Edward Luthben Hempstead
Edward Luthben Hempstead, for more than forty years was a well-known resident of Sunbury. He was a native of Connecticut, where he was born in 1826. The larger part of his life was passed in Ohio, his father, Charles Hemstead, having brought his family to Delaware County at an early period, and Mr. Hemstead died at his home in Sunbury. July 2, 1901, aged 75 years.
The boyhood of Edwin L. Hemstead was spent on his father's farm but as the latter was a school teacher as well as farmer, the boy had excellent educational training and spent some time at Central College. When he left home he went to Columbus, where he learned the blacksmith's trade. He married Eliza Williams, who was born April 5, 1825. at Geneva. Delaware County, Ohio, who is a daughter of Thomas and Phebe (Seaburn) Williams. The Williams family came to Delaware County from Pennsylvania. There were five children in the family. Mr. Williams owned a farm in Geneva Township.
After his marriage. Mr. Hemstead continued to work at his trade at Columbus, and his capable wife started a millinery business, having previously learned this trade, and they prospered and accumulated enough capital to invest in various properties after they came to Sunbury, in 1857. Mr. Hemstead carried on his blacksmith business there for some years, only giving it up after he had been seriously injured by a vicious horse. He was subsequently appointed mail carrier and served for a Iong time between Mt. Vernon and Central College. He was a man of much energy and enterprise and possessed excellent business judgment. In all his dealings with his fellow citizens he was honest and upright, while to his family he was kind and thoughtful.
Mr. and Mrs. Hemstead had three children: Martha Augusta, Smith Webb, and Charles Burr. Charles Burr Hemstead is a prominent physician and surgeon who is located at Croton, Morrow County, Ohio. He has been called for consultation to Cincinnati and other points. Both of the older children died of diphtheria. Martha Augusta aged seven years and eight months and Smith Webb aged two years. Mrs. Hemstead is very comfortably provided for. She resides alone at Sunbury where she owns two valuable lots of three acres each, seven acres of pasture land and other tracts, all being land that is yearly increasing in value.
In politics Mr. Hemstead was a stanch Republican. He was a member of the Odd Fellows organization and of the Masons, having been instrumental in organizing the first Masonic Lodge at Sunbury.
From 20th Century History of Delaware County, Ohio, and Representative Citizens, Edited and compiled by James R. Lytle, Delaware, Ohio, Biographical Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908