Edward H. Hemphill is a prosperous and progressive agriculturist and vineyardist of San Joaquin county, owning a nice estate of one hundred and eighty-five acres near the town of Lodi, and thirty-two acres of this is devoted to grape culture. He has made a general success of his operations, and is known throughout his section of the county as a substantial man of affairs. As he has lived in San Joaquin county practically all his life, he has become identified with much of its public life and activity and has gained a position of influence among his fellow citizens.

Mr. Hemphill was born in Linn county, Iowa, February 6, 1855, being one of the children born to the late John and Elizabeth (Thompson) Hemphill, who came to San Joaquin county in 1867 and resided here until their deaths. The father was born in Ohio and the mother in Pennsylvania. In the spring of 1867 the family left their home in Linn county, Iowa, and came around by the isthmus route directly to San Joaquin county, settling near Woodbridge. Besides Edward H. there were the following children: Oscar J., of Lodi; Carrie J., wife of John H. Wood, in San Joaquin county; Sadie A., wife of Frank Majors, of Spokane, Washington. John Hemphill was a stanch Republican, and during the Civil war upheld the cause of the Union as a soldier, being with Sherman on the march to the sea. He was a self-made man, a practical and successful farmer, and commanded the respect of his fellow men wherever he made his home.

Mr. Hemphill has thus resided in San Joaquin county since 1867, so that he was reared to manhood and gained most of his education here. Since taking hold of the active affairs of life he has displayed a degree of enterprise which has made him one of the prosperous men of the county, and his support has always been accorded movements for the public welfare. He is and has been for many years a member and clerk of the board of trustees of the Lafayette school district. He is a Republican in politics, and is affiliated with the Masonic order and with the Knights of Pythias at Woodbridge, and is also a member of the Stockton lodge of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks.

Mr. Hemphill was married November 6, 1886, to Miss Lena Walkmeister, a native of Switzerland and a daughter of George Walkmeister, of San Francisco. Mr. and Mrs. Hemphill have two sons, John L. and George W.

Source: History of the New California Its Resources and People, Volume II

The Lewis Publishing Company - 1905
Edited by Leigh H. Irvine