Genealogy of Slemp Family of Virginia and Tennessee

slemp
SLEMP Family in America

                “It appears that the first of this family in America was Frederick Slemp.  TENNESSEE COUSINS, TENNESSEE RECORDS and Dr. John B. Shoun’s reference to him as Simeon Slemp (Schlemp) is probably a confusion of names rather than individuals.  However it is thought by some that Simeon was the father of Frederick.  No proof has been found to justify this belief.  The family name was originally Von Schlemp, shortened to Schlemp and now Slimp or Slemp. 

                Frederick Slemp was born in Alsace, a German principality on the Rhine River and was of German origin.  He was probably born about 1737.  It seems to be the opinion of most authorities that he sailed from Amsterdam in 1751 and after nine months voyage, landed at either Norfolk, Virginia or Philadelphis, Pennsylvania.  Other Schlemps seem to have come to the colonies later.  There is a record of Johann Deter Schlemp who sailed or arrived October 16^th 1754 on the ship PEGGY ABERCONBRIE; and of George Schlemp who arrived October 3^rd 1764 on the ship KING OF PRUSSIA; and of John Frederick Schlemp who arrived on October 5^th 1767 on the ship SALLY. 

Frederick Slemp located in the Rye Valley near what is now Sugar Grove, Smythe County, Virginia, was then Wythe County and Wytheville the county seat.  Frederick Slemp’s Will was dated February 17^th 1807 and ws proven in June 1807 at Wytheville.  He specified that his iron works in Virginia was to be sold and the proceeds be divided among his wife and nine childen. 

 Frederick Schlemp married Mary Metz (Mitz, Mitts).  There is a city of Metz in Lorraine so that spelling is given preference here.  The birthdates of their children would indicate that they were married  about 1766.  It seems probably that they were married in Washingotn County, Virginia although some authorities believe that they were married in Europe before either came to America.  Mary Metz is reported to have been born iin 1742, possibly in what is now Washington County, Virginia.  She died on the 20^th of April 1826 at Shouns Junction or least at Shouns, Tennessee.  She is buried in Washington County, Virginia at least two days journey from Shounds.”

Reference: 
LEONARD SHOUN and his wife BARBARA SLEMP by Carl Neal
TENNESSEE ROSTER and SOLDIERS ** DAR
ANNALS of SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA  by L.P. Summers                  
FEDERAL CENSUS 1810 WYTHE COUNTY, VIRGINIA 
EARLY TOMBSTONE INSCRIPTIONS OF LEE COUNTY, VIRGINIA by Catron 1866 

Left to Right:  Campbell Bascom Slemp, Calvin Coolidge, Sanders

SLEMP, Campbell Bascom, (son of Campbell Slemp), a Representative from Virginia; born at Turkey Cove, Lee County, Va., September 4, 1870; attended the public schools; was graduated from Virginia Military Institute at Lexington in 1891; studied law in the University of Virginia at Charlottesville; was admitted to the bar in 1901 and commenced practice at Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.; commandant of cadets at Marion Military Institute for one year; professor of mathematics at Virginia Military Institute for several years, resigning in 1901 to enter professional and business life at Big Stone Gap, Va.; was chairman of the Republican State committee from 1905 to 1918, when he was elected a member of the Republican National Committee; was elected as a Republican to the Sixtieth Congress to fill the vacancy caused by the death of his father, Campbell Slemp; was reelected to the Sixty-first and to the six succeeding Congresses and served from December 17, 1907, to March 3, 1923; declined to be a candidate for reelection in 1922; was appointed secretary to President Calvin Coolidge on September 4, 1923, and served until March 4, 1925, when he resigned; continued the practice of his profession in Big Stone Gap, Va., and in Washington, D.C., until 1932, when he retired and resided at Big Stone Gap, Va.; died August 7, 1943, in Knoxville, Tenn.; interment in the family cemetery at Turkey Cove, Va.

Hathorn, Guy B. "The Political Career of C. Bascom Slemp." Ph.D. diss., Duke University, 1950.
Hathorn, Guy B. "C. Bascom Slemp—Virginia Republican Boss, 1907-1932." Journal of Politics 17 (May 1955): 248-64.
———. "Congressional Campaign in the Fighting Ninth: The Contest Between C. Bascom Slemp and Henry C. Stuart." Virginia Magazine of History and Biography 66 (July 1958): 337-44.
———. "The Political Career of C. Bascom Slemp." Ph.D. diss., Duke University, 1950.
Slemp, Campbell Bascom, comp. Addresses of Famous Southwest Virginians . Bristol, Va.-Tenn.: The King Printing Company, [pref. 1939.]
Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present