The Humphreys family in America - citizen hylbom blog

FAMILY 193.
2728. Solomon" Humphrey, [1216] (Sulomo>i,'= Solomon,'^ /o7ialha>!,i Lieut. Samuel,-
Michael,\i was born 23 Sept., 1775, in West Simsbury, Ct. He married Ursula Andrews. He
is said to have died in the State of New York, in February, 1835.*
[Children, whose records have not been obtained.] ,
FAMILY 194.
2729. Rev. Heman^ Humphrey, D. D., [1217] (Solomon,^ Sokmon,* Jonathan,^' Lkut.
Samuel,^ Michael,^) was born 26 March, 1779, in West Simsbury (now Canton), Ct. His father,
Solomon Humphrey, was a farmer, and is described as "a man of good common school education,
of more than ordinary taste for reading, of good common sense and unblemished reputation;
—temperate, industrious and frugal." He was married twice, and Heman was the oldest child of
his second wife, Hannah Brown, the daughter of Captain John Brown, of West Simsbury, Ct.,
who died in the service of his country during the war of the Revolution. He was the grandfather
of the renowned John Brown, of Osawatomie.-f
Heman Humphrey's mother is represented as a woman of uncommon mental capacity, who
did what she could for the education of her children, in those days when the books upon the
shelf at home would hardly number a half-dozen besides the Bible, Assembly's Catechism, and
Dihvorth's Spelling-Book; and those furnished by the district schools added but very few to the list.
When Heman was about si.x years old his father removed to Burlington, Ct., where three
years later the lad attended his first school, which was taught by a farmer in the neighborhood.
At this time we also often find him bending with eager interest, by the light of pine torches or
of the kitchen fire, over such books as Robinson Crusoe or the Pilgrim's Progress, furnished him
from the small library collected by the pastor of the parish; or we see him watching impatiently
for the post-rider who brought the weekly Hart/ord Courant. This was a very small sheet in those
days, but the only newspaper that found its way into that retired region, apd no word it con-
tained escaped the eye of the boy, hungry for wider knowledge than his restricted life aflxirded.
From this time, during several years, his summers were occupied either on his father's farm
or that of a neighbor, while in the winter he attended the district school. One of these summers
was spent upon the farm and in the family of Gov. Treadweil, of Farmington, Ct. , and in allusion
to this time he says, "I can never be sufficiently thankful for the kind Providence which gave me
a home in this inestimable family." It was his habit during these seasons of labor to improve in
study all the time that was his own, while the cattle were "baiting at the noon-spell." He used
the cart for a shade and the "hind-board" for a desk. At the age of si.\teen he made his first
attempt at school-teaching, and for several years spent the intervals between the summers of farm
life in this occupation.
In considering those early surroundings, which were most powerful in their effect upon his
character and future course, we should not fail to recognize the decidedly religious character of
his home. It is thus described: "The influence and savor of Christianity were always in the
household where Mr. Humphrey was nurtured. His father and mother had both been trained in
the atmosphere of Puritanism. Daily the father ministered at the family altar. All the outward
observances of Christianity were rigidly enforced. The sunset of Saturday was the hither bound
of 'holy time.' Then work ceased, and all were enjoined to lay aside worldly cares, and compose
themselves for the worship of the following day. All were required to attend public worship with
the strictest regularity, and the catechising of the afternoon made a Sunday School of the family."
* 1830, ace. to Judge H. H. Barbour, [Fam. 67 (1229), S.] He died in Western Missouri, ace. to one record,
t See Family iS U=4). S.