Robert G. Humber
History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894
USGENWEB Montana Archives
May be copied for non-profit purposes.

Hon. Robert G. Humber, of Deer Lodge Montana came to the 
Territory in 1865 and since that time has in various ways 
been identified with its interests. Of his life we make 
record as follows:

Robert G. Humber was born in Stanford, Lincoln County, 
Kentucky, March 25, 1841 and is of English descent. His 
ancestors emigrated to this country and settled in Virginia 
previous to the Revolution, and were participants in the great 
struggle for independence. His grandfather Charles Humber was 
born near Richmond Virginia and his wife Martha (Coles) 
was also a Virginian. Her brother was at one time Mayor of 
Richmond. Charles Humber and his wife had a large family, 
their son Newmeris, born at Crab Orchard, Kentucky in 1812, 
being the father of our subject. The latter's mother, whose 
maiden name was Martha Forbes, was a native of Winchester, 
Kentucky. When Robert G. was small the family removed to 
Missouri. In 1856 they went from there to Leavenworth County 
Kansas where the father owned 1600 acres of land, a most 
beautiful place, and where he and his family resided for a 
period of thirteen years. He came to Montana in 1874 and 
settled in Deer Lodge and here he resided up to the time of 
his death, which occurred February 13, 1888. Nearly the 
whole of his life he was an active member of the Christian 
Church, being a pillar in the church at the various places 
where he lived. He was in favor of the Union and strongly 
opposed the Civil War. His wife died in 1877. She was the 
personification of all that is lovely in women.

Robert G. is the only child of this worthy couple. He was 
educated at Columbia Missouri and was in his last year at 
college with the great Civil War broke out. He entered the 
Confederate Army and for three years served in Missouri, 
Arkansas and Texas. In Missouri he was captured by Union 
forces and was paroled on his word of honor that he would not 
again take up arms against the Government. After this he 
turned his attention to freighting, his father furnishing 
him an outfit and he freighted to Denver, Colorado until the 
spring of 1865. At that time he was married. Soon after his 
marriage he started with his bride for Montana, making the 
long journey across the plains with an ox team and traveling 
with a train composed of about sixty wagons, a number of the 
emigrant party being relatives of theirs. They started on the 
28th of May and reached their destination on the 20th of 
September. Mr. Humber bought with him a drove of cattle and 
upon his arrival here he located at Race Track Creek in Deer 
Lodge Valley on a farm of 160 acres and at first, in addition 
to his farming and stockraising he engaged in freighting to
Helena and other points in Montana. In 1867 he returned to the 
states and in 1874 brought his father and all the family out 
with him. From that time until 1880 he carried on a prosperous 
freighting business.

He married in Atchison Kansas, Mary E. Williams, a native of 
Madison County Kentucky. Mrs. Humber is a relative of Henry 
Clay, Thomas Benton and General Shelby and her family on both 
sides were prominent Southerners. Her maternal grandfather was 
killed at the battle of Raisin River, while fighting gallantly 
under General Harrison. He was a Captain,under the immediate 
command of General Winchester. He was wounded and obliged to 
surrender, being promised safety, but being killed by Indians. 
Mrs. Humber's paternal grandfather was also an officer in the 
same army--a Colonel.

Mr. and Mrs. Humber have six children: Mary Bryan (wife of D.S. 
Fotheringham); Mattie Gano, (wife of Hon. Edward Scharnikow, 
resides in a beautiful home adjoining her father's residence); 
Robert Hart, Jessie Lee, Lillian Henley and Rollyn Raymond, at 
home.

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