My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS DUGARDE HUMPHREYS.
Thomas DuGarde Humphreys, who has been prominently engaged in the practice of the law in Topeka for many years, is one of this city’s best known citizens and has been identified with numerous of its most successful business enterprises.

Mr. Humphreys was born in Nottingham, England, February 22, 1858, and is a son of Dr. Matthew and Maria Jane (DuGarde) Humphreys. His father was a successful physician and surgeon of Nottingham.

Thomas D. Humphreys attended the Dame Agnes Meller Grammar School and upon leaving that institution entered the merchant marine and naval reserve, making three complete trips around the globe. Upon leaving the service he was serving as third officer of the “Ophelia,” carrying emigrants to Queensland, Australia. He then became private secretary to Charles Bradlow, a Member of Parliament and a distinguished lawyer, who was known as the “English Ingersoll.” He read law with that gentleman during a period of seven years, then took up the study of science and art at the Kensington Science and Art School, upon graduation being awarded Queen’s prize in acoustics, light and heat, botany, freehand and mechanical drawing and chemistry. He next attended the London Science Schools, receiving honors in chemistry, botany, acoustics, light and heat. Upon coming to the United States, he located at Topeka, Kansas, in 1888, and entered upon the practice of the law. He was admitted to practice in the Federal courts in 1898, and in the Supreme Court of the United States in 1901. He built up a large and lucrative practice which has demanded the greater part of his attention, but he has found time to devote to various enterprises of importance in this city. He is connected with the Jewel Coal Company, secretary of the Forceda Coal Company, and has been one of the promoters of the Landrus Stove & Foundry Company, manufacturing the “Landrus” stove radiator.

Mr. Humphreys was united in marriage with Mrs. Elizabeth Lydia Gilmore, a widow. He has one son, by a former marriage,— Rene DuGarde, —who is attending Topeka High and Manual Training School. Fraternally, our subject is a member of the Bar Association of the State of Kansas and of the Masonic order, having taken all the degrees of the York rite and up to the 32nd degree of the Scottish rite. He is a man of broad and liberal mind and of striking personality, and has many stanch friends.