John J. Hemphill

John J. Hemphill
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives from South Carolina's 5th district
In office March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1893
Preceded by	Robert Smalls
Succeeded by	Thomas J. Strait
Member of the South Carolina House of Representatives
In office 1876 – 1882
Personal details
Born	John James Hemphill (1849-08-25)August 25, 1849 Chester, South Carolina, U.S.
Died	May 11, 1912(1912-05-11) (aged 62) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Resting place	Oak Hill Cemetery Washington, D.C., U.S.
Political party	Democratic
Spouse(s)	Addie Avery ​ (died)​ Elizabeth S. Henry
Children	1
Relatives	William H. Brawley (cousin) J. C. Hemphill (cousin) John Hemphill (uncle) Robert Witherspoon Hemphill (great-nephew)
Alma mater	University of South Carolina
Profession	Lawyer politician writer

John James Hemphill (August 25, 1849 – May 11, 1912) was a U.S. Representative from South Carolina.

John James Hemphill was born on August 25, 1849, in Chester, South Carolina, to James H. Hemphill. He attended public schools and was graduated from the University of South Carolina at Columbia in 1869. He studied law under his father and was admitted to the bar in 1870.^[1][2][3]

After graduating, Hemphill practiced law in Chester. He was an unsuccessful candidate for the state legislature in 1874. He served as member of the South Carolina House of Representatives from 1876 to 1882. He was elected as a Democrat to the Forty-eighth and to the four succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1883 – March 3, 1893). He served as chairman of the committee on the District of Columbia (Fiftieth and Fifty-second Congresses). He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1892 to the Fifty-third Congress. He resumed the practice of law in Washington, D.C. at the Washington Loan and Trust Building, while retaining his residence in South Carolina. He was an unsuccessful candidate for election as United States Senator from South Carolina in 1902.^[1][4] He wrote a number of books, including Why The Solid South.^[2]

In 1912, Hemphill was a member of the board of trustees of George Washington University.^[5]

Hemphill married Addie Avery, granddaughter of John Motley Morehead, of Morganton, North Carolina. She died. He then married Elizabeth S. Henry of Maryland. They had a son, John J. Jr.^[2][6][7] His cousin William H. Brawley, uncle John Hemphill and great-nephew Robert Witherspoon Hemphill were all politicians.^[1][7] He was also cousins with editor J. C. Hemphill.^[3] He was a member of the Metropolitan Club and the Chevy Chase Club.^[2]

Hemphill died on May 11, 1912, at his home on Bancroft Place in Washington, D.C.^[1][4] He was interred in Oak Hill Cemetery in Washington, D.C. His pallbearers included James S. Sherman and Joseph McKenna.^[1][8]

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