My Genealogy Hound

William T. Humphrey, farmer and stock dealer, was born in Harrison County, Ky., in 1832, the second of eleven children of Henry M. and Rebecca (Wallace) Humphrey, natives of Kentucky, and born in 1809 and 1811, respectively. The grandfather, William, a native of Virginia, was born of Irish parents. Henry was married about 1830, five years later moved to Rush County, Ind., and in 1839 came to his present residence. The mother died in 1875, and both were members of the Missionary Baptist Church. Our subject received pioneer advantages of education, and in 1853 married Elizabeth F., a daughter of William and Emily Smith. She died in 1858, and in 1859 he married Mary S., a daughter of David and Sarah Rodefer, and born in 1840, in this county. The children by his first wife are William H., Mary J. and James T., and by his last wife, David G., Alice, Jesse S., George W., John R., Rebecca E., Alexander R., Cora E., Mattie C. and Amelia B. Our subject has lived in this county, excepting a few months in Rush County, Ind., since he came with his parents. After renting, several years, he finally, in 1885, located on his present estate of 270 acres, which is highly improved, and on which there is a fine residence. In 1862 he joined Capt. Hicks’ Company of Confederate Volunteers, served at Kirksville and Walnut Grove, and after an unsuccessful attempt to get south, they disbanded. He went to Quincy, Ill., where he was arrested by the Federals, and taken to LaGrange, and afterward to Palmyra, where he was paroled by the Provost-Marshal, on bonds to the city limits. He was afterward released by the Confederate troops, but he refused to leave until his bonds were released. The Federals occupied the city, and in retaliation for a supposed Confederate murder, selected ten men to be shot, and our subject was one of the number. The petitions of his wife and friends, however, and the payment of $300 secured his release. For several years he has been president of the F. M. B. A. He has been a Whig and a Democrat. He is a prominent member of the F. & A. M., A. O. U. W., and P. of H. He and his wife have long been members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and for twenty years he has been Sunday-school superintendent, at Corinth.