Isaac M. Humphrey Biography


	This biography appears on pages 898-901 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

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				ISAAC M. HUMPHREY. 

	Isaac M. Humphrey, a capitalist of Rapid City and the president 
of the Rapid City Implement Company, has been closely associated with 
the development of western South Dakota along agricultural, commercial 
and financial lines. He seems to readily recognize the possibilities of 
any business situation, takes cognizance of conditions and so molds 
them as to produce the most desirable results. Never fearing to venture 
where favoring opportunity has led the way, his ability and even paced 
energy have carried him into important business relations. He was born 
in Buffalo, New York, October 25, 1851, a son of Arthur K. and Hulda 
(Olcott) Humphrey, the former of English and the latter of Scotch 
descent. Arthur K. Humphrey was born near Buffalo, New York, his 
parents having taken up their abode there with the colony of settlers 
who came from New England, The paternal grandfather Arthur Humphrey, 
Sr., was of English birth and when a young man came to the United 
States, remaining for a brief period in New England and thence removing 
to New York. Both the father and mother of Isaac M. Humphrey have long 
since passed away. In their family were eight children, of whom he is 
the third in order of birth. 

	In the schools of Buffalo he pursued his education to the age of 
ten years and then accompanied his parents on their removal to 
Maquoketa, Jackson county, Iowa, where he settled on a farm, after 
which his educational opportunities were limited to three months, 
attendance at the district school during the winter seasons. He 
remained upon his father's farm until the spring of 1872 and then went 
to Sioux City, Iowa. Later he made his way to Battle Creek, Nebraska, 
where he secured a homestead claim, and in 1877 he came to the Black 
Hills country, locating in Rapid City, where he engaged in mining for 
some time, meeting with moderate success. He next went to Deadwood, 
where he did expressing. In February, 1878, he returned to Rapid City 
and engaged in logging and in the sawmill business. In 1879 he began 
freighting with a bull outfit and thus continued the business until 
1882, when he took a contract to transport mining machinery from 
Blackfoot, Idaho, to the land of the Salmon river, his destination 
being at a camp called Bonanza, He continued in the freighting business 
until 1883, when he sold his outfit, purchased horses and returned to 
Rapid City. He then began raising horses on a ranch covering the 
location of the present town of Underwood. He made this his chief 
interest in addition to a live-stock commission business in St. Joseph, 
Omaha and Chicago. He furnished many government contracts for the 
various Indian agencies both for beef and stock cattle. He drove many 
horses and sheep from Oregon, Montana and Washington and also shipped 
from many points in Arizona, Texas and Old Mexico. He is still actively 
interested in ranching, being the owner of large flocks of sheep and 
herds of cattle and extensive tracts of fund. His business affairs have 
reached mammoth proportions and the growth of his interests has been 
along legitimate and commendable lines. 

	In 1907 Mr. Humphrey became interested in the organization of the 
Rapid City Implement Company, of which he has been the president since 
it was founded. His activities have extended to connection with many 
financial interests and he is now a director of the First National Bank 
of Rapid City, vice president of the Bank of Hot Springs, a director of 
the Bank of Custer, a director of the Bank of Keystone, and a director 
of the First State Bank of Newell. He is likewise treasurer of the 
Rapid City Packing Company and is one of the owners of the Evans Hotel 
at Hot Springs. He has thus extended his business connections along 
many lines and in all has displayed his sound judgment and keen 
sagacity. While engaged in conducting and managing his ranch he was 
much interested in the breeding of fast driving horses and saddle 
horses. 

	On the 14th of December, 1904, Mr. Humphrey was united in 
marriage to Miss Isabel Scott, a daughter of William and Marion Scott, 
of Omaha, Nebraska. Mrs. Humphrey is active in the church, social and 
club circles of Rapid City and does effective work along those various 
lines. 

	In politics Mr. Humphrey is a democrat with independent 
tendencies. Ill 1887 he was elected county commissioner of Pennington 
county but resigned before the close of his term. Fraternally he is 
connected with Omaha Lodge, No. 39, B. P. O. E., and with the United 
Commercial Travelers. He belongs to the Episcopal church and is a 
member of the vestry. He finds recreation in hunting, fishing and 
motoring and in his later years his success has left him more leisure 
to indulge his tastes along those lines. With the west, its upbuilding 
and development he is largely familiar and is acquainted with the 
various phases of pioneer life and later progress which have led to the 
improvement of this section of the farm.