The Humphreys family in America - citizen hylbom blog

1052
"With regard to the origin of the Tennessee and Southern affiliated families, I think there
inust be considerable allowance made for romancing and the repetition of the 'three brothers'
story so apt to appear in the cloudy origin of families. The editor had frequent and long corre-
spondence and consultation with Gov. Benjamin G. and with Gen. Andrew A. on the subject,
and Benjamin G. concluded that the three brothers' story had no foundation; in fact, that no
brothers of the Humphrey family ever went anywhere together, unless under compulsion, and that the
strong probability was that the Southern Humphreys were a branch of the Pennsylvania family;
while Gen. A. A. Humphreys was firmly convinced of that fact and he argued that the name of
the Gov., "Benjamin Grubb," could hardly be accounted for, except as a namesake of Benjamin
Grubb, a kinsman of the ancestors of the Pennsylvania family. And we have the farther concurrent
testimony that one of the brothers of the father of Joshua went West, and of whose descendants we
have no record, unless it be this Southern, or Tennessee, Kentucky and Mississippi family. The
statement that they came down the Monongahela and then the Ohio and Mississippi in a flat boat
('broad horn') is contributory evidence of their Pennsylvania rather than Virginia origin." F. H.]
THE FOLLOWING FAMILY IS PROB.VBLY CONNECTED WITH THE PRECEDING:
"Toledo, 111., Sept. lo, 1S83.
"Otis M. Humphrey, M. D. :
"Dear Sir. —Your circular of late date duly received, and afforded me pleasure to hear
of your enterprise, and I will cheerfully add a little to the list.
" I\Iy name is Western R. Humphrey; was born near Westport, Oldham County, Ky., Mch.
30, 1828. My fathers name is John M. Humphrey; born at Lexington, Ky., on the 24th of May,
1805—now living. His father's (my grand-father) name was Holman Sneed Humphrey; was born
May 24, 1781, in Kentucky (I think), and he died in this county, Feb., 1866. My great grand-
father's name was Merry Humphrey; he was born in Virginia, about the year 1750, and died in
1840, leaving some twenty children living. His father's name was David Humphrey, who died in
Virginia not many years after the close of the Revolutionary War. I have not been able to trace
our family any further back than to above-named David Humphrey.
"I was married to Miss Annie Doughty, at Casey, Clark County, 111., on the 23d Sept.,
1S52. We have six children, in the following order: Fannie, Floretta, John M., Rozee M., Laura
A. and Charles W. Fannie is married to B A. Langston, residing at Eureka Springs, Ark.
Floretta and all the rest of our children are single, And residing with me, excepting our son John M.,
who is a licensed lawyer, and is now U. S. Pension Special Examiner, located at Wichita, Kan.
* * * ** *
"My grand-father had a brother David, who died in Taney Co., Mo.
"Yours truly,
"W. R. Humphrey."
*******
A MARYLAND FAMILY OF UMPHREY.
Thomas Umphrev was born on the Eastern shores of Maryland, 25 Dec, 17S7. His parents
were from Wales, and moved to Bourbon County, Ky., where he was reared to manhood; his
father died when Thomas was but a small boy.
Thomas Umphrey was married to Mary Lear, 14 June, 1805. He moved from Kentucky
to Ohio (Highland County) in the year 1826; moved from Ohio to Illinois (Stephenson County)
in 1845. He died July 9, 1856. ]\Iary Umphrey, his wife, was born May 15, 1787, and died
Aug. 27, 1872. Thomas Umphrey 's mother's name was Araminta Umphrey. She married a man
by the name of Benjamin Williams after the death of her husband. Thomas Umphrey's father's
name and age we do not know; he had but one brother, whose name was John. His mother died
near the little Miami river, Ohio, between 1835 and 1840, as near as I can tell.