The Humphreys family in America - citizen hylbom blog

634
one year, under his uncle, Rev. Dr. Hector Humphreys. In 1838 he was clerk in the house of
William G. Harrison, in Baltimore; from 1839 to 1844 he was clerk in the house of the late
Gov. E. D. Morgan, of New York ; he then removed to St. Louis to enter into the wholesale
grocery and commission business with George W. Thatcher, constituting the firm of Humphreys
& Thatcher, in which business he achieved a wide reputation as an enterprising and honorable
merchant. He continued to reside at St. Louis till December, 1853, then returned to New York
and joined the firm of E. D. Morgan & Co., Jan. i, 1854, which firm has continued up to this
date, 1885. This house was founded in 1837, and has been one of the leading firms in New
York since that period. It has been, for the, most of the time, largely engaged in the sugar,
coffee and tea trade, having had relations in its business with all parts of the world where these
articles are produced. They have also at times been largely engaged in financial negotiations. He
has resided at Bergen Point, New Jersey, his present home, since 1856.
Mr. Humphreys was one of the original promoters of the Ohio and Mississippi R. R. in
Illinois, in 1851, and also of the Iron Mountain R. R. in Missouri, in 1852. After his removal
to New York, his firm was the agent for the sale of the bonds of the State of Missouri, issued
to its roads, and was in other ways interested in the roads of that State. In 1871 he was one
of the active parties in the reorganization of the North Missouri Road into the St. Louis, Kansas
City and Northern Railway Co. But perhaps the most noteworthy labor of Mr. Solon Humphreys'
very busy and active life, has been his connection with the Wabash System of railwa3^s . In 1866
he, in conjunction with Azariah Boody and others, organized the Toledo, Wabash and Western
Railroad, extending from Lake Erie to the Mississippi river, by the consolidation of six_ original
companies, in Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, comprising some 600 miles, and being one of the first
consolidations of railroads in different States in this country. Subsequentl_y, after having been dis-
connected with the company for several years, he was one of the most active members of the
parties to the foreclosure and reorganization of this property, in 1877, into the Wabash Railway
Company; and two years later its consolidation with the St. Louis, Kansas City and Northern
Railway Co., extending west of the Mississippi river to Kansas City and Omaha, into the Wabash,
St. Louis and Pacific Railway Co., now known as the Wabash System, comprising some 3,500
miles of railway, in seven of the United States, and with which he has been connected since
that time, as President in 1880-2, subsequently as Chairman of its Executive Committee, and since
May, 1884, as one of its Receivers in the U. S. Court. He was one of the original promoters
of the '
' great bridge " over the Missouri River at St. Louis, which was constructed at a cost of
over twelve million dollars, and was Receiver of the Bridge Company in 1877-9. He was Presi-
dent of the reorganized company of 1879-81. He was one of the principle promoters of the
"Pittsburgh and Western Railroad" in 1881, and was its_ Vice-president in 1882-4. He was
Vice-president of the Chamber of Commerce, in New York, in 1873, ^^d has been its Treasurer
from 1878 to the present time.
Mr. Humphreys was largely instrumental in the organization of Trinity Protestant Episcopal
Church, Bergen Point, N. J., in 1859, and has been Warden since its organization. Its church
edifice at Bergen Point, its grounds and rectory, are amongst the most beautiful in the State of
New Jersey. In private life, in all its diversified, religious, social and business relations, Mr.
Humphreys occupies a most conspicuous position, and is only spoken of in terms of the most
exalted estimation and regard, illustrating, as hi? father and grand-father and remote ancestors
before him, the best traits of the family character.
'Mt. Humphreys is a member of the firm of E. D. Morgan & Co., No. 54 Exchange Place,
New York City. Res. (1885) Bergen Point, N. J.
CMd :
3659. I. Ei)w.\Rn W.M.SH," born 15 December, 1848; married Mary Duane. I'amii.y 487.