Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-07-26
Death OF William Humphrey.

Thursday morning that during the night
VIM Humphrey had departed this life.
Although there Were few if any who
had hope of his recovery. yet the end
came sooner than was expected. He
took a journey to California last winter
for the benefit of his health,bu returned
last spring weaker than when lie left.
His disease was mesenteric tuberculer-
osis, primarily caused by an injury re-
ceiyed three years ago through being
knocked down and trampled upon by
some colts which he was feeding. He
complained little or none at the time,
because he did not wish, in any way, to
distress his family, and he did not deem
his hurt any way serious. The accident
had almost entirely faded from his MEM
DRY and little did he dream that the alb
scesses that finally caused his death were
the result of being struck by fright
ened colt.
Mr.. Humphreys father was of Irish
and his mother of Scotch descent, and
in his nature were strongly character
lied the generous hospitality the warm
friendship and the pronounced hatred
of oppression, characteristic of his
fathers nationality, and the constancy
of purpose and strong adherence to con-
viction characteristic of his mothers.
He was born in Charleston, Montgom-
cry County, New York, December p,
1919, and consequently at the time of
his death was little more than sixty
seven years of age. He remained at his
New York home until he was nineteen
years of age and then started for the
West, travelling by stage to the Ohio
River, down which he poled a fat-boat,
coming up the Mississippi to Quincy,
H.. on a steamboat, and then complet-
ing the journey to Cassville, Wis, on
foot He worked a short time on Turkey
River. in Iowa, and in 1888 took up his
residence in Grant County, where he re-
sided until his death.
He was married, Dec. 10, 1913, to
Miss Mary Brunson, who survives him.
There were nine children, six daughters
and three sons born to them, six of
whom are now living, the older three
daughters having died. His surviving
children all remained with him till his
decease, except his eldest son Alfred,
who is married and resides in Glen
Haven, Wis. OF his fathers family
there were twelve children, only three
of whom are now living: one brother,
Wallace Humphrey, who resides in this
county, one sister in New York and
another sister in California.
Mr.. Humphrey retained perfect con-
seriousness until the last and suffered but
little pain. Soon after Z o'clock on the
morning Of the 22nd of July he sank in
a peaceful sleep. and at five minutes
after one o'clock, almost without
struggle, he passed away. Just before
his death he requested that all his old
friends should be invited in to attend his
funeral and that they should be enter
tanned at the old home He also desired
that his funeral should be quiet. unos-
tentatious affair, as had been the custom
of the family when death had visited
them before He endeavored to name
those who were to act as pall-bcarers,
but succeeded in naming only James
Hicklin and Henry Adams, when his
voice failed and he could only say, And |
the other old friends.
Ii was with heartfelt sorrow chat his |
friends and neighbors met on Friday af-
ternoon to perform the last sad rites and
lay away the body of him whom they
50 dearly loved and respected Although
it was the full harvest season, the busy
time Of all the year. the funeral train
was perhaps the largest ever seen in
Grant County
Mr. Humphrey lived and died a firm
believer in SpirituaHsni. He entertained
no doubt of an existence beyond the
grave and looked upon death as only y
change, and believed that while he
should meet his children gone before
him, he should not be separated in spirit
from those living, but chat he would be
near them and would communicate with
them He further believed that as a man
lives here so also shall he live hereafter
except that growth and developfnent