Biography - Thomas Humphrey
Thomas B. Humphrey, a blacksmith at Tunnel Hill, Johnson County, was born in Calloway County, Kentucky November 11, 1846. His father Alfred Humphrey was born in North Carolina. He was a farmer and was united in marriage in North Carolina with Miss Nancy Pascal. They came from Kentucky to Union County, Illinois, in the fall of 1854, driving through by land with their family of four sons and three daughters and their stock. Thomas was the youngest of the seven.
Mr. Humphrey bought forty acres of land on which they lived less than one year and sold out. They then removed to Johnson County, Illinois in 1855 and entered 320 acres of land near old Reynoldsburg in Tunnel Hill Township. After living there five years, they sold out and removed to Missouri. Living in Crawford County one year when they returned to Johnson County, Illinois and bought 80 acres at Tunnel Hill or where that place now is. This move was made in the fall of 1860 and there they made their permanent home, the father dying there April 26, 1873 aged eighty six years. His widow died within a year afterward aged seventy six. They buried one daughter, Martha, a young lady of sixteen. Since the death of the parents James died in Trinity County, Tex., in 1874 or 1875, leaving a wife and family on his farm in that State. The children living are as follows; William 2nd, of Paris TN., Sidney D. a farmer in Tunnel Hill Township, Elizabeth widow of Alvah Lawrence who was a farmer in this vicinity, Lucy wife of Alvah Dalton a farmer near by and Thomas B.
Our subject was 26 years old when he married Margaret Ann Colbath, who was born in Tunnel hill Township, February 14, 1847, whose parents were born and reared in this county. Thomas B. Humphrey and his wife have lived on the farm ever since their marriage. March 9, 1890 he purchased a half interest in the blacksmith and wagon making business of J. H. Hailey, and the firm name is Miller and Humphrey. Though our subject had served no apprenticeship at any trade, yet he naturally takes to mechanics and hence his success at his present business. He still owns his farm of one hundred eighty acres one mile east of Tunnel Hill. He and his wife have buried three infant children and have eight living, three sons and five daughters, viz.: Rosa Ann, a young lady of twenty, Ida Jane, Thomas, Edward, Arthur, Melinda, Julia A., and Adeline, four years old all at home and in school except the baby. The children are conducting the farm, and Mr. Humphrey gives his attention to his blacksmithing and wagon making. He is an unswerving Republican and Master Mason and is also Secretary of Reynoldsburg Lodge No. 419.
Transcribed 12 Mar 2002 by Vera Burnham from 1893 Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope, and Hardin Counties, Illinois, pages 405-406.
