WILLIAM J. HUMPHREY,  Richland,  Kalamazoo County, Michigan

Contributed 2004 by  Jeffrey Spear (jeffspear@earthlink.net) for use 
in the USGenWeb Archives.

USGENWEB ARCHIVES NOTICE:  These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced 
in any format for profit or presentation by any other organization or
persons.  Persons or organizations desiring to use this material,
must obtain the written consent of the contributor, or the legal
representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb
archivist with proof of this consent. The submitter has given 
permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for 
free access.


History of Kalamazoo County, Michigan.  With Illustrations and 
Biographical Sketches of Its Prominent Men and Pioneers.  
Philadelphia: Everts & Abbott 1880.  Press of J. B. Lippincott & Co.
Philadelphia.  


WILLIAM J. HUMPHREY.  William J. Humphrey was born in the village of 
Esperance, Schoharie Co., N. Y., March 28, 1819, and was one of a 
family of ten children,--five girls and five boys.  He remained at 
home until he was seventeen years of age (excepting ten months spent,
when he was fifteen, in learning the tanner’s trade), returning home 
after the failure of his employer.  He was subsequently employed by 
Isaac Bennett for two years, at thirteen dollars a month, his time 
having been given him by his father.  In 1839 his father removed to 
Lenawee Co., Mich., and in 1840 was visited by the son, who 
subsequently proceeded to Barry County, and located on sixty-five 
acres of land for which he had paid his brother-in-law two hundred 
dollars which he had earned before attaining majority.  He found it 
necessary to go to Gull Corners, where he partook of supper and 
entered the employ of Mr. Giddings.  Soon after, he hired his 
services to a man named Jones for three years, receiving eleven 
dollars a month the first year, and twelve dollars the second.  The 
next summer he worked a breaking-plow, and the winter following hired 
to a Mr. Smith.  The latter wished to rent him his farm, and he took 
it for two years.  

March 13, 1844, Mr. Humphrey was married to Miss Elmira Spear, of 
Richland, whose father had come from Vermont and settled in Kalamazoo
County in 1833.  Mr. Spear died in 1876, at Richland.  Mr. and Mrs. 
Humphrey are the parents of five children,--Elizabeth, married, and 
living at Kalamazoo; George L., now deceased; Sophia, Franklin M., 
and Charles, these three living at home.  In 1847, Mr. Humphrey 
purchased one hundred and thirty acres of Judge Logan, and that land 
forms his present homestead.  He took charge of Logan’s farm in 1847,
and in March, 1848, moved upon the land purchased from him.  Together 
with Deacon Mason he erected a board shanty, which gave place three 
months later to a frame house.  His present dwelling was built in 
1861, and the farm of Mr. Humphrey now contains four hundred and 
twenty acres.  Both he and his wife are members of the Presbyterian 
Church.






jic