In 1833, he married twenty-nine year old Maria A. Hillman. On June 6, 1834, she gave birth to a son, Gerhard Heinrich Kempker.
Somewhere near the end of September of 1835, Johan Heinrich, along with his second wife Maria Anna Hillman Kempker, his four year old daughter Maria Anna and one year old son Gerhard Heinrich, he boarded the Brig Colonia for a voyage across the Atlantic, arriving at the port of New York on October 14, 1835.
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| Page one of the Colonia passenger list showing the ship name, captain and date |
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| Page two of the Colonia passenger list showing Johann Heinrich Kempker and family |
His second wife died on an unknown date. In 1837 he married forty-five year old Mary A. Sands.
On Thursday, October 12, 1843 John Henry Kempker appeared before a District Judge in northern Lee County, Iowa, swore an oath of allegiance to the United States of America and became a citizen of the United States.
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| The bottom entry of this page is the court record showing John Henry Kempker appeared before the court, swore and oath and became a citizen of the United States. |
In 1848, his third wife died of unknown causes.
On June 5, 1852, his daughter Maria Anna married Joseph A. Harmeyer in Lee County, Iowa.
In May 1857, his son Gerhard Heinrich married Maria Gertrude Menke in St. Paul, Lee County, Iowa.
Between 1852 and 1870, his children produced thirteen grandchildren for him, five of which died before reaching the age of four years. My great-grandmother, Mary Harmeyer was one of the thirteen.
On March 20, 1872 in St. Paul, Lee County, Iowa, Johann Heinrich Kempker died. He was buried in St. James Cemetery in St. Paul.
--Matt
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