Herman Henry Kemper (1882-1964) was an American-born farmer and political figure in Saskatchewan. He represented Gull Lake in the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan from 1934 to 1938.

Herman Henry Kemper
MLA for Gull Lake
In office
1934–1938
Preceded byDaniel Lochead
Succeeded byHarvey McMahon
Personal details
BornJuly 7, 1882
Hebron, Nebraska
DiedAugust 1964
Tompkins, Saskatchewan
Political partyFarmer-Labour Group (1932–1935)
Other political
affiliations
Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (1935–1964)
SpouseMina Burwell (m. 1911)
OccupationFarmer, agrarian activist

He was born on a farm in Hebron, Nebraska,[1] the son of Frank Herman Kemper and Louisa Haulker.[2] In 1906, Kemper found work with a survey crew working on the railway west of Edmonton, Alberta. He returned home later that year but, in the summer of 1907, he traveled north again and worked on a farm near Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. Later in 1907, he settled on a homestead south of Gull Lake. Kemper returned to Nebraska and married Mina Burwell in 1911. The couple returned to Saskatchewan later that same year. After working on a farm near Moose Jaw, they were able to purchase land not far from his original homestead. Kemper served on the rural municipal district council for Arlington.[1]

He was also a director for the Saskatchewan section of the United Farmers of Canada. Kemper was elected during the 1934 Saskatchewan general election, representing Gull Lake as a member of the Farmer-Labour Group (FLG). The FLG was founded in 1932.[3] In 1935, it changed its name and officially became the Saskatchewan section of the national Co-operative Commonwealth Federation or CCF. During the eighth provincial election on June 19, 1934, the FLG had five elected members come to office,[4] including Kemper. He was defeated when he ran for reelection to the provincial assembly in Gull Lake in 1938 and in the Maple Creek federal riding in 1940.[1]

In 1953, Kemper sold his farm and retired to the town of Shaunavon. He died in a car accident near Tompkins while travelling to a CCF rally.[1]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Range Riders and Sodbusters. Eastend History Society. 1984. pp. 532–34. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  2. ^ Normandin, A L (1937). Canadian Parliamentary Guide.
  3. ^ Hoffman, George (2006), Co-operative Commonwealth Federation (CCF), Encyclopedia of Saskatchewan (online), Regina, Saskatchewan: Western Economic Diversification Canada and the Government of Saskatchewan. Canadian Plains Research Center, University of Regina, retrieved 30 April 2012
  4. ^ Government of Saskatchewan, Elections Saskatchewan historical Eighth Provincial General Election (June 19, 1934), archived from the original on 13 March 2009, retrieved 15 December 2008