions. In addition to building up a successful business, Mr. Kemp has been active in civic, fraternal and social affairs. In politics he is an independent Democrat. Since 1907 he has been clerk of the Lake City Board of Educations, and in this capacity has done most efficient work. When the Knights of Columbus were organized at Wabasha he became a charter member, and later he helped to organize the Lake City Council, of which he is now the Grand Knight. He is also a member of the Independent Order of Red Men at Lake City. Mr. Kemp was married January 26, 1905, to Esther Walch, who was born in Detroit, Mich., March 25, 1880, daughter of Nicholas and Margaret Walch of that city. This union has been blessed with three children: Paul C., born March 11, 1907; William J., born February 9, 1912; and Margaret E., born January 26, 1916. The family home is a pleasant residence at 217 South Oak street. Mr. Kemp and his family are members of St. Mary's Roman Catholic church. Cause of death was not listed on the Death Certificate. Newspaper obituary only said....after an illness of one week. Catherine KEMP recalls that he died of pnuemonia. Buried in St. Mary's Cemetery - Section C, Lot 40, Plot 1.