Frederick T. Kemper
Encyclopedia
Frederick T. Kemper was the founder of the school that later became Kemper Military School
in Boonville, Missouri
.
Kemper was born in Madison County, Virginia
in 1816. His brother was General James Kemper, who gained fame at the Battle of Gettysburg
, and later became Governor of Virginia
. Professor Kemper’s early academic experiences were through private tutors and small schools in the Tidewater
area of Virginia. He left the family farm in 1836 to complete his education at Marion, near Palmyra, Missouri
. He studied there for five years and graduated valedictorian
in the class of 1841. He remained at Marion for three years as an instructor. In 1843 he opened a private boarding school with his uncle in Philadelphia, Missouri
.
Residents of Boonville then induced Kemper to open a school there in the spring of 1844. In June 1844, he opened up “Boonville Male Boarding School”. He operated the school by himself as a local school for boys, and regularly changed the school’s name. From 1845 through 1856 it was referred to variously as the “ New Boonville Academy”, the "Boonville Boarding School and Teachers Seminary”, “Male Collegiate Institute”, and "Kemper Family School". In 1856, the school was temporarily closed when Professor Kemper accepted a teaching and administrative position at the newly established Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri
. However, in 1861 he returned to Boonville and reopened the school in partnership with his wife’s brother, Edwin H. Taylor. The school was then called the “Kemper and Taylor Institute.” Kemper kept a guarded neutrality and the schools was one of few in the state to remain open during the Civil War
. After the war, Professor Kemper and his wife Susan regained sole management of Kemper Family School until Professor Kemper’s death in 1881. In 1885, Kemper's successor, Thomas A. Johnston
, added a formal military training program, and in 1899, the name of the school officially changed to Kemper Military School
. The school continued to operate until 2002, when it filed for bankruptcy and shut its doors.
Kemper Military School
Kemper Military School & College was a private military school located in Boonville, Missouri. Kemper filed for bankruptcy and closed in 2002. The school's motto was "Nunquam Non Paratus" .-Early years under Frederick T. Kemper:...
in Boonville, Missouri
Boonville, Missouri
This page is about the city in Missouri. For other communities of the same name, see Boonville Boonville is a city in Cooper County, Missouri, USA. The population was 8,202 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Cooper County. The city was the site of a skirmish early in the American Civil...
.
Kemper was born in Madison County, Virginia
Madison County, Virginia
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,520 people, 4,739 households, and 3,521 families residing in the county. The population density was 39 people per square mile . There were 5,239 housing units at an average density of 16 per square mile...
in 1816. His brother was General James Kemper, who gained fame at the Battle of Gettysburg
Battle of Gettysburg
The Battle of Gettysburg , was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The battle with the largest number of casualties in the American Civil War, it is often described as the war's turning point. Union Maj. Gen. George Gordon Meade's Army of the Potomac...
, and later became Governor of Virginia
Governor of Virginia
The governor of Virginia serves as the chief executive of the Commonwealth of Virginia for a four-year term. The position is currently held by Republican Bob McDonnell, who was inaugurated on January 16, 2010, as the 71st governor of Virginia....
. Professor Kemper’s early academic experiences were through private tutors and small schools in the Tidewater
Tidewater
Tidewater may refer to:*Tidewater , a geographic area of southeast Virginia and northeast North Carolina*Tidewater , a company providing marine services to the offshore petroleum industry...
area of Virginia. He left the family farm in 1836 to complete his education at Marion, near Palmyra, Missouri
Palmyra, Missouri
Palmyra is a city in and the county seat of Marion County, Missouri, United States. The population was 3,467 at the 2000 census. It is part of the Hannibal Micropolitan Statistical Area.- Geography :Palmyra is located at...
. He studied there for five years and graduated valedictorian
Valedictorian
Valedictorian is an academic title conferred upon the student who delivers the closing or farewell statement at a graduation ceremony. Usually, the valedictorian is the highest ranked student among those graduating from an educational institution...
in the class of 1841. He remained at Marion for three years as an instructor. In 1843 he opened a private boarding school with his uncle in Philadelphia, Missouri
Philadelphia, Missouri
Philadelphia is an unincorporated community in western Marion County, Missouri, United States. It is located about ten miles west of Palmyra on Route 168. It was named for Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The community is part of the Hannibal Micropolitan Statistical Area.There is a small school...
.
Residents of Boonville then induced Kemper to open a school there in the spring of 1844. In June 1844, he opened up “Boonville Male Boarding School”. He operated the school by himself as a local school for boys, and regularly changed the school’s name. From 1845 through 1856 it was referred to variously as the “ New Boonville Academy”, the "Boonville Boarding School and Teachers Seminary”, “Male Collegiate Institute”, and "Kemper Family School". In 1856, the school was temporarily closed when Professor Kemper accepted a teaching and administrative position at the newly established Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri
Fulton, Missouri
Fulton is a city in Callaway County, Missouri, the United States of America. It is part of the Jefferson City, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 12,790 in the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Callaway County...
. However, in 1861 he returned to Boonville and reopened the school in partnership with his wife’s brother, Edwin H. Taylor. The school was then called the “Kemper and Taylor Institute.” Kemper kept a guarded neutrality and the schools was one of few in the state to remain open during the Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. After the war, Professor Kemper and his wife Susan regained sole management of Kemper Family School until Professor Kemper’s death in 1881. In 1885, Kemper's successor, Thomas A. Johnston
Thomas A. Johnston
Thomas A. Johnston , was the President of the Kemper Family School and Kemper Military School in Boonville, Missouri from 1881 to 1928. He was known as the "Builder of Kemper"....
, added a formal military training program, and in 1899, the name of the school officially changed to Kemper Military School
Kemper Military School
Kemper Military School & College was a private military school located in Boonville, Missouri. Kemper filed for bankruptcy and closed in 2002. The school's motto was "Nunquam Non Paratus" .-Early years under Frederick T. Kemper:...
. The school continued to operate until 2002, when it filed for bankruptcy and shut its doors.