1812 - 1874

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• Birth	13 Oct 1812	Goshen,, Connecticut
  Gender	Male
  Died	23 Nov 1874	Parma, Cuyahoga, Ohio, USA
  Person ID	I3515	Brainard (Brainerd) / Foster / Fish
  Last Modified	08 Jun 2004 00:00:00
  Father	Dudley HUMPHREY
  Mother	Polly M. SHERMAN
  Family ID	F1419	Group Sheet
  Family 1	Sarah A. BIERCE
  Married	Apr 1834
  Children	1. Emma Louise HUMPHREY   2. Sarah Alice HUMPHREY   3. Delia Lucretia HUMPHREY   4. Willie HUMPHREY
  Family ID	F1431	Group Sheet
  Family 2	Sarah M. HYDE
  Married	28 Jun 1855	Wakeman, Huron, Ohio
  Family ID	F1427	Group Sheet

• Notes

  BIOGRAPHY: [note: the following bio appeared opposite page 247. Also included was a portrait of Wm. Humphrey. ] WILLIAM HUMPHREY was born in Goshen, Conn., Oct. 13, 1812, and was the seventh child of Dudley Humphrey and Polly M. Sherman. He married Sarah A. Bierce, of Cornwall, Conn., April, 1834. By this union were born four children: Emma Louisa, married Joseph Hyde, an extensive farmer, and lives in the northeast portion of the township. Sarah Alice, married George Pargus, farmer, fruit-grower, and manufacturer of lumber, and lives near Collins' Station, in the same township. Delia Lucretia, married W. B. Johnson, a merchant, at the centre of Townsend; she died June 15, 1869. Willie, died in infancy. BIOGRAPHY: Mrs. Humphrey died Nov. 18, 1854. Our subject married his second wife, Miss Sarah M. Hyde, of Wakeman, Ohio, June 28, 1855, who survives him. At an early age the subject of our sketch manifested unusual mechanical skill and ingenuity, and during his business life invented many improvements in machinery; among which is what is still known as "Humphrey's Direct Action Steam-Mill," also the "Humphrey Double Action Pump." In 1835 he removed from Connecticut to Parma, Ohio, where, with his brother, Dudley S. Humphrey, he engaged in the manufacture of clocks, lumber, etc. In 1840 the two brothers came to Townsend, purchased a large tract of land, and commenced lumbering on a large scale. They built mills and plank roads, and furnished employment for a large number of men. What was an almost unbroken forest in 1849 is now adorned by two thriving villages, broad cores of pasture, meadow, and orchard lands. He was president of the Centre Plank Road Company, and was One of the principal movers in the enterprise; in fact, was the animating force in completing the work. The lumber manufactured by them was, to a large extent, sent to an Eastern market through Milan as the nearest shipping-point for water transit; hence they became the inset extensive patrons of the plank road. He soon became the largest lsodholder in the township, and continued to be up to the time of his sudden demise. He was cool, self-reliant, and always in full command of his forces, no matter what the emergency. When, Os was frequently the case one of his mill-men would meet with an accident requiring surgical skill, like the crushing of a hand or the breaking of an arm, he was the first man sought for; when, with pocket- knife, needle, splints, ant the surgeon would seldom change it. He went boldly forward with business enterprises where many of large experience, even, would hesitate and doubt. His judgment on all business matters in which he had the management was clear, decided, and came by intuition apparently. In every sense of the word he was a large-hearted, broad-gauged man, of prepossessing appearance, attractive and genial in manner, - with strangers as well as friends. He scorned a mean or dishonorable transaction, and was incapable of doing a mean thing himself; and despised it in others. Combined with his other social qualities was the rare trait of equanimity of temper and forbearance, even under strong provocation, remembering the injury only to render some kind office to the offender when in need, which was frequently the case. This quality seemed to be recognized most fully by all who knew him. Not only his business, but his charities and his sympathies were on a broad and generous scale. He would always prefer to lose a debt than distress a poor, industrious man. He was a peacemaker of his neighborhood, and, no matter what the press of business, would attentively listen to the misfortunes and trials of others, and, like a father, freely advise those who sought his kindly offices. The estate of his father having been absorbed by indorsements for friends in the early life of our subject, he knew all about poverty, and struggles, and misfortune, and his kindly sympathies were developed in that school of experience which alone seems fitted to make men Godlike, and gives them active, intelligent sympathy for the unfortunate. To his immediate family he was a tower of strength and a fountain of love. As a neighbor, kind and obliging. As a citizen, liberal and patriotic. His biographer finds a pleasure in writing of one who was endeared to a whole community by so many amiable qualities, and who was so entirely self-made. His school-room education ended with his twelfth year. Few men with a classical education were more prosperous in business. His education was practical, and acquired in the school of experience. Politically, he affiliated with the Democratic party, but was said to be in active sympathy with the maintenance of constitutional liberty, and untiring in his labors for the comfort of soldiers during the late war. He was nominated by his party for representative, August, 1865, at a time when his party was in a hopeless minority, and of course was not elected, though he ran ahead of his ticket. He never was a member of any church organization, but treated all with respect. His religion was to do good to his fellow, - to help those in want. In short, he was one of those few noble souls who could rise above church, creed, and formulated dogma, and reach that higher principle from which it is possible to know God by discovering the Almighty in the soul. He met his death, Nov.23, 1874, by the breaking of a scaffolding, while engaged in repairing the roof of his dwelling-house. The fall broke his skull, causing his death within a few hours, and he was unconscious most of the time until death released him. -------------------------------------------- "Notice: the above material is Public Domain (no copyright)."