Gloucester County Democrat., 1905-05-11

the same aud erected three-story store aud
dwelling, where he resided aud carried on
business eyer since, and he was the oldest
merchant, in continuous business in the
county.
His business career has been remarkably
successful. Starting with limited means,
by strict attention to business, ca eful
study Of the wants of the community, aud
cash dealings, he has, in the forty years Of
his business life accumulated large for
tune, greater. probably, than can be shown
by any other in the county as a result of
strictly mercantile enterprise and industry
He was never known to speculate or take
any business ventures outside the line OF
b legitimate and chosen occupation. HIS
education was gained in the practical school
of experience, six months being the limit
of his actual attendance on the usual means
lof education, but his natural quick wit and
inteli gence stood him in good stead, and
he acquired fund of general information
and knowledge Of human nature possessed
| by few. He has been largely identified
with the business affairs and prosperity of
Woodstown, He was one of the leading
spirits the organization Of the First Ma
tional Bank, and was chosen on the first
board OF directors, but differing with his
fellow directors as to the location of the
bank building, he withdrew from the board
and disposed of his stock, though he al
ways remained one of the heaviest deposit
tors. His business Judgment as to the loca-
tion OF the bank building was amply iusti-
fed when, thirty years later, the stock
holders OF the bank cheerfully voted to pur-
chase of him piece of land for their new
hufId dsrfr N fno of Sn.a
Mr.. Humphreys present store building
was among the first. ii not the first, of the
larger Improvements of the town, and has
twice been enlarged to meet the needs of
his increasing business. The Opera House,
the pantaloon factory, which gave employ
ment to many, and the East Avenue Tenn
perance Hotel, are other fine improvements
to his credit, beside the block Of stores on
the site Of the old Washington Hotel, which
he purchased and Immediately converted
into business block, doing away with one
| of the licensed bars of the town. He was
an active advocate of the incorporation of
| the town as Borough, and OF all other
public improvements. In 1884 he started
| the Monitor, an aggressive temperance
weekly newspaper, which did good service
! for eight years, when it was later merged
cally he was originally Democrat, but for
the last twenty-five years has consistently
voted the Prohibition ticket and contrib
uted literally to the work of that party.
| MIR Humphreys was man OF stong and
decided character, firm in his convictions, a
staunch friend, and of sterling integrity,
unostentatious, and essentially democratic
in his intercourse with his fellow men. AS
a business man, his life is model for young
men to follow, and as publie-spirited
citizen, in the best sense of the term, he
viii be greatly missed IN Woodstown.
! He leaves surviving, widow, Mrs.
Jennie W. Humphreys, who was daughter
of William Null, and to whom he was
married in 1858, and three children, Mrs.
Mary Humphreys Lippincott, Edward w.
Humphreys, and Belle Grace Humphreys.
''His funeral took place from his late
residence on Thursday, May 4th. at 1.30 p.
m. Interment private, in the Sharptown NJ.
E. Cemetery