Patience (Bryant) Kemper was an early settler in Muncie, Delaware County, Indiana. She and her husband Arthur had eleven children. Among them was son General William Harrison Kemper, a prominent local physician, Civil War veteran, and editor of A 20th Century History of Delaware County. Two of her daughters, Zerelda and Sarah both married Thomas S Walterhouse, a well-known Indiana attorney. Mrs Kemper passed away on Oct. 30, 1881. This sketch appeared in the Muncie (Indiana) Daily News the following day.
GONE TO THE HOME BEYOND THE SKIES
Death of Mrs. Patience Kemper-A Brief Sketch of Her Life
At one O'clock Sunday morning Mrs. Kemper died at the residence of her daughter, Mrs. Robert Cones, after having lived the life of a good and faithful christian, a tender and devoted wife, and a kind and loving mother. Her funeral took place this afternoon from the residence of her son, Dr. G.W.H. Kemper. The services were conducted by Rev. F.T. Simson, paster of the M.E. Church.
Her children living in this city and county are Dr. G.W.H. Kemper, Mrs T.S. Walterhouse, Mrs. Robert Cones, and Mrs. Ardery. She has two sons, living far from here-one in Florida and one in Iowa; also a daughter, Mrs. N. Gillam, living at Hartford City. All her children, except her two sons last spoken of, attended the funeral.
The following sketch of her life was read by Rev. Mr. Simpson in connection with the semon: Patience Kemper was born in Garrad County, Ky., Feb. 9, 1802, and died in the city of Muncie, Oct. 30, 1881, having reached the advance age of 79 years, 8 months, and 21 days.
Her maiden name was Bryant, and she was married to Arthur Smith Kemper on the 21st day of January, 1818. to this pair were born eleven children. Three sons and five daughters still survive. The husband and father died on the 31st of August, 1849, since which date the subject of this sketch remained a widow.
In the year 1834 the family then consisting of husband, wife and seven children removed from Kentucky, and arrived in Rush county, Indiana, on the 10th of October. In that vicinity Mrs. Kemper resided for almost twenty-three years. After visiting her children in different localities she finally took up her permanent abode in Muncie, in 1859, from which date to the time of her death she was seldom absent from this county.
In early life she united with the Baptist Church and remained a communicant of that body until the removal to Indiana, when, finding not organization of that denomination in the vicinity, she cast her lot with the Methodist Episcopal Church, where she made her home to the day of her death. She was no religious bigot but loved all christians. Her children were her only jewels and she loved them with all the affection that can be measured by a mother's love. She was ever ready to suffer, to labor or sacrifice for their comfort and welfare, and in their presence she derived great happiness. She loved the religion of the Lord Jesus Christ and loved to talk about it and the anticipations of a home in Heaven. With her Religion and Heaven were facts that doubts never obscured. Shortly before her death while all the children but two sons were present, the question was asked her, What messages she had for John and Jefferson, and the ready response came: "Tell them I die in the triumphs of a living faith." Thus she died as she had lived-a practical christian, "coming to her grave in a full age, like as a shock of corn cometh in its season."
Originally published 7/15/2013
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