Pam,
Thanks so much for responding. I too was very little when I saw the movie about the Quantrills... LOL
I'm no further along with my research than when I wrote my original post a year ago. I think this side of the family will be gone forever, as unfortunately as many other ancestors in our nation.
And what's really unfortunate is that I didn't take an interest in this before Uncle Wilbur died (about 10 yrs ago). I know he had more information like who were his mother's siblings which I can't find either. I've even tried tracking ancestors of Jim Tanner hoping someone in their family may have passed along the story of "old Jim" who found a boy and raised him as his own. No luck there either.
I imagine finding the truth about your family will be nearly impossible too. The truth stretches each time its repeated, so maybe what is best for you is to at least document in your words what family has told you... that he was and wasn't a good guy.
I just read a good article (
http://www.thehistorynet.com/acw/blbittercivilwar/ ). I'm writing the author this morning to see if he has the name of KEMP in any of his research files! Could I be so lucky???!!!
Best wishes for finding the truth... as you know, it's sometimes stranger than fiction.
Barb