BIO: HUMES Family, Centre County, Pennsylvania Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Judy Banja and Joan Brooks Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ _______________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _______________________________________________ COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD, pages 28-30 WILLIAM P. HUMES has descended from a family that has been identified with the interest of Centre county for almost a century. HAMILTON HUMES, his grandfather, was born in Lancaster county, Penn., January 7, 1784, and removed to Bellefonte in the spring of 1810. On April 1, 1819, he succeeded R. T. Stewart, as postmaster at Bellefonte, receiving his appointment from Return J. Meigs, postmaster-general under President Monroe, and held that office until January, 1833, under General Jackson, when he met the fate of Jackson's opponents in removal from office. His physical and mental organization eminently qualified him to become a useful and enterprising citizen. He established a large mercantile business, built mills, and among other pursuits was that of the manufacture of paper at Bellefonte, on which the Centre Democrat was printed for years. His attention to business, his skill, and his fidelity to his engagements secured public confidence. He was a great friend and patron of young men; kind to the indigent and unfortunate; they never called upon his benevolence in vain. He connected himself with the Presbyterian Church at an early age, gave liberally to its support, and served acceptably as an elder for many years before his death, which occurred February 28, 1859. He was a most devoted friend of his pastor, Rev. James Linn, who preached in the Presbyterian Church for over fifty years, and both families were intimately connected. He married Ann Elmira Bailey, who was a most excellent Christian lady, a native of Lancaster county, Penn., born September 28, 1784, and died in Bellefonte, March 31, 1862. Their children were: James Humes, who died in infancy; Mrs. Elizabeth McClure, of Lewisburg; Mrs. Rachel Humes, of Jersey Shore; W. H. Humes, of Bellefonte; Miss Caroline Humes, of Bellefonte; and Edward C. Humes (father of our subject), who died March 28, 1895; and who survived all the other children. Hamilton Humes and his wife were related to and connected with Lancaster county's most prominent families, with only a few of their descendants still living. EDWARD C. HUMES had been connected with the business interests of Centre county from the very beginning of the century. He was one of Bellefonte's most prominent business men, and in business he was eminently successful. His birth occurred at Bellefonte, August 23, 1810. He received his education at the Bellefonte Academy, then under the principalship of Alfred Armstrong, and later at Dickinson College, Carlisle, Penn., and when the latter was still under control of the Presbyterian Church, from which institution he was graduated in 1829. After clerking for a short time for his father, the two became associated under the firm name of H. Humes & Co., and later on (with William H. Humes), E. C. Humes & Brother. In 1846, in connection with the late Hon. A. G. Curtin, Hon. H. N. McAllister and Hon. James T. Hale, E. C. Humes established the banking house of Humes, McAllister, Hale & Co., to which he gave all of his attention, and which soon obtained a first-class credit in the State. On June 8, 1864, this institution was merged into the First National Bank of Bellefonte, of which Mr. Humes became president, and so remained for many years, or for the remainder of his life. At the time of his death he is said to have been the oldest National Bank president in the United States. Under his able management, this latter institution was also most successful, and on account of the prominence of Mr. Humes, as well as of the several gentlemen referred to (associated with him), the bank always sustained a high reputation, both at home and abroad. Besides his interests and connection with this bank, of which he was from its beginning also a director and largest stockholder, he was a director and stockholder of the Centre County Banking Co., at Bellefonte, as well as having other large business connections through the State. He was generally acknowledged, in business circles, to be a most safe counselor and adviser, and those having large means, as well as those in moderate circumstances frequently confided in him, and to them he was always ready and willing to give his best judgment and experience. He was particularly kind and thoughtful in his home life, and what was to the happiness of his family was the oftener adding to his own pleasure. Of Mr. Humes' life nothing discreditable has ever been said. He was a man whose close attention to business made him almost a stranger in political and social spheres, but his home was always the most hospitable, and where his many friends always received a most cordial welcome. Although a Republican, he had kind feelings toward those of any other political party, and particularly so when feeling and knowing the sincerity of their convictions. He was connected with the Presbyterian Church, of which he was a lifelong member, an honored ruling elder for many years, and was a large giver to its support. He was recognized as a man of great probity and earnestness. He was never given to self-laudation, and his most intimate acquaintances never knew of Humes [portrait] Humes [portrait] Humes [portrait] COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD - 29 his many kindnesses to those in need of his helping hand. He has been sadly missed in Bellefonte by the many beneficiaries of his bounty, and the simple perfectness of his straightforward life will keep his memory bright in the hearts of those who knew him. On December 7, 1843, Edward C. Humes was married to Miss Lucy Alexander (born August 4, 1811), a niece of Mrs. William W. Potter, and three children were born to this union, two of whom are living. William P. and Miss Miley; Hamilton, the youngest, died March 21, 1892. Mrs. Humes died February 18, 1886, aged sixty- nine years. She was a devout member of the Presbyterian Church, and a most gentle-hearted, generous and in every way excellent Christian lady. In her death the Church was deprived of a stanch friend and supporter. Mrs. Humes was connected with some very prominent families. Her maternal grandfather, William Winters, came from Berks county in 1778, and settled on a farm now within the city limits of Williamsport, this State. He was twice married; his first wife was Ann Boone, a sister of Col. Daniel Boone of Kentucky. The eldest daughter, Hannah, by his first wife married Thomas Lincoln, the grandfather of President Lincoln, and shortly before his death, Lincoln (who was killed by the Indians) visited William Winters at his home, now Williamsport, and John Winters, his brother-in-law, returned to Kentucky with him, whither Mr. Lincoln had removed, after his marriage, from Virginia, John being deputed to look after some lands taken up by Col. Boone and his father. The second wife of William Winters was Ellen Campbell, whom he married in 1774. Mr. Winters died in 1794, and his widow resided where Williamsport now is, where she remained and reared her children as follows: Mary became the wife of Charles Huston, who adorned the Bench of the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania. Ellen became the wife of Thomas Burnside, a member of Congress, judge of common pleas, and a justice of the supreme court. Sarah became the wife of Benjamin Harris, of Williamsport. Elizabeth became the wife of Thomas Alexander, of Williamsport. Lucy became the wife of Hon. William W. Potter, a leading politician of Centre county, who died a member of Congress; he was the son of Gen. James Potter, one of the earliest settlers of Centre county. On the death of Mr. Potter in 1838, the widow resided at Bellefonte, and after the marriage of her niece to Edward C. Humes, made her home with them the rest of her lifetime. She was married in 1816, and died May 30, 1875, at the ripe old age of nearly eighty-five years. Her character was a very decided one, perceiving the right course to pursue and never swerving therefrom. A consistent Christian, and member of the Presbyterian Church for more than half a century. She had no children of her own, and so fixed upon herself the affections of the children of her niece, to which during her life she was an always present, ready and willing friend and ally. William P. Humes, the subject proper of this sketch, was born in Bellefonte September 21, 1844. He received his education in the academy at Bellefonte and at Pennsylvania State College, returning from the latter to Bellefonte the first year of the Civil war, where, after assisting in closing up the business of E. C. Humes & Bro., he became connected with what was more generally known as Humes, McAllister, Hale & Co., private bankers, composed of E. C. Humes, H. N. McAllister, James T. Hale and A. G. Curtin, which bank later became the First National Bank of Bellefonte (our subject's father being the honored president), with which institution William P. Humes has through all the intervening years been associated. He is a director in the bank and also a large stockholder. Enterprising and progressive in business lines, Mr. Humes sustains the reputation secured by his father and grandfather in the community in which they so long figured in business affairs, and in which they so long enjoyed the confidence of all. He is of a diffident, unassuming and retiring disposition, very generous and most kind to those in need; a member of the Presbyterian Church, he is one of its ablest supporters; in politics he is a Republican; socially, a member of the Union League Club of Philadelphia, as well as of several other organizations. On December 27, 1877, Mr. Humes was married to Miss Eliza D., daughter of James D. and M. A. Harris, and to this union was born a daughter, Lucy Hamilton, who died July 1, 1881, in the forty-fourth year of her age. She, too, was a most consistent member of the Presbyterian Church and devotedly attached to its welfare, was most charitable and kind to all, and her sudden death, which brought such a shock and so much sorrow to those nearest and dearest to her, caused a gloom over the whole community. She was one of a family of six children, three of whom are now deceased: James, who died quite young, with Mrs. T. M. Potter and Mrs. Eliza D. Humes; those living are: Mrs. Nancy D. Orbison, Mrs. Jane H. Sommerville, and Mrs. Louisa H. Hoy. Mr. and Mrs. Harris, father and mother of Mrs. Humes, were among the early settlers of COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD - 30 Bellefonte, closely identified with its best interests, and connected with its most prominent families. They were both most worthy members of the Presbyterian Church, Mr. Harris also having served as a most efficient ruling elder in this Church. Mr. Harris died February 26, 1842, almost nine years before Mrs. Harris, whose death occurred February 1, 1851.