The Humphreys family in America - citizen hylbom blog

FA:\IILY 188.
2^37- EraStUS- Humphreys, J^I- D., [1204J (Capt. Asher,'' Esq. Olwa-.* Jonaihan,'
Lii'ut. Samuvl,' Michael,' ) was burn 17 May, 1785, in West Simsbiiry (now Canlnn), Ct. He
married, in August, 1805, Anna (ciau. of (iiles* and Abigail Loumis) Landon, ui' (.'anion, C't.,
b. 16 Oct., 1785. in Litchfield, Ct. ; died
years, and 7 months.
in Rome, Oneida Co., N. V'., ly May, 1866, a-. 80
Dr. Humphreys' early youth was passed much after the fashion of the most favored of those
days, in working on the farm during the busy season and attending school during the winters.
He enjoyed, also, the training and benefit of the library of his uncle Rev. (popularly called
"Priest") Hallock; and, at the age of eighteen, was teaching school during the w^inters and pur-
suing his more advanced studies during the summer, ending in his medical studentship with
Dr. Solomon Everest, one of the most distinguished practitioners of his day, and from whose
l)upilage several of the ablest physicians of Connecticut were graduated, and received his diploma
from the State Medical Society of Connecticut, at Hartford, in 1808. He rode with Dr. Everest
two years thereafter, and removed to Marcellus, Onondaga County, X. V., in 1810, where he at
once assumed a prominent position in that county.
At Marcellus, besides a large practice for some years (prior to 1820) in connection with
Dr. Bildad Beach, and subsequently alone, he was e.xtensively engaged in business, owning and
carrying on an oil mill, a flour or grist mill, a drug store, and during the war of 1812 a powder
mill, besides being at times Justice of the Peace. While there, he was also Clerk of the Board
of Trustees in the Presbyterian Society, under date of 18 13; and, possessing decided musical abilities,
served as choir-leader for many years.
From thence, in 1823, he removed to Auburn, Cayuga County, N. Y. At Auburn he was,
for over twenty years, in the enjoyment of a large practice, and was regarded as among the most
influential and skillful medical men of the day. He was several . years President of the Cayuga
County Medical Society, and was for some years Surgeon of the Auburn State Prison. In 1840,
he became a convert to the Homeopathic system of medicine, and from that time to his death
was an unwavering and consistent follower of that method of practice. He very soon introduced
the practice into the hospital of the Auburn State Prison, of which he was then the surgeon, and
his report to the State Prison Inspector the following year served to direct public attention still
farther to the new system. In that report, which is believed to have been the first introduction
of Homeopathy in any public institution in this country, he showed that the average number of
deaths in the hospital of some 700 to 750 convicts, from year to year, had been from twelve to
fifteen. That, for a year, under Homeopathic treatment, the deaths had been but five, and that
for the last seven months there had been no death, —thus establishing the fact that Homeopathy
was not only useful among children and nervous women, but ainong convicts and stalwart men,
as well. While a resident of Auburn, he was much interested in educational matters, ami was,
for many years, President of the Board of Trustees of the Auburn Academy, School Commissioner,
Trustee, etc.
After a brief sojourn at Syracuse he removed to Utica, in 1843, where he was Joined by
his son. Dr. F. Humphreys, the year following. In 1847, he removed to New York City, where
he engaged sedulously in the effort of founding a Homeopathic Hospital, and which only suc-
ceeded thirty years after, and in the course of which he was prostrated by a sunstroke. From this
shock he never recovered, but lingered in precarious health until the 9th of March following,
1848, when he died at Utica, NewrYork, in the 63d year of his age.
• Giles Landon is thought to have been descended from Nathan Landon, who was born about 1664, and cmigmtcd to this country:
—w.as residing in Soulhold, L. I., in 1688. Some of his descendants settled in Litchfield, Ct. Giles and Abiguil (Loomis) Landon had
four children besides Anna;— Abigail, John, and others. Abigail Loomis was bom, probably, 27 Nov. 1758, and daughter of Joel Loomis,
of Windsor, Ct. She died in 1704.