Dempster, J. A.

James Alexander Dempster was born Sept. 28, 1840 in West Dundee, IL to Alexander Robertson and Jane Blythe Whittaker Dempster.
Died Dec. 20, 1914 in Omaha, NE. Buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Omaha.
Married Mary Elizabeth Hoag Robertson.
Parents of one son: E. J. Dempster
Served in the Civil War in the Fifty-second Illinois infantry. Fought in the battles at Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Resaca, Kennesaw Mountain, and Atlanta.
He was with the army under Sherman on the march to the sea.
Came to Nebraska in 1871 and lived on a homestead in Fillmore County until 1875.
Was the county superintendent in 1873 and lived in a sod house on a farm near Ohiowa. The school was held in a sod house. G. A. Folden was a teacher there.

In 1878 he served as postmaster at 972 G.
In 1879 he advertised as “Old Reliable” druggist.
In 1880 he built a corn crib behind the Putnam Hotel at 948 G.
In 1883 he and his brother, J. H., were partners in Dempster Bros. at 972 G.
In 1885, he joined with Hazlett and Greene in a drug store at 924 G.
In 1889, Dempster and Hazlett sold to Laflin and Woodworth.
In 1889 he was elected as a representative for the state legislature.
In 1891 he organized and was the first president of the Geneva National Bank.
Moved to Lincoln in 1892 and to Omaha in 1898.
Superintendent of agents of the Bankers’ Reserve Life company.
Department commander for Nebraska and commander-in-chief of the Shiloh battle survivors’ organization.
Past department commander of the Grand Army of the Republic for Nebraska.

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