The Humphreys family in America - citizen hylbom blog

CONCLUDING PREFACE.
In concluding this to me, and to those personally engaged in it, long, laborious and
anxious work, it only remains to speak, by way of apology, of some of our embarrassments; to
acknowledge our many obligations to sympathizers and helpers, and to express our congratulations
at the results attained.
Only those who have gone through a similar labor can well appreciate the difficulties attend-
ing the getting together of such an immense array of details, and of presenting them in the orderly
sequence of families and of individuals, with the numerous dates and initials of each of the thous-
ands of persons mentioned, with fidelity and precision. Such a labor can only be accomplished by
those who have a love and aptitude for the work, with fortunate surroundings of comfort and
leisure, as well as zeal for its performance. Even armed with these, their devotion will be sorely
tried during its long and toilsome progress.
During the twenty years which have elapsed since its commencement, illness and the grave
have not failed to claim their own, and often most sadly to interfere with plans and arrangements.
Of those more directly engaged in the work may be mentioned Dr. Otis M. Humphreys, whose
failure in health early caused his abandonment of it; Mrs. S. M. Churchill, deceased, to whose
unremitting industry for three years I am so much indebted, and to Gen. A. A. Humphreys, who
had only prepared to do so important a part when he was suddenly called hence; not to mention
others. The building, indeed, has gone on, though the workmen have failed, but such failure has
always entailed somewhat of disappointment, and doubtless of loss.
That defects and even errors should creep -into such a work is inevitable. Those who
construct can only work up, as best they may, the material furnished, and it can hardly be e.xpected
that all the details of such a plan should come together and be arranged in perfect order and
harmony. Yet, it is a matter of congratulation that so few blemishes or errors have appeared, and
that on every hand its wonderful precision has been so generally praised. If, in any case, justice
has not been fully done, or the meed of praise been up to the standard of expectation, the censure
should be mild toward those, who, like the faithful painter, have always desired and endeavored to
present their subjects in the most favorable light.
My obligations are deep and sincere to the very many careful, painstaking men and women
all over the country, who have from time to time, and even repeatedly, copied records, obtained
and forwarded information and details innumerable, and thus made the work possible, yet whose
names, owing to the loss of those since passed away, cannot now appear. But I may especially
mention Mr. D. Williams Patterson, who early did considerable work for us in Connecticut; Mr.
Gilbert Nash, who almost entirely furnished the Dorchester and Weymouth branch; Capt. James
J. Humphrey, of Yarmoulhvillc, Me.; J. Otis IIumphrky, Esq , of SprinKficUl, 111.; Mr. Geokce
WiLMOT Humphreys, of Delphi, N. Y. ; I'ruf. William Einley Humphkeys, ..f Full..n, Mo.; Charles