The Humphreys family in America - citizen hylbom blog

E. KiNCAiD, Esq., of Washington, D. C. ; Hon. Noah H. Osborn, of McGrawville, N. Y. ; Moses
Dyer, of Canton, Conn., and others, whose written contributions and encouragements have been
ready and valuable. I mention especially Dr. H. R. Stiles, who, all along, has been not only friend,
counsellor and guide; but, of late, chief workman and director as well. Of the financial aspect I
need not here speak, only in general, to express my thanks to those who have shown their interest
in the work by becoming its subscribers, and in some cases by having, beyond such subscriptions,
contributed liberally toward sharing my disbursements. At the close of the work is given the list
of subscribers and amounts received, as experience teaches that such lists, while even now interest-
ing, in future years, become almost invaluable.
It is cause of devout thanks to the All Father that in His kind Providence He has per-
mitted me to see the close of this work, and I also congratulate all of the name and kin in
having had placed within their reach so complete, minute, authentic and exhaustive a history of
the origin and status of the family, and of its several distinctive branches. It is worthy of remark
that the record of these several branches of the family is in no way connected on this side of the
Atlantic, and perhaps even remotely in the old world, yet all exhibit the distinctive family traits of
character. The same self-reliance, the artistic and poetic temperament, the faculty of language, the
instinctive humor, the natural grace and ease of deportment, and in an eminent degree the faculty
of construction, and the same sturdy independence of character which have all along characterized
the race, are fully sustained in these allied branches. The positions in life towards which these
gravitate, simply confirms the history as given in these pages of the family, who, having been free
to choose their occupation or callings, have out of these developed those peculiarities or graces of
character which have made them what they are. It is a record of which they may well be proud.
In all those hundreds of pages and thousands of names I have seen nothing that needs to be
concealed or which should cause one to blush; and, taken as a whole, it is a singularly honorable
and blameless record. If few of the names have, of late years, obtained eminence in political life, it
may, perhaps, be attributed to a preference for the less obtrusive duties of citizenship rather than
to a want of talent, ability, or the confidence of the community.
That the work will remain, in the long years to come, an inspiration and incentive, as well
as in some sort a monitor and guide, I have a conviction, and in this may well have my reward.
F. HUMPHREYS, M. D.