Sedgwick County KSGenWeb

Portrait And Biographical Album of Sedgwick County, Kan.

Chapman Brothers 1888

Pages 323 - 324

HENRY J. HAMPSON, a prominent farmer and stock-raiser, residing on section 15, in Grant Township, was born in Ross County, Ohio, April 8, 1829. He is the second child in a family of eleven born to his parents, James and Christiana (Peppers) Hampson, natives of Pennsylvania and Maryland respectively. James Hampson was a farmer by occupation, and followed that vocation in Ohio until 1837, when he removed to Illinois and settled in Tazewell County. He was one of the pioneers of that portion of the Prairie State, and was prominently identified with its early history. Peacefully engaged in agricultural pursuits, he remained in that county until his death, which took place March 8, 1874, when he had reached the age of sixty-five years. His widow survived him until Feb. 28, 1887, when she too was called to her heavenly home, having lived five years more than the allotted threescore years and ten.

     The subject of this sketch was reared upon his father's farm, receiving his education in the district schools of Illinois, and was early initiated into the work attendant on agricultural pursuits, and assisted his father on the old homestead. He was united in marriage with Miss Nancy Haines, Oct. 14, 1850, in Tazewell County. His wife is a native of Licking County, Ohio, and was born Feb. 13, 1833. She is the youngest of a family of three children, in the home of her parents, John and Nancy (Larramore) Haines, natives of Virginia. After his marriage our subject settled on a farm in Tazewell County, where he remained until February, 1876, when, with a view to improving his fortunes, he came to Kansas and settled in Grant Township, where he now lives. He purchased 240 acres of railroad land, which was then raw prairie, and commenced at once its improvement. He has brought it all under a state of high cultivation, and it is all thoroughly fenced and well stocked with graded Norman and Percheron horses, Durham cattle and Poland-China hogs. His house, barns and other buildings are neat, tasty and commodious, and the whole place manifests the prosperity of the owner.

     A Democrat, politically, Mr. Hampson, although not very active in the interests of his party, has still held the offices of Road Overseer and Clerk of the School Board. His estimable wife is a consistent member of the Baptist Church, and a true and sincere Christian woman. She is the mother of a family of ten children, eight of whom survive, as follows: John C., who is married and lives in Emporia, Kan.; James A., who lives with his wife on a farm near by; Gertrude; Clara B., Mrs. William Smith, lives in the neighborhood; Christina; Minnie, who is living in Emporia; Henry Edgar and Cora. The other two children died in infancy. Mr. Hampson's younger children are attending school, it being the intention of their father to give them all the facilities for acquiring a good education.

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