USA > Arkansas > Historical review of Arkansas : its commerce, industry and modern affairs > Part 84
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The Hempstead family in America was founded by Sir Robert Hemp- stead, of Milford Haven, Wales, who came to the New World in 1640. He first located on the site of the present town of Hempstead, Long Is- land, and the same, with Hempstead Plains, was named in his honor. He lived there only a short time, however, as he removed to New London, Connecticut, in 1645, and was one of the first nine settlers of that town. There was maintained the home of the Hempstead family for many gen- erations. Stephen Hempstead, grandson of Sir Robert and great-grand- father of him whose name initiates this article, was a Sergeant in the Connecticut troops in the War of the Revolution, and was wounded at the battle of Fort Griswold, near New London.
In 1836, the year that marked the admission of Arkansas to the Union, Samuel H. Ilempstead came to Arkansas, and in September of that year established his home in Little Rock, which was then a mere village on the frontier. Hle there engaged in the practice of law, and in the month following his arrival in the new commonwealth, he was clected clerk of the first state legislature. Subsequently he served as Adjutant General under Governor Archibald Yell.
The carcer of General Hempstead was a prominent and notable one, replete with public services the impress of which still abides ; but inasmuch as it has been touched upon in its rightful place, under the subject of The Bench and Bar of Arkansas in a preceding volume of this work, is omitted here to avoid repetition. It will be sufficient to say that he continued in the practice of his profession in Little Rock until the outbreak of the war, dying June 25, 1862, at the age of forty-eight years. His wife survived him by more than a decade, and was summoned to eternal rest in September, 18:3. Of their children six sons attained to years of maturity or nearly so; and of the number three sons, Beall, Roy and the subject of this sketch, are now living. A daughter of the family died in childhood.
In selecting Mr. Hempstead for the editorship of this Historical Review, the publishers have been actuated in so doing by his previous achievements in similar works: in the issue of his Sehool History of Arkansas, appearing in 1889, and his Pictorial History of Arkansas, in 1890, and his article on Arkansas in "The South in the Building of the Nation," in 1908. In these works he well demonstrated his competency for such service. Not every one is qualified for the writing of history. any more than every one is qualified for the writing of poetry. The historian, like the poet, is born, not made. Few persons realize how diffi- cult a thing it is to write history: to procure the proper material; to write it fully, and have it correctly : but in these respects Mr. Hempstead in his previous labors has been eminently successful. An appreciative estimate of his writing> in this regard may consistently be perpetuated in this sketch in the following:
"As the historian of Arkansas Mr. Hempstead deserves great credit for the serions purpose and unflagging zeal with which he has compiled and written for the present and future generations, complete and authentic historical records of the state. Probably few of this day can appreciate adequately his work in this con- nection. His first publication of this nature was a School History of Arkansas, issued in 1889. The following year witnessed the publication of his more elaborate History of the State, and the same has since remained a standard work of its kind. This is "The Pictorial History of Arkansas," a complete historical narrative
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of the state down to the present time. As a reference work it has proved invaluable. As a writer of state history Mr. Hempstead shows a fine appreciation of what the style and character of such a work should be, as distinct from general history. That is, his history is entirely a compilation and recording of facts; is arranged in convenient order for the reader or student, and contains not a suggestion of essay of disquisition so often affected by state historians."
Ilis third work of historical nature was included in one of the volumes of "The South in the Building of the Nation." and comprised a succinct and admirable history of his native state. IIis fourth con- tribution to historical literature is given in the publication here presented ; and this valuable work was completed by him in 1910. with his char- aeteristic fidelity and care.
At the time of the coronation of Mr. Hempstead as the third in- cumbent of the position of Poet Laureate of Freemasonry in October, 1908, which has been mentioned, a brief sketch of his life was read before the large and representative assembly which gathered at Medinah Temple in Chicago, and this review, given by Mr. Jason R. Lewis, Editor of the Masonic Chronicler of Chicago, is worthy of perpetuation in this connec- tion. The sketch, in part, was as follows:
"I am assigned in these exercises the duty of presenting a biographical sketch of the Brother who is to-night to be erowned Poet Laureate. Happily the material for the making of such a sketch is readily at hand, in part at least, through a postseript which Brother Hempstead has inserted in the third edition of his poems, newly edited and issued during the summer just past. This postscript, supplemented by information obtained through inquiries concerning points that it does not touch upon. enables me to give the following outline at least :
"Brother Hempstead was born in Little Rock, Arkansas, on the 24th day of November, 1847, and one-half of the old homestead in which he was ushered into the world is still standing. flanked by grand magnolia trees that were planted by his Father. It is a small wonder to us that Brother Hempstead should be a Poet, for he tells us that both of his parents were literary-his Mother having artistic accom- plishments in music, painting and the composition of verse, and his Father possessing oratorical gifts and a splendid faculty for composition. As a draft-man and letter- writer of clearness and force his Father was excellent, and he held a high posi- tion at the Bar, having for two terms been Solicitor General of Arkansas. Brother Hempstead received schooling under private tutors, somewhat of the 'old field' variety. I surmise. as would likely be the case in those early days. Afterward he was at St. John's College in Little Rock, and he finished at the University of Virginia, at Charlottesville. Brother Hempstead remembers to have occasionally written verses in his boyhood, but nothing. he says, worthy of consideration until, during his College days, when, seeing the soldiers' graves in the University Cemetery strewn with flowers. he was moved to write a Poem on the subject. This was published in the University Magazine and elicited favorable comment. It is contained in the latest edition of his works, under the title 'Memorial Day,' with added verses. And this is the carly plant which has grown steadily on until now, forty years later. it has blossomed out into the ceremonies of this night. The publication of this Poem brought requests for others, and it was followed by fugitive pieces now and then, but he says he lid not seriously begin to write poetry until in the early 70s, and that a volume of Tennyson's poems. given him by his wife at Christmas in 1875, was the turning point in his poetical career. As he read and re-read these noble Poems with which he had not previously been thoroughly familiar, a new inspiration was opened to him, and he wrote readily and fre- quently thereafter. In 1878 his first volume of Poems was published, but the Poet had other and better powers in growth, and in his second volume, issued in 1898, twenty years later, is to be found greatly improved work: the recent third edition containing his best. It is a development onward from good to better.
"After only occasional effusions, occupied as his time and attention were with the exacting demands of business and official duties, a visit to California to attend the twenty-ninth Triennial Conclave of the Grand Commandery of Knights Templar, which was held in San Francisco in 1894. was the means of awakening further inspiration, which resulted in some of his best contributions: one of which in particular, 'A Tribute to California,' for the boundless hospitality shown by her people on that occasion, was published in very many papers, both in California and in the east, and was incorporated in the general History of that Triennial. But Brother Hempstead's best known and most widely commended production was his
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Poem "Sextennial,' written on the occasion of his sixtieth birthday, and read blote his Grand Lodge at its November session, 1907, which Poem has really been tu means of bringing to him the Laureacy, as its high quality demonstrated lui- worthiness for that position. And also during the twenty-seven years that he has been Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Arkansas, and in the years in which he has been Grand Recorder of other Grand Bodies in that state, the Proceedings which he has issued from year to year have abounded in poetic and artistic touche-, in which we recognize the work of the true Poet.
"Besides his poetic works he has been most prolific and abounding in his prose works-in addresses, essays, letters, lectures, articles, reports, digests, and histories. In these latter are two of his greatest achievements. In 1889 he pre- pared and in 1890 published. in one year's research, a Pictorial History of the State of Arkansas,' the first history ever written of that state. This is a library volume of 1,240 pages; and in that time he halted the work, while, in a period of sixty days, he wrote a history of Arkansas for the use of schools-an admirable treatise of two hundred and thirty-six pages. which has been extensively used in the public and private schools of Arkansas.
"In his Masonic career he has been most active. He was made a Mason in Western Star Lodge No. 2. of Little Rock, in 1869, and received degrees in Union Chapter, Occidental Council and Hugh de Pavens Commandery in succession. And in the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry he has attained the thirty-third degree, honorary. Since 188] he has been Grand Secretary of the Grand Lodge of Arkansas, and since 1899 has been such in the Grand Council. ligh Priesthood and Grand Commandery of Arkansas. He is locally Secretary of his Lodge, in which capacity he has served for more than a quarter of a century; is Secretary of his Chapter, Council and Commandery; is active in all manner of Committee Work, and along with this he was for several years Custodian and Manager of the Masonic Temple at Little Rock. At the last session of the General Grand Couneil, held at Boston, he was made General Grand Steward. And still, with all this to attend to, and being Secretary of the Arkansas Society of the Sons of the American Revolution besides, he finds time to write Poetry when the fancy strikes him, and good poetry it is.
"Brother Hempstead is an ardent Churchman, having been for over fifty years a communicant of Christ Church, Protestant Episcopal, of Little Rock, and for more than twenty-five years he was a Sunday-school Superintendent, and at other times a teacher in Sunday schools, Becoming imbued with the Missionary spirit, he took up the cause of a small and struggling Mission church in his City, St. Paul's Church by name, and by his indefatigable efforts so built it up that it bears locally the name of 'Hempstead's church." In this work he organized, and for three years drilled to a high state of efficiency. as Choir Director, a splendid choir, to render the musical services of this church. Anyone who has had experience in Church Choir duties knows how much labor and pains this involves. While thus engaged, as often as special hymns were needed for particular occasions, it was Brother Hempstead who supplied them, in both words and music. And then, to till up his time, he ofliciates as Lay Reader in the Mission church, conducting the services when no Clergyman is available."
Concerning the conferring of this great distinction upon him, the following statements, taken from an address delivered upon the occasion are of marked interest:
"By the general consent of the Fraternity Robert Burns, the idol of the Scottish craft, as he has been of the world at large, was given the honor of first Poet Laureate of Freemasomy, by his being crowned in Canongate Kilwining Lodge, at Edinburgh, in 1787. After Burns' death no one arose to receive the general selection of the Craft as the representative of Freemasonry at large until 1884, when Rob Morris, of Kentucky, the first in America to receive the honor and the second through general selection, was, by the common consent of the Craft. crowned as Laureate in the Grand Lodge Hall in New York City. Morris died in 1898, since which time the post has remained vacant; and now after an interval of ten years we are to erown the Third Laureate selected by the general consent of the Craft. in the person of the Brother on whom the honor is to be bestowed in this Hall tonight."
The occasion was a most notable one and Arkansas was honored by the distinction thus bestowed upon one of her worthy sons. Since he became Poet Laureate of Freemasonry he has published a small volume entitled "Laureate Poems," and this contains Poems that were connected with or inspired by the occasion just mentioned. In this connection it
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should be said that the conferring of this special honor upon him seems to have been a distinct stimulus to his Muse, and some of his most graee- ful and virile Poems have been written within the intervening years. In partieular a Poem entitled "Adios," read by him at the Triennial of the General Grand Royal Arch Chapter at Savannah in 1909, received marked notice and wide publieation, and is considered one of his best effusions. In the year 1910 he also collated a "Folio of Songs," he being not only the author of the songs but also the composer of the musical seores of the ten selections contained in the collection, as well as the singer of them.
Nor would a mention of Mr. Hempstead be entirely complete with- out a reeital of the fact that he is an eloentionist of merit; and an Orator of fervency and power. With a voiee clear and distinct, and with ac- curate emphasis and modulation, his efforts as a speaker, and as a natural and effective reader, have been notable suceesses.
Reverting to earlier stages in his career it may be noted that he prosecuted a course of study in the law department of the historic old University of Virginia, and in 1868 he was admitted to the Bar of Ar- kansas. Thereafter he was engaged in the practice of his Profession in Little Rock until 1874, when he was appointed, by Judge Henry C. Cald- well, of the United States District Court of Arkansas, to the position of register of Bankruptcy for that Court. He continued in tenure of this position until 1878, when the law was repealed; and in 1881 he assumed the office of Grand Secretary of the Masonic Grand Lodge of Arkansas, a position which he has since filled, besides serving in a similar capacity for others of the Grand Bodies of Masonry in the state, as has already been noted in this context. He is a man of most gracious and genial personality, of high ideas and high ideals, and his circle of friends is coincident with that of his acquaintances. IIe has honored and been honored by his native State, and his name merits an enduring place upon the roster of its distinguished and representative citizens.
In conclusion is entered brief record concerning his family life, which has in all respeets been one of marked devotion in all that makes for happiness in the domestie eirele. On the 13th of September, 1871, at Charlottesville, Virginia, he married Miss Gertrude Blair O'Neale, who was born and reared in that place, and who is a member of one of the old and prominent families of Virginia. Mr. and Mrs. Hempstead have seven children, namely: Carrie, who is the wife of Melville F. Riley, of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania; Samuel Shelby, who is engaged in farming near Little Rock ; Lindsay Lee, who is in railroad business in St. Louis ; Evlyn, who is the wife of Thomas W. Newton, of Little Rock; Robert O'Neale, who is civil engineer, with the City Water Company of Granite City, Illinois; William Beall, elerk in Bank of Commerce, Little Rock; and Miss Janet, who remains at the parental home.
By the force of his own merit he has "fought his battle single- handed" to an enviable place in public estimation. Brisk and vigorous in movement; diligent and laborious to an extreme degree, he gives promise of future usefulness, and of continued activities in the time that is to come.
THE BOUND TO PLEASE Heckman Bundy.
APRIL. ES N. MANCHESTER, INDIANA
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