Richard Arthurs Dempsey and Martha Emeline Campbell

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Husband Richard Arthurs Dempsey ^{1 2}

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           Born: 26 Apr 1837 - Dempseytown, Oakland Twp, Venango Co, PA 3
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         Father: Thomas Carter Dempsey (1806-1884) 4 5
         Mother: Mary Ann Arthurs (1807-1866) 4 5

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       Marriage: Nov 1859 1

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Wife Martha Emeline Campbell ²

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           Born: 8 Jun 1843 - Wallaceville, Plum Twp, Venango Co, PA 2
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         Father: Joseph Campbell (1811-      ) 2 6
         Mother: Mary Martha McCurdy Patterson (1818-1909) 2

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Children

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1 F Nettie Gertrude Dempsey ³

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           Born: 29 Apr 1861 - Venango Co, PA 3
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           Died: 8 Aug 1883 3
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         Spouse: D. H. McCullough (      -      ) 3
           Marr: 3 Jan 1883 3

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2 F Mary Ann Dempsey ³

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           Born: 6 Sep 1866 - Kane City (Kaneville), Cornplanter Twp, Venango Co, PA 3
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         Spouse: Frank Howard (      -      ) 3
           Marr: 10 May 1887 - Bradford, McKean Co, PA 3

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3 F Carrie J. Dempsey ⁷

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           Born: 11 Apr 1868 7
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           Died: 31 Aug 1868 - Kane City (Kaneville), Cornplanter Twp, Venango Co, PA 7
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         Spouse: Did Not Marry

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4 F Lissa M. Dempsey ⁷

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            AKA: Lizzie Dempsey 1
           Born: 6 Jul 1869 - Kane City (Kaneville), Cornplanter Twp, Venango Co, PA 7
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5 F Nora E. Dempsey ⁷

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           Born: 2 Feb 1871 - Kane City (Kaneville), Cornplanter Twp, Venango Co, PA 7
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         Spouse: Orville B. Cutting (      -      ) 7

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6 M Dick S. Dempsey ⁷

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           Born: Jul 1875 7
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           Died: 31 Jul 1876 7
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         Spouse: Did Not Marry

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7 F Lulu C. Dempsey ⁷

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           Born: 30 Mar 1879 - Kane City (Kaneville), Cornplanter Twp, Venango Co, PA 7
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General Notes: Husband - Richard Arthurs Dempsey

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He was educated in the public schools of Oak­land township, Venango County, PA, and of Cornplanter township, Venango County. After his school days were over he worked at farming during the summer, and in the winter months in the lumber woods, con­tinuing this until 1862, when he enlisted as a private in Company E, One Hundred and Twenty-first Regiment Pennsylvania Volun­teer Infantry. His regiment was attached to the Army of the Potomac, and with it he fought in many of the historic battles of the civil war, under Generals McClellan, Burnside, Hooker, Meade and Grant. He was captured by the enemy near Petersburg, Virginia, Oc­tober 1864, and for three months and three weeks was held a prisoner at Salisbury, North Carolina, and being detailed to cut wood for the use of the camp he found opportunity to escape January 25, 1865, and after many ad­ventures joined the Union army in Tennessee. His military record is an enviable one. He was advanced successively to the rank of cor­poral, sergeant, first sergeant and was com­missioned first lieutenant of Company E to date from January 1, 1865. With his regiment he fought in Virginia, at Fredericksburg, Spottsylvania Court House, North Anna, Toto­potomy, Bethesda, Cold Harbor, around Peters­burg, and at Peebles' farm. In 1864 he was under fire every day from May 5, to October 1, the day he was captured. On June 16, 1864, a comrade, William McKenzie, was shot by his side and instantly killed at Petersburg. Sergeant Dempsey with a few men was de­tached and sent to reconnoitre at North Anna. During the night a staff officer visited them and gave orders for them to remain where they were until further orders which did not arrive until late the next day, the little squad having been without food since noon of the previous day. When he was captured he was stripped of all his belongings, and with ten thousand other Union prisoners endured the intense suffering of a southern prison pen. After making his escape five hundred miles of hostile country lay between him and the Union army. He accomplished this distance in the dead of winter in thirty-six days, finally reach­ing the Union army in Tennessee.
After the war ended he returned to Pennsylvania, where for a time he engaged in mercantile business, and later in the production of oil, and beginning in 1871 owned and operated an oil refinery. In 1877 he came to Bradford, PA, bringing his family in 1880. In 1882 he became a member of a company in Custer City extensively en­gaged in the manufacture of high explosives used in the oil field. He retired from that company in 1902. He also owned a large tract of land in Kansas operated as a cattle ranch. He was president of the Pure Carbon Oil Company, president of the Hubbs Oil Company, president of the Dempsey Oil Company, manager of the Lafayette Oil & Gas Company, and of the Holly Oil Company.
He gave much of his time and ability to the public service, first appearing in public life as the successful candidate for mayor of Bradford. This was in 1886, and his first term covered the years 1887-88; five years later he was again elected mayor, serving in 1893-94-95. He also filled the elective offices of supervisor of Bradford township, school director, water commissioner, coroner of McKean county, member of the house of assembly (two terms), 1897 to 1900, and served his party as chairman of McKean coun­ty Republican committee. Before coming to Bradford he was postmaster at Kane City one term, and Custer City one term. He was past noble grand of Bradford Lodge, Independent Order of Odd Fellows; past master of the Ancient Order of United Workmen; past com­mander of Bradford Post, No. 141, Grand Army of the Republic, having held that office many times, and belonged to the Union Veteran Legion of Bradford. He was an attendant of the Methodist Episcopal church, and interested in church and charitable work. [GPHAV, 76]

1 —, History of the Counties of McKean, Elk, and Forest, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., Publishers, 1890), Pg 350.

2 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 954.

3 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 76.

4 —, The History of Crawford County, Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: Warner Beers & Co., 1885), Pg 1017.

5 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 75.

6 —, History of Butler County, Pennsylvania (R. C. Brown & Co. Publishers, 1895), Pg 1098.

7 John W. Jordan, LL.D., Genealogical and Personal History of the Allegheny Valley, Pennsylvania (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Company, 1913), Pg 77.