The Humphreys family in America - citizen hylbom blog

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Co., N. Y., b. 17 June, 1833, Frankfort, Herkimer Co.. N. Y. Fur hat man-
ufacturer. They resided in Brooklyn, N. Y., and (1882) in South Nurwalk, Ct.
Children [bom in Brooklyn, X. }'.)
2303. i. William Humphrey,** b. 30 May, 1864.
2304. ii. Mary Fuller,^ b. 19 Aug. 1867.
2305. II. M.vRY Caroline,^ b. 26 Mch., 1838; died in Victor, N. Y., 11 Nov., 1840, ee. 2
3"ears, and 7 months.
2306. III. Jacob Lobdell,' b. 27 July, 1S39; died in Victor, N. Y., 14 Nov.. 1S40, ae. i
year, and 3 months.
FAMILY 145.
2307. Hon. Harvey'^ Humphrey, [962] (/ona/Acjn,^ Isaac,'^ Ensign Samuel,^ Lieut.
Samuel, '^ Michael,^) was born 24 December, 1796, in Goshen, Ct. He married, in Rochester,
N. Y., 2 October, 1828, Elizabeth Rogers Perkins, a native and resident of Norwich, Ct., b. 24
Dec, 1808, dau. of Dyer and Charlotte Sophia (Woodbridge) Perkins. She is related to the
Griswolds and Huntingtons, and is a niece of Harriet Augusta Woodbridge, wife of Augustine*
Humphrey, [Fam. 146, S.=] She resided (1882) in Rochester, N. Y.
When Harvey Humphrey was two years of age, his father, having bought a farm in East
Bloomfield, Ontario Co., N. Y., then on the extreme Western borders of civilization, removed
there with his family. Here, for some years, in his log-cabin, built with his own hands, he
passed a life of hardship, with his strong right arm subduing the forest, letting in the sunlight
where for centuries it had not shone, and making the wilderness to bud and blossom as the rose.
The subject of this sketch used to recall with pleasure the perils and labors so well endured, the
pride with which, at an early day, he competed with men in holding the plough and swinging
the axe and scythe. He could bring to mind many hair-breadth escapes in encounters with wild
beasts, and in perils by flood and field. He liked to tell also, of his scant winter schooling, and of
the studies pursued by firelight, late into the night, and of the two or three books so thoroughly
scanned and studied and mastered. Among these was the old Bible, read and re-read, uutil its
wondrous lessons stamped vividly on his memory became the seed which in after years sprang up
in the high morality, and the rugged honesty, which dignified his manhood. He bore bravely
the yoke in his youth and found its blessing after many days in fearlessness of hardship and brave
bearing of burdens, which seemed light in contrast with those of his early life.
In 1816, he entered Hamilton College, and for four years held the first place in all his
studies. His classmates were Bishop Ives, Rev. Albert Barnes, and Harvey Johnston, the famous
western missionary, and ten others hardly less well-known. He graduated in 1820, pronouncing
the Salutatory, and would have been Valedictorian but for the fact that he had neglected too
much the art of speaking. After graduating he entered the law office of Nicholas B. Randall, of
Manlius, and studied law for two years. He was then elected tutor in Hamilton College. He
accepted the position and discharged its duties with honor until 1824, when he removed to
Rochester, and soon commenced the practice of his profession. Not long after his admission to the
bar, he was appointed Justice of the Peace, which position he continued to fill for many years;
was one of the members of the first Common Council of the City of Rochester, for many terms
Supervisor, and, from 1852 to 1856, first Judge of Monroe County. All these ofiices sought him
on account of his peculiar fitness for them, as he had all his life Kmg a jieculiar horror of self-
seeking and political wire-pulling.
In the practice of his profession, he was a wise and peculiarly judicious counselor, a close
and very lucid reasoner, and in all things thoroughly reliable and trustworthy. His services were