Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1888-08-04
Sketch of the Life of Hon. L. q. Humphrey
His Early Life and Trials.

Sketch of the Life of Hon. L. q. Humphrey
His Early Life and Trials.
Experience has proven nothing more
conclusively than that the trials, tempta-
tions and triumphs of youth mould the
character of the man. A boy of spirit
and proper material, fighting with diff
culties and obstacles, having the ambi-
ton and determination to succeed, will
come forth from the early conflicts with
adversely with character moulded, a
proud sense of self-reliance, supreme
contempt for ordinary impediments, and
with every faculty sharpened to the
keenest point, for the duties and resIon-
sibilities of manhood. the pages of
American history are filed with encour-
aging examples of early adversely and
subsequent victory and glory. Lincoln,
Garfield, and hundreds of lesser note, all
had that sort of experience, which
brought out all the manly and indomit-
able characteristics so essential to their
success in after life. The early lie of
Governor Humphrey furnishes strik-
ing parallel to that of Garfield and 9th
ers who came up through tribulation,
anil conquered through that character
istic American spirit Of answering per-
sistency. He belongs to that great class
of self educated, self developed men, sf-
filiating with and having all the sympa-
thies, the prejudices and the true pat
riotism and public and private virtues of
the wonderful middle class of American
citizenship.
Hon. l.. q. Humphrey first saw the
light in Stark county, Ohio, on the 25th
day of July, 1874, and is consequently
A years OF age at the present time. He
sprang from widely known aud well
connected family, both upon his fathers
and his mothers side. His father, Colo
mel Lyman Humphrey, is well known in
Ohio as one of the most prominent and
able lawyers of his day, as we'll as asol-
der of considerable distinction. It
was the great. misfortune of
the subject of this sketch
to lose the guidance end instruction Of
this parent at the early age of 8 years,
who died, leaving his family, like many
another of the early Ohio pioneers, in
straitened financial circumstances. The
duty of providing for bis widowed moth
or, and of securing an education as best
they could, fell upon l.. Q. and his broth
or, and most calamity and courageously
did they take up and discharge the task.
For successive seasons Mr.. Humphrey,
young as he then was, performed the
manual labor of man and in summer
time worked faithfully upon the farms Of
the neighbors, thus keeping the family pot
boiling while he attended the common
school in winter. Rugged, brave and
reliable, he was a favorite with all for
whom he worked and gave evidence then
of those strong characteristics which sub
sequently gained him friends in every
association in which he was placed.
Some time later, having developed con-
siderable n echanical taste and ingenu-
ity, he determined to become an iron
moulder and for a season entered the
shops at Massillon and applied himself
with his usual pertinacity to learning this
trade.
Subsequently his ambition returned
to its original channels, and to secure
liberal education became the objective of
of his life, and with high resolves he en-.
tered the Massillon Union school to pre-
pare for college, and for time he pur-
sued his studies with commendable ap-
plication.
Fate, however, was directing his Ca
reer in another direction, and when the
tocsin of wa: beat its rude alarm, calling
the youth and sinew of the country to
arms to maintain the honor of the ma
tion's iusulted emblem and preserve the
unity bequeathed by our forefathers, L.
o. Humphrey, the sturdy young stu
dent-moulder, was one of the first to re-
spond.
HIS ARMY EXPERIENCE.
He enlisted in Company I, Seventy
sixth Ohio volunteer infantry in Octo-
Der, 1861, and with his regiment went
directly to the very front, where he con-
tinued to remain until the last gun was
fired in the defense of the union. The
Seventy sixth Ohio, one of the finest
regiments sent out by the grand state of
Ohio, took its place in the line of fight
ing men, and served actively through
out the entire war, doing duty in
every state in the confederacy. with |
the exception OF Florids and Texas,
The. regiment is also famous for the
grand soldiers it turned out, many of
whom, including Governor Humphrey,
were elevated for various positions Of |
honor and trust after the close of the |
war.
The regiment, with which Mr.. Hum
phrey remained ccnetantly, participated
in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, |
in which Mr.. Humphrey was severely |
wounded in the left foot by q slug from
a shell, in the seige of Corinth, and was |
among the first troops in Memphis in |
1862. Soon after it became a partof
the original expedition under Grant |
against VIcksburg, and was conspicuous |
for its gallantry. It took part in the
assault upon Hsines' Bluff, was in the