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Hempstead, Junius L

poet, was born Nov. 14, 1842, in Dubuque, Iowa. He is the son of the late Governor Hempstead. His educattion began in the public schools, and then took a course in St. Charles college, Mo. Always studious and fond of art, music and literature, when a youth he secured the blue ribbon two successive seasons at the St.

Louis fair, and also two premium prizes of seventy-five and one hundred dollars for the best original statues in marble.

He won the first prize offered for the best original statuette in marble by Dr. Van Zandt. It was carved from a block of Vermont marble. The next year the prize was again taken by him, therefore Dr.

Van Zandt offered to send him to Paris and Italy, defraying all expenses for six years, but the offer was declined, however, and he was sent to a Virginia college. He began his business career with bookkeeping, but for years past, most of his time has been given over to literature.

He is represented as a poet in Golden Thoughts of American Writers; Poets of America; and has published one volume of poems, Parnassian Niches.