Scott county is entirely republican in this session of the legislature. The subject of this sketch, the Hon. J. E. Dempster of Donahue, was born in Morgan county, Ohio, January 3, 1837. He has been a resident of this state since March 5,1859. When the war broke out Mr. Dempster organized a company of militia at Maysville and Hickory Grove, and now holds a captain's commission dated September 17, 1864, and signed by Gov. William Stone. His war record is an enviable one. Mr. Dempster has been twice married, the first time to Miss E. E. Burch, March 5, 1868, the second time to Josephine Fitzsimmons, April 13, 1875. He has three sons and three daughters. He is a member of the Methodist church. From 1859 till 1868 Mr. Dempster was engaged in teaching school. In 1868 he bought a farm, which he still owns and has lived on since that year. Locally he has been honored with the offices of township clerk three terms, and has been secretary of the independent school district of Linn Grove since 1868. He is a highly respected citizen, and it was a pleasure last fall for his republican friends to honor him further by electing him to the lower house of the legislature. He is interested in all matters of legislation that will benefit his district as well as the state, and especially in the Soldiers' Orphans' home at Davenport. He hopes to see this institution granted more liberal appropriations. In 1890 Mr. Dempster was employed by the government to take the census of Hickory Grove township.