She was the daughter of Austin Franklin and Mary Lear (also spelled Lair). She spent her childhood living in the wilds of Brown Co., Indiana, which became a county in 1836. The Franklins arrived in Indiana between 1838 and 1841; the exact date is unknown. At this point in time, the area was teeming with large predators such as bobcats, cougars, wolves and even bears as well as other unfriendlies like Copperheads, Cottonmouths/Water Moccasins, Eastern Diamondback Rattlesnakes and Black Timber Rattlesnakes. She likely received little to no schooling. She married at the young age of 14 to Thomas D. Kemp. She died a year after marriage. She had no known surviving children. It is believed that she is buried with her mother's family in an unmarked grave; perhaps her grave was once marked with a sandstone or wooden cross marker at one time. She was a niece of Hannah (Lair) Fleener; Hannah and Jacob Fleener were the cemetery founders and they migrated to the area in 1823.

Thomas D. Kemp Timeline

Born May 8, 1822, Wayne Co., Kentucky

Parents: probably John Kemp and Nancy Becknell

Mid-1820s/1840s - grew up in southern Jackson Twp., Morgan Co., IN

July 23, 1846, Brown Co., IN - married to Eliza Jane Franklin; she died within a year

Sept. 15, 1847, Brown Co., IN - married to Sarah Ann Franklin, a sister of Eliza Jane; Sarah died by 1850

1848, Poll Tax Payer, Jackson Twp., Brown Co., IN

March 27, 1850, Hendricks Co., IN - married to Nancy Clark, daughter of Charles and Elizabeth (Ragland) Clark

1850 Census, Jackson Twp., Morgan Co., IN - age 27; listed with wife Nancy, age 29, both born KY

1851 - a daughter Elizabeth Kemp was born in Indiana

1851 to 1857 - 3rd wife Nancy (Clark) Kemp died

1851 to 1858 - migrated to Douglas Co., Kansas Territory

1852 to 1858 - married 4th to Sarah Ann Hoskins or Haskins

1858 - a son William Kemp was born in Kansas

1860 Census - Marion T'P, Douglas Co., Kansas Territory - age 39, born about 1821; wife Sarah, age 30, Born OH; Elizabeth, age 9, IN; William, age 2, born Kansas

Civil War - exact dates of service unknown; he joined the 15th Regiment, Kansas Calvary, Company D, Rank: Private

Sept. 17, 1865 - Thomas and Sarah witnessed the wedding of Silas W. Stovall to Lucinda Grames in Osage Co., Kansas

1870 Census - Monmouth, Shawnee Co., Kansas - age 39 (should be 49) cannot read or write; Sarah, age 30 (should be 40); William, age 12; Ada, age 9, b. Kansas; Charles, age 6, b. Kansas; Clara, age 2, b. Kansas; Hoskins, Nancy, age 72, b. Ohio; Marshall, William, age 23, b. Indiana; Marshall, Elizabeth, age 19, b. Indiana

1880 Census - can't locate

Migrated to Dallas Co., Iowa before May, 1886

May 15, 1886 - daughter, Elizabeth (Kemp) Marshall died; buried at Bear Creek Cemetery, Dexter, Iowa

Feb. 27, 1899, died at Dexter, Dallas Co., Iowa. Death record shows birth date of 1823 and place as Kentucky. There is a metal GAR marker beside his stone, indicating Civil War service.

Sept. 5, 1899, marriage record of daughter, Clara Kemp, gives her parents names as Thomas D. Kemp and Sarah A. Haskin.

There are a few more records to be added: 1855-1859 Kansas Territorial Census and various others. The deaths of the first three wives within a few years after marriage is very curious.