This biography appears in
"History of Washington and Ozaukee Counties, Wisconsin"
Western Historical Co., 1881
N. KEMP, firm of Kemp & Co., Port Washington; is a native of Luxemburg, Germany;
born Dec. 20, 1827; received a common-school education; learned the blacksmith
trade, and, in 1846, emigrated to America, and first settled in Kenosha Co.,
where he worked one year on a farm at $8 per month, then chopped wood at 25
cents per cord; worked at his trade. In 1849, helped operate the first
eight-horse power threshing-machines in Dane Co. In March, 1850, he went across
the plains to California, where he remained about eighteen months, and then
returned to Kenosha Co. Sept. 22 was married to Miss Susan Kass, a native of
Luxemberg, Germany, and soon afterward removed to Jackson Co., Iowa; purchased
land and followed farming until 1856, when he again returned to Kenosha, and
purchased a farm. In 1858, in partnership with John Deiderich, he engaged in a
general mercantile business, which they carried on at Kenosha until 1860; they
then removed to Port Washington, and continued the same until 1866, at which
time Mr. D. sold his interest to Nicholas Poull, and the business was continued
under the firm name of Kemp & Poull until 1870; the firm then built a malt house
and ran the same until 1873, at which time Mr. Kemp purchased his partner's
interest, and continued the business alone until fall, when he took in William
H. Ramsey as a partner. He is married and has seven children - Elizabeth,
Barbara, Kate, Mary, John, Melchur and Michael. Mr. Kemp and family are members
of the Roman Catholic Church.