William M. Kempe

William M. Kempe

• Father: Frank Kempe b. circa May 1860, d. 12 October 1916
• Mother: Ida Alwine Menzer b. 19 July 1868, d. 1 June 1902

• William M. Kempe was born on 17 March 1887 in Austin, Travis County, Texas.
• Frank Kempe and Ida Alwine Menzer appeared in the US federal census of 1 June 1900 in Travis County, Texas. Other members of the household included William M. Kempe, Elfrieda Kempe, Gertrude Kempe, Ida Kempe, Frances G. Kempe and Frank Kempe.
• Joseph A. Jones and Josephine Bourke appeared in the US federal census of 15 April 1910 in Bend, San Saba County, Texas, living next to Josephine's parents, William and Emily Bourke.. Other members of the household included William M. Kempe, Melvin Dewey Jones, Dixie Mae Jones, Emily Honor McCracken and William Joseph McCracken.
• He married Lillian Missouri Smith circa 1910.
• He married Emily Honor McCracken, daughter of Columbus McCracken and Josephine Bourke, circa 1912, according to one researcher.
• William M. Kempe registered for the draft on 5 June 1917 in Tarrant County, Texas, while living at 1215 Clinton Avenue in Fort Worth with his wife and two children, and employed there as a driver.
• Joseph A. Jones and Josephine Bourke appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas, at 1225 Clinton Avenue. Other members of the household included William M. Kempe, Melvin Dewey Jones, Dixie Mae Jones, Raymond Henry Jackson, George Richard Jackson, William Joseph McCracken, Emily Honor McCracken, Dixie Ruth Kempe, William Dewey Kempe and Emily Angeline Smith. William Kempe and family also were enumerated in Wichita County, likely because the Tarrant enumeration occurred on 15 January and later, on 23 March, in Wichita County.
• William M. Kempe and Emily Honor McCracken appeared in the US federal census of 1 January 1920 in Wichita County, Texas. Other members of the household included Dixie Ruth Kempe and William Dewey Kempe. The family also was enumerated with Emily's family in Fort Worth, likely because the Tarrant enumeration occurred on 15 January and later, on 23 March, in Wichita County.
• He was working in the stock yards, according to the 1920 census enumeration in Fort Worth, and also working as a pumper for Livingston Oil in Wichita County.
• William M. Kempe and Emily Honor McCracken appeared in the US federal census of 1 April 1940 in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas, at 1227 Lindon. Other members of the household included Esther Lillian Kempe, Frank Kempe, Max J. Dyson, Emily Josephine Kempe and William Dewey Kempe.
• He was self-employed as a house painter in the building trade, according to the 1940 census.
• William M. Kempe registered for the draft in 1942 while living with Emily Kempe at 329 Hassett Avenue in Fort Worth; no employer is named, and Frank Kempe is living at the same address.
• Frank Kempe registered for the draft in 1942 while living with William and Emily Kempe at 329 Hassett Avenue in Fort Worth, and employed by the Fort Worth Stock Yard Company.
• He officially witnessed the death of Otto Kempe on 30 March 1945 at 2402 Ellis in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas.
• Bulah Kempe and her sons Homer and Wayne, and her brothers-in-laws Frank and William Kempe, appeared in the 1949 Fort Worth City Directory.
• He married Audie Lee Qualls.
• At the time of his death, his usual residence was in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas, at 3917 Valentine.
• William M. Kempe died on 17 February 1971 at age 83 in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas, at Sherwood Manor Convalescent . His death was officially witnessed by Audie Lee Qualls.
• His wife Audie Lee Qualls became a widow at his death.
• He was interred at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas.
• The following appeared on 5 September 1996 in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram: (Fort Worth) Audie Kempe, 83, retired from food service, died Wednesday at home.
       Funeral: 3:30 p.m. Friday at Greenwood Funeral Home. Burial: 1 p.m. Saturday in Rochester Cemetery in Rochester.
       Audie Kempe was born May 13, 1913, in O'Brien. She retired from food service at Harris Hospital in 1978.
       She was preceded in death by brothers, James Elton Qualls and Edwin Boyce Qualls, and by a sister, Wanda Lorraine Qualls.
       Survivors: Sons, Henry Leon Martin of Rusk, Arnold David Martin of Jacksonville and Donnis Lynn Martin of Cary, N.C; daughters, Laudie Sue Cudd of Crowley and Barbara Nell Thomas of Fort Worth; sisters, her twin, Laudie Dee Qualls of Fort Worth, and Leatrice Joy Reeves of Knox City; brother, Alvin Durwood Qualls of Seymour; 26 grandchildren; 38 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

• Last Edited: 4 Oct 2015