William Klemp is a native of Prussia, born in 1827, and is a son of Michael and Catherine (Rudda) Klemp, natives of Poland, who removed to America in 1847. They landed in New Orleans, from whence they went to St. Louis. Later they came to Perry County, Mo, and purchased 200 acres of land on which they located and on which both parents died, the father at the age of ninety years and the mother at the age of seventy-four years. William had charge of his father�s farm several years before the latter�s death.

William received but a limited education in his native country on account of war troubles. September 18, 1859 he was united in marriage with Margaret Snyder, a native of Metz, France, who came to Missouri with her parents in 1831 and settled in Brazeau Township, Perry County. After his marriage Mr. Klemp settled on his farm, which he sold soon after and purchased his present farm of 410 acres.

Besides his farming interests he operates a sawmill, a threshing machine and clover muller, and raises a great deal of stock and fruit. To him and wife have been born thirteen children: Caroline (wife of Fritz Bardie), Flora (deceased wife of John Buckstorf), Henry, William, Jr., Emanuel, Thomas (who died in childhood), Charles, Albert, Leonard, Emma, Tilla, Rose and Mary.

During the war Mr. Klemp was in the Home Militia, and is a Republican in politics. He and wife are members of the Lutheran Church, in which Mr. Klemp has served as director for three years. He has also served as school director for three years.

The Goodspeed Publishing Company compiled a series of histories of various counties in the U.S. in the late 19th century. The information in the History of Southeast Missouri, published in 1888, was provided by the contemporary residents of Perry County and her neighboring counties. The biographies are a valuable source of genealogical information, despite a few minor inaccuracies. We are glad to present the transcribed biographies here for anyone researching Perry County's history.