Kempner

Duane's take

Here's my telling of what the official marker has to say about Kempner, Texas — and friend, this one earns every word. The town of Kempner, right here in Lampasas County, was founded in 1882. Named for a man — and let me tell you, the man had a story worth naming something after.

Harris Kempner. Born in 1837, came from Poland as an immigrant, and somehow found himself in the heat and dust of the American South in the middle of a war. He joined Parson's Brigade, Confederate Army.

Now, that alone is a considerable chapter in any life. But Harris Kempner wasn't done writing his yet — not by a long measure. The Red River Campaign.

If you know it, you know it was no gentle affair. Kempner was wounded there. And here's the part where most stories would end: he was left on the battlefield for dead.

Left there. Done, by every account that mattered to the men who moved on without him. Except he wasn't done.

He recovered. Served out the war to its end. And then — then — Harris Kempner turned around and helped rebuild Texas.

The man who was left for dead became a philanthropist, a banker, a railroad magnate. Born 1837, died 1894. A whole era of Texas running through one life.

A town founded in 1882 carries his name to this day. Seems about right.

What the marker says

Founded in 1882. Named for Texas philanthropist, banker, railroad magnate Harris Kempner (1837-1894). An immigrant from Poland, Kempner joined Parson's Brigade, Confederate Army. Wounded in Red River Campaign, he was left on the battlefield for dead, but recovered and served to the war's end then he helped to rebuild Texas. (1964)