James Hervey Otey Papers Box 1 Folder 2 Document 19

AN EARLY VISIT TO MEMPHIS KEMPER B. DURAND

Bishop Jackson Kemper spent ten days in Memphis in 1838, where he expected to meet with Bishop Otey of Tennessee. During his stay in Memphis from January 17-27, 1838, he noted in his daily diary his observations about the town and its citizens. In addition, he wrote a lengthy letter to his daughter.

Consecrated in 1835 as the first Missionary Bishop of the Episcopal Church, Jackson Kemper (1789-1870) was assigned a territory which included what is now the states of Indiana, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, and the Indian Territories in Oklahoma. Within several years, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, and Dakotas were added. His general task was to establish and strengthen the Episcopal Church in these areas.

From January to June, 1838, at the request of Bishop Otey of Tennessee, he traveled down the Mississippi from St. Louis, his headquarters for several years, to Memphis, Vicksburg, Natchez, and New Orleans, then eastward through Alabama, Georgia, and Florida, consecrating churches, ordaining priests, holding services, baptizing, confirming, marrying and burying the members of his church. By one estimate, before he settled in Wisconsin in 1859, he had traveled over 300,000 miles.

My interest in these writings arose from celebration by Calvary Episcopal Church in Memphis of its 150th anniversary. Knowing from family genealogy that Bishop Kemper, my great-great-grandfather, had made this trip, I investigated the original records in the Wisconsin Historical Society Library to see whether he had had any connection with the founding of Calvary Church in 1832. Although his writings show that he assisted in the affairs of the struggling congregation while in Memphis, he apparently had no connection with the small church commenced six years earlier.

Significant help in the "translation" of the documents was received from Dr. John Harkins, Shelby County Archivist, and from the Rev. Dr. Robert M. Watson, Jr., of Memphis.

EXCERPTS FROM THE DIARY OF BISHOP JACKSON KEMPER JANUARY 17, 1838 - JANUARY 27, 1838

I went to the post office on Saturday, the 13th instant and found there Bishop Otey's letter. I consulted Minard, Dr. Hoffman, J.P. Doan and Captain Shorter, all appeared to think I must go - to St. Charles where I was going to began to prepare. I preached on Sunday on Death and the Major attended to money matters on Monday-packing-writing lettersand finally started this afternoon at one-quarter before three. We are now

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