St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1908-01-08

In the brief time allotted for the pill
grimage between the eternities, we
write our own life story, build our own
monument and place thereon our own
epitaph. Thus the record is made up,
none can add to or take from; as eternal
and lasting as our majestic hills is the
record, once the angel of death closes the
cover. The kindly philosophy of the
optimist would bury the errors of life
and give endless immortality to the good
deeds, and he is therefore in entire har-
mony with natures teachings and the
best thought of advanced civilization.
Few men were better known or more
generally liked than George Washington
Humphrey, plain, big hearted and gene
rous natured, ever ready to give aid and
to do for those in distress. Born in
Burke on the farm adjoining his late
residence, August 20, 1S42, he received
his education in the public schools, learn
ing we'll the lessons of virtue, liberty and
patriotism. He naturally developed
strong love for his native land, and
when the black cloud of secession was
| lowering over our beloved nation, there
was nothing more natural than for him
to offer himself for his country's cause.
September 18th, 1862, he Unlisted in Com
pany E, 18th Vermont Volunteer Infan-
try and served until August 9Th, 1868.
| August 4th, 1864, he reinisted and
! served in the 9th Vermont Volunteer
, Infantry until the end of the war, being
mustered out at Richmond Virginia,
June 18TH 1865. Mr.. Humphrey was
with his company in all its engagements
and at times seemed to bear charmed
| life. At the ever-to- aforementioned bat
tie of Gettysburg he had several most re-
markable escapes, he had the stock OF his
gun shot away while in his hands, ball
passed through his hat and another
through his boot and yet he returned to
his home without wounds.
| In civil life he lived a varied and most
useful career August 10th, 1864, he
was united in marriage to Hannah Ar
villa Hoslord of East Haven, beginning
home life that for purity, devotion and
love was unsurpassed by any, Ten
children came to bless them, FIVE boys
and five girls, nine of whom survive In
many ways it has been a remarkable
family where love and honor have ruled
and been the arbitrator of all perplexing
! questions that naturally have to be
dealt with in life. In public life Mr.
| Humphrey has been most useful serving
the town of East Haven in every office
within its gift and twice as its repre-
sentative i'll the general assembly, in
| 1884 and again in 1888, serving in both
sessions as a member of the very import
ant committee on highways, bridges and
ferries. He was post master OF East
! Haven when the Canadian mail went by
stage from Lyndonville to Island Pond
and had to pass through his hands.
| Mr.. Humphrey was a man of deep con-
victions and had unbounded faith in
mankind, he believed in God, protested
and lived religious life, but was united
with no particular church He was
strong advocate of law and an ardent
| temperance man, a firm believer in the
tatherhood of God and the brotherhood
of man. He was member of several of
the great fraternIties, of Post No. 9, G.
A. K. Of West Burke and had been its
commander; twenty years ago he became
charter member of Alpine Lodge No.
%, |. o. 0. F. of West Burke, and was
its chaplain for several terms; and was
an honored member of General Sheridan
Council, No 26, Jr. O. U. A. NJ. of East
Burke. In all these he took a deep inter
est and watched their progress and work
with much care.
Mr.. Humphrey died at his late resi-
dence, Riverside Farm, on the East
Haven road, Friday night January 8,
1908, survived by his widow and nine
children; Willard NJ; Hattie T., Mrs
Wesley H, ChappelI; Warner G.. Minnie
NJ, Mrs. Dennis II. Rice; Wallace NJ;
Wesley o.; Creta NJ, Mrs. Roland J..
Harvey; and Bessie A., and Hannah A.
who reside at home.
Once more our thoughts go wandering back
| to where this cOmrade stood
In smoke-swept battle field and blood be
spattered wood,
We see him standing in the line with eager
flashing eye,
We Hear again his voice in the ringing battle
dry,
VIII.