Kemper was a member of a prominent Virginia family of German ancestry. Gov. Spotswood brought the Kempers and other German families to Virginia in 1713.

Here are several websites which should help with both general and specific questions --

http://www.nps.gov/archive/gett/getttour/sidebar/lngstrt3.htm
http://www.navarrocollege.edu/library/civilwar/finding_aids/g_l/harris.htm
http://www.vcdh.virginia.edu/xml_docs/valley_news/html/opening.html