BENJAMIN FRANKLIN KEMP, owner of eighty acres of well improved farm land in Lost Creek Township, is one of the representative men of this section of Miami County. He was born July 1, 1847, on the old Kemp homestead farm situated just across the road from his own property, in Lost Creek Township, Miami County, Ohio, and is a son of Hiram and Margaret (Moore) Kemp.

Hiram Kemp was born near Allentown, Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, and was a son of Ralph and Elizabeth (Probst) Kemp. Ralph Kemp was born near Hollis, New Hampshire, and went to Pennsylvania in early manhood and taught school at Allentown. He married in Lehigh County and later brought his family to Ohio and settled in Lost Creek Township on a farm west of the one owned by his grandson. It was then an undeveloped region and the family endured many pioneer privations, but nevertheless the parents lived into old age. In 1847 Ralph Kemp built the brick house still standing. His three children were: Hiram, Edwin and Hannah, the latter of whom married James Long; all are now deceased.

Hiram Kemp came to Ohio in early manhood as his father had gone to Pennsylvania, and married Jane Margaret Moore, who was born near Franklin, Warren County, Ohio. Her parents were James and Agnes (Small) Moore and her material grandfather was Andrew Small, a Revolutionary hero, who was with General Montgomery when the Heights of Abraham were scaled at Quebec . Mrs. Kemp, in her girlhood, accompanied her parents on horseback to Spring Creek Township, where she subsequently married Hiram Kemp. The latter died in 1851, when aged twenty-seven years. Five years later she married Jacob Youtsey and both died on the farm on which Mr. Kemp lives. There was no issue to the second union, but two sons were born to the first: Benjamin Franklin and Francis Marion, the latter of whom lives in Kansas.

Benjamin F. Kemp attended the district schools in his youth and later enjoyed one term at Antioch College and one year in the Ohio Wesleyan University at Delaware, Ohio. These educational advantages placed him far ahead of the larger number of his companions and he put his knowledge to the practical test of imparting it to others and for sixteen years taught school most acceptably through Miami County. He then purchased twenty acres of his present farm and when his mother died he inherited sixty acres, all of which he devotes to general farming and stock raising. The present comfortable residence was built during his mother's life time. On July 28, 1875, Mr. Kemp was married to Miss Wilmina Search, a daughter of Charles and Sarah J. Search, and they have one child, Warren B. The latter married Grace Buchanan and they have two children, Margaret B. and Carlton F.

In his political sentiments, Mr. Kemp has always been identified with Democratic policies and he has frequently been elected to public office. He is a member of the present township School Board and has served with efficiency as trustee and as justice of the peace. Since July, 1871, Mr. Kemp has been a member of the order of Odd Fellows at Fletcher, in which he has held all the offices, including that of district deputy grand master and at present being past grand master. Ever since uniting with this organization he has worked earnestly for the principles which it inculcates.