James Riley & Eldora Sloan Kemp Family - abt. 1896
Bill K. Kemp, great grandson of James Riley Kemp provided the pictures and information on the Kemp family.
L-r: Rufus Jefferson, James Riley, Bertha, Eldora and Nancy.
The surname, Kemp, is believed to go back to the Saxons that lived in northern Germany in the 5th and 6th
centuries. The name denotes great skills in contests and on the battlefield. It is listed in the Dictionary of
Surnames as an English name with the occupational title for a champion at jousting or wrestling.
James Riley Kemp was born in 1846 in the Defeated Creek area of Smith County and died Nov 26, 1916.
He was the son of Larkin Kemp.
James Riley Kemp married Eldora (Ella) Sloan Kemp who was born in 1860 in the Pleasant Shade area.
She was the daughter of John Milton Sloan, son of Jason R.Sloan, son of John Sloan. Their Son Rufus
Jefferson Kemp is pictured on this website:
Larkin Kemp was the great grandson of Henry Kemp. Henry was born in Queen Anne County,
Maryland June 18, 1751. Later, he migrated to Johnston County, N.C. After Wake County was
created from Johnston County, Henry, in 1806, migrated from Wake County to Wilson County, TN.
and then later to the Defeated Creek area of Smith County.
Eldora Sloan Kemp- abt 1920
Eldora (Ella) Sloan Kemp was born in Feb 16, 1860 and died Aug 22, 1942. After her
husband, Riley, died she lived with her brother, Archie Sloan. Archie was the father of
many of the Sloans who lived in Pleasant Shade during the 1950s and later. His son,
Oval, was one of the owners and operator of Sloan Brothers Store in Pleasant Shade.
As an older lady, Eldora lived with her son, Rufus Jefferson, and
enjoyed sitting by the fireplace and smoking her pipe.