Lexington High School Class of 1889
(September 2009)
While looking for an article to write for this month, I came across a folder in our files marked “Would You Believe” out of curiosity I sat down and started to read them. This one seemed so different that now you will have an opportunity to read it for yourself. I hope you enjoy it as much as I have.
Whole Class of Lexington H. S., “89,
Married Same Day, by One Minister
(by staff Correspondent.)
Newspaper and date unknown
Lexington, Sept. 30. --- Just a few years ago, class parties in Lexington high school were exclusive affairs: particularly was this true of the class of “89. Reunions of the class were held often and the remarkable thing is that the members held each other in such high regard that they decided they would all marry on the same day.
Sounds almost impossible, doesn’t it? But it’s easy.
It was this way. Elizabeth Dawson and J. J. Kemp were valedictorian and salutatorian. They also held the highest and the lowest averages for the four years. Still sounds impossible, doesn’t it. Wait.
In order that the class should never be separated, one member of the class picked out another and married. Sounds foolish, but it was real romance. One member was chosen for the job and he married the whole class. They lived all together and happily ever after, just like a story book. And it’s all true.
But Elizabeth Dawson and Mr. Kemp were the only members of that graduating class that year, and they afterward married.
Friends of the two poke fun at them now. Some of the younger generation delight in wondering whether the class parties were well chaperoned then. Class parties were “twosomes.” Those were blissful parties tho. Happy days they were. Memories of that class are for one household only.
Perhaps nowhere in Illinois is there a parallel case.
Here is an article from the Lexington Paper when the couple married.
Friday, October 23, 1896
KEMP --- DAWSON
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 1896, at 11:30 o’clock a.m., John J. Kemp, Jr., and Miss Elizabeth Dawson were united in matrimony at the home of the bride, Mr. and Mrs. John B. Dawson, the Rev. C. W. Ayling of the M. E. church officiating.
An elaborate wedding dinner was served to about ninety guests at 12 o’clock noon. At 5:25 the happy couple departed for Chicago where they will visit with relatives.
The bride is the cultured daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. B. Dawson, and the groom an active young grain buyer who operates with his father, J. J. Kemp, the large land owner and grain merchant.
The Unit voices the congratulations and happiest wishes for the young wedding pair.
Another wedding announcement unknown paper and date.
--Yesterday (Wednesday) morning at 11:30 at the home of the bride’s parents in Lexington, occurred the marriage of Miss Elizabeth Dawson to Mr. John J. Kemp, both of Lexington, by Rev. C. W. Ayling, pastor of the M. E. church of that city. The bride was attired in a blue traveling suit and carried a large and beautiful bouquet of white roses, while the groom was dressed in the conventional black. Many beautiful presents were received by the bride and groom.
The newly married couple will spend about ten days or two weeks on a wedding trip, during which they will visit Canton, O., and other eastern cities.
About 100 guests were present, among whom were Misses Lottie Probasco and Grace Loudon and Mrs. Homer Hall of this city
Here are the obits for John Jackson and Elizabeth (Dawson) Kemp.
Lexington Newspaper, November 3 1938
J. J. KEMP SUMMONED AT HOME HERE, FUNERAL TUESDAY AFTERNOON
Lexington lost one of her most prominent and best known citizens in the death of J. J. Kemp, who passed away at his home here at 3:30 a. m. Sunday, Oct. 30, 1938. He had suffered a stroke eight weeks ago.
John Jackson Kemp was born in Lexington Dec. 24, 1867, a son of John Jackson and Nancy Biggs Kemp. He graduated from Lexington high school and Wesleyan university.
On Oct. 21, 1896 he was united in marriage to Miss Elizabeth Dawson of Lexington.
Surviving are his wife, a son Glenn and two grandchildren John Jackson and George Parker Kemp. A son, J. Kenneth preceded him in death in December 1931. Two sisters, Mrs. C. A. VanPelt of Bloomington and Mrs. Dorothy Williams of Los Angeles, Calif., and a brother Edwin Kemp of Chicago, also survive.
Mr. Kemp spent his entire life in Lexington, with the exception of four years in Bloomington. He was a member of the Methodist church and of the Masonic lodge. He established the Kemp Grain Co., but in the last year he had retired from active duties. He had been president of the Peoples Bank of Lexington since 1913. He was also president of the Finance Reserve Co. of Chicago and the Rogers Grain Co. of Chicago. Mr. Kemp held many positions in the civic life of Lexington having served on the library board, the school board and the city council.
Funeral services were held from the Methodist Episcopal church at 2:30 p. m. Tuesday, conducted by the pastor of the church, the Rev. F. W. Payne. Organ music was furnished by Lewis Magill. Pall bearers were Charles Beach, Bertram Haushalter, Wm. A. McCully, L. H. Botkin, Henry Winterland and Henry Lindenbaum. Entombment was in the Kemp mausoleum in the Lexington cemetery.
Relatives from away who attended the funeral services were Mr. and Mrs. Charles Van Pelt, Mr. and Mrs. C. K. Ream and A. J. Smith of Bloomington, Edwin Kemp and Mrs. Genevieve Kemp of Chicago.
Lexington Newspapers, Thursday, November 23, 1939
MRS. J. J. KEMP CALLED TUESDAY NIGHT AFTER LONG ILLNESS
Mrs. Elizabeth D. Kemp, 69, a lifelong resident of Lexington, died at her home in this city at 12:30 a. m. Tuesday, Nov. 21, 1939, following a year's illness.
She was born Jan. 15, 1870 in Lexington, the daughter of John and Belle Dawson. She attended the Lexington Schools and Illinois Wesleyan university where she was a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority. She married to John Jackson Kemp, Oct. 21, 1896. He preceded her in death in 1938.
Mr. and Mrs. Kemp were the parents of two sons, J. Kenneth Kemp who died in 1931, and Glenn Kemp of Lexington. Surviving are the son, Glenn; two grandsons, John Jackson and George Parker Kemp, both of Lexington; her mother, Mrs. J. B. Dawson; a brother, Walter D. Dawson or Redfield, S. D.
Mrs. Kemp was prominent in all of the worthwhile activities of Lexington, giving freely of her time and many talents to the furtherance of every important cause. She was a member of the Methodist church, the M. E. Study club, and the Woman's Guild. She was also a member of the Lexington Woman's club. She had many warm and cherished friends who, together with her family, deeply mourn her passing.
Funeral services were held at 3 p. m. Wednesday at the Methodist church, the pastor, the Rev. F. W. Payne officiating. The Rev. James Elliott assisted. Burial was in the Lexington cemetery.
Here is a small sample of John Jackson & Elizabeth (Dawson) Kemp’s family tree.