History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY 417
energetic and persistent and whatever success he has attained is
attributable entirely to his own labors, for he came to the United
States empty-handed and by persistent energy has reached the
position which he now occupies as one of the well-to-do citizens
of Alto township.
In 189-1: Mr. Larson was united in marriage to Miss Elsie
Jameson, who was born in Lee county, Illinois, a daughter of Ole
and Belinda Jameson, both of whom were natives of Norway,
whence they came to America in the early '60s. The mother died
in this county, bnt the father survives. Mrs. Larson is one of a
family of three children, and by her marriage became the mother
of seven children: Ida B., who acquired a normal-school educa-
tion and is now engaged in teaching; Leola G. ; Carl A.; Ruth E.;
William H. ; Hattie M. ; and Oscar S. The parents attend the
Lutheran church, and its teachings form the guiding spirit in
their lives. Mr. Larson votes with the republican party and is
now serving as assessor of Alto township. He keeps well
informed on the questions and issues of the day and is interested
in all that jDertains to general progress, being a public-spirited
citizen.
JAMES F. DEMPSEY.
James P. Dempsey devotes his attention to that occupation
which George Washingion designated as the most honorable as
well as the most useful pursuit of man, owning and operating an
excellent farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 15, Mar-
ion township. His birth occurred in Lee county in 1865, his par-
ents being Lawrence and Margaret (Campbell) Dempsey, both of
whom are deceased and lie buried in Amboy. The father, one of
the prominent old settlers of the county, came here direct from
County Wexford, Ireland, and spent the remainder of his life
in Lee county, passing away in 1904. The mother was called to her
final rest in 1907.
James P. Dempsey attended school in his native countv until
twenty-three years of age and subsequently assisted his father in
the operation of the home farm for about five years. At the end
of that time he started out as an agriculturist on his own account,
acquiring a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 15,
Marion township, in the cultivation of which he has been actively