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BIOGRAPHIES FOR KEARNY COUNTY, KANSAS Hollis Duvall Kemper, educator, was born at Lakin, Kansas, February 26, 1890, son of Flurry and Mary Susan (New) Kemper. His father, a farmer, and mayor of South Hutchinson, was born in Monterey, Kentucky, August 14, 1859, and came to Kansas in 1886. He is of German ancestry on the paternal side, his family having been pioneers in Virginia and Kentucky in the early part of the 19th century. His maternal ancestors were Huguenots who fled from France to escape religious persecution, and settled in North Carolina in the 17th century. Mary Susan New was born at Monterey in 1864, and died at Lamar, Colorado, on February 15, 1905. Her Scotch-English ancestors came to America from England in the late 18th century. Educated in the public schools of western Kansas, particularly in Kearny County, Hollis Duvall Kemper spent his boyhood on a ranch and farm. He entered Ottawa University Academy on trial at the age of 24 in 1914, and was graduated in 1917, having completed a college preparatory course. In 1922 he received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Ottawa University, where he was editor of The Ottawan 1920-21; and of the Ottawa Campus 1921-22. Mr. Kemper worked with his father's construction gang and for two years was deputy sheriff of Kearny County. During 1922-23 he was principal of the high school at Asherville, and the following year taught in the junior high school at Coffeyville. From 1925 until 1931 he was principal of Lincoln Junior High School at Salina, and since 1931 has been superintendent of the Lakin Rural High School. He was awarded the degree of Master of Arts from Columbia University in 1925, and the degree of Doctor of Philosophy from the State University of Iowa in 1931. On June 26, 1925, Dr. Kemper was married to Elsie Leona Roan at St. Joseph, Missouri, and to them two children were born, Jimlee, July 11, 1927; and Harold April 2, 1929. Mrs. Kemper a high school teacher before her marriage was born at Agency, Missouri, April 7, 1902, of French and English Descent. Dr. Kemper is a member of the First Baptist Church, the Masons, the Kansas State Grange, the Lions Club, the Kansas State Teacher's Association, and the National Education Association. From 1929 until 1931, he was a member of the board of directors of the Salina Young Men's Christian Association. He is author of Cheating Among High School Sstudents with Reference to the Effects of the Week Day School of Religious Instruction. During the World War Dr. Kemper served with the rank of mess sergeant, Battery B, 130th Field Artillery and participated in the following engagements: Argonne Forest (September 26-October 2, 1918), Vosges (August 15-September 2, 1918); St. Mihiel (September 9-15, 1918); and Verdun (October 15-November 11, 1918). He is a member of Shepherd-Moore Post of the American Legion. Residence: Lakin. (Illustriana Kansas, by Sara Mullin Baldwin & Robert Morton Baldwin, 1933, pages 624 & 625) Henry Negley Van Doren, postmaster at Deerfield, was born at Morland, Kansas, June 30, 1897, son of Charles B. and Mary Ida (Negley) Van Doren. His father, now a retired farmer, was born at Terre Haute, Illinois, February 24, 1855. His wife, Mary was born at Terre Haute, April 2, 1861 and died at Salina, January 12, 1914. He is of Holland Dutch, while she was of French descent. Educated in the country schools of Graham County, Henry Negley Van Doren attended Salina High School one year, and in January, 1920, purchased a one-half interest in the Bacon Drug Company at Deerfield. He became its manager in January, 1925 and since January 8, of that year has served as postmaster. Mr. Van Doren became a registered pharmacist in
March 1924, and in February, 1928, acquired an insurance business, dealing only in fire insurance. He was made
a director of the Deerfield State Bank in January, 1932. He is a Republican. A charter member of Deerfield Lodge No. 432 of
the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, organized and chartered in 1922, Mr. Van Doren was senior warden in 1923
and master in 1924. He has been treasurer of grade school district No. 20 at Deerfield since September, 1930, and
from November, 1930 until April 1932, was treasurer of rural high school district No. 3. During the World War he served with the 33rd Company, 164th Depot Brigade (corporal) attached to the 10th division as a replacement unit. He received his honorable discharge at Camp Funston, December 10, 1919. Since 1920 he has been a member of Shepherd-Moore Post of the American legion, and during 1931 was vice post commander. Residence: Deerfield. (Illustriana Kansas, by Sara Mullin Baldwin & Robert Morton Baldwin, 1933, pages 1174 & 1175)
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