Biography - VICTOR HEMPHILL

One of the promising young attorneys of Carlinville is Victor Hemphill, who for the past three years has been serving as assistant state’s attorney. He was born in South Palmyra township, Macoupin county, on the homestead of his maternal grandfather, on the 21st of September, 1882. His parents are Robert S. and Mary J. (Ross) Hemphill, also natives of this county, where they continue to reside. The paternal grandfather, Hamilton Hemphill, was a native of Ireland, emigrating from there to the United States. He first located in Jessamine county, Kentucky, whence he came to Macoupin county, being one of the pioneer settlers. For many years he was engaged in farming southeast of Carlinville, where he passed away in middle life. His wife was Miss Martha Dickerson, prior to her marriage, a native of. Kentucky, whose parents were among the early settlers of this county. The maternal grandparents were Erastus H. and Elizabeth (Pocklington) Ross, natives respectively of Morgan and Macoupin counties, Illinois. He was engaged in farming until 1873, when he became manager of the Cooperative store in Carlinville, with which he was identified until he passed away at the age of sixty-nine years. Mrs. Ross still survives. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Robert S. Llemphill there were born two children, a son and daughter, the latter being Ruth, who married Ernest Ibbetson, who is associated with her father in the lumber business. Both parents belong to the Methodist Episcopal church and politically the father is a democrat and has been supervisor of his township for the past twelve years.

The first nine years in the life of Victor Hemphill were spent on the farm where he was born, at the end of which time his parents removed to Carlinville. Here he grew to manhood and acquired his preliminary education being graduated from the high school in 1898. He subsequently entered Blackburn University, from which institution he was awarded a diploma with the class of 1902. The following year he devoted to teaching, but having decided to become an attorney the following autumn he matriculated in the law department of Washington University, St. Louis, being granted the degree of LL. B. in 1905. He was admitted to the bar the same year and returning to Carlinville established an office engaging in general practice. In 1907 he was elected city attorney, which office he held for one term, having in the meantime been appointed assistant state’s attorney.

Mr. Hemphill is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, in the faith of which denomination he was reared, and fraternally he is affiliated with the Masonic order, being a member of Mount Nebo Lodge, No. 76, A. F. & A. M.; and Macoupin Chapter, No. 187, R. A. M. He belongs also to the Knights of Pythias and politically he is a democrat.

Extracted 17 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 586-587.