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Permanent LinkRepresentative John G. Hempel View All Years
JOHN GRENVILLE HEMPEL, merchant and legislator, died at his home in Elkader, Iowa, on October 9, 1945; born in Giard township, Clayton county, Iowa, December 9, 1860, the son of Charles F. and Dorothy Newman Hempel; attended rural school and assisted upon the farm until at the age of twenty he obtained a clerical position in the general store at Giard, later becoming its manager for three years, and then removing to Elkader where he entered the clothing business; on February 1, 1887, married Emma Bickel of Giard; on April 1, 1895, opened a clothing business in Elkader which he conducted forty-two years; elected county auditor in 1896 and served four consecutive terms and in 1923 was elected state representative and served three terms; held many positions of trust in his town and county; was on the state voting machine commission, and audited the state fair association; was two terms a member of of the state Republican central committee from the Fourth congressional district; a fifty-year member of the Masonic order and active always in civic and political circles. Surviving are the widow, two daughters, a granddaughter and a brother.