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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 letters-
and finally started this afternoon at one-quarter before three. We are now

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