Description
A matted portrait of Joseph Kimbal Hemphill. The writing on the bottom right hand corner reads "Townsend 22 Clinton Street, Iowa City, IA," indicating the photo was taken by Timothy (Theo) Wesley Townsend, a photographer who owned a studio in Iowa City (Langdon & Langdon).
Hemphill was born in Oneida County, New York on November 16, 1823 to Robert and Lucy (Kimbal) Hemphill. As a young man, he pioneered his way to Johnson County by skiff, steamer, and walking, arriving on July 12, 1845.
After joining the California Gold Rush in 1850, he returned to Johnson County and married Mary Ellen Ward on August 14, 1853. They owned 160 acres of land northwest of Clarksville (Coralville) and purchased additional property in 1875. Hemphill served on the board of trustees of the West Lucas Township and the school board. He was survived after his death on January 23, 1904 by Mary Ellen and their seven children (Lovetinsky et al., p. 105-106).