Person:Western Humphreys (1)

page 566-567 in Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County, Texas (Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1892, 1060 pgs.) transcribed by Robert Bennett 26 Mar 2005

W.M.HUMPHEYS was born in Henry County, Tennessee, April 1, 1842, and was reared in his native State. When the Civil war came on he enlisted, in May, 1861, in the First Tennessee Infantry, and served two years and nine months; then he got a transfer to Forest's Cavalry, Seventh Tennessee. He participated in the battles of Shiloh, Fayetteville, Perryville, Murfreesboro, Athens (Alabama), Fort Pillow, West Point and many others. He was in Mississippi at the time of the surrender, after which he returned home and remained one year.

In 1886 Mr. Humpheys came to Texas and located in Dallas county. After renting a farm one year he bought a piece of unimproved land near Mesquite. On the 29th of January, 1867, he wedded Miss Sarah Chapman, who was born in August, 1847. Mention of her father's family will be found in a sketch of J. C. Chapman in this work. Mr. Humpheys lived on his farm for sixteen years. At the end of that time he sold out and bought land about fifteen miles east and south of Dallas. Here he has 200 acres of fine soil, 140 acres under cultivation, and all fenced. Since he purchased this property he has made many improvements on it, among which is his fine residence. He has also built a cotton gin, which he runs in connection with his farming operations.

Mr. Humpheys' father, Henry Humpheys, was born in Rockingham county, North Carolina. He was there married to Susan Paschall, and after his marriage he moved to west Tennessee, where lie was prominent among the early settlers of that part of the State. He died in Tennessee, in 1868, a the age of seventy-six years, and his wife died in 1889, at the age of eighty-five.

Like many other young men Mr. Humpheys came to Texas without means, but he went earnestly to work and his efforts have been crowned with success. He saved his money, used good judgment in investing it, and now has a delightful home and is surrounded with all the comforts of life. He and his wife are the parents of ten children, namely: Henry; James C.; Brittie, who died young; Ada; Maud; Forest; Lester; Olley, Robert and Leotes. Mr. Humpheys holds the “Primitive Baptist” faith; has always voted the Democratic ticket and says he always expects to.

The Texas Mesquiter Feb 1914 Automobile Accident M. C. Snyder, W. H. Humphreys, Ed. S. Keefe and T. B. Reedy narrowly escaped serious injury Monday afternoon, when the car in which they riding went into the ditch and was overturned.

The car belonged to and was being driven by Mr. Snyder and the accident happened on White Rock Hill, between Mesquite and Dallas. They were returning from Dallas and at the point mentioned, met another car. In turning out of the road to miss the other car, the machine went too to one side, with the result as stated above. All of the occupants were thrown out when the car overturned and Mr. Keefe was pinned under the car. How ever he was only slightly bruised and the others were not hurt at all. Messrs. Keefe and Reedy came on home in John Lawrence's car, which came along and Messrs. Synder and Humphreys came later with Murray Humphreys, who went after them in Mr. Humphrey's car.

The top on Mr. Snyder's car was torn up and the machine was otherwise damaged to the extent, altogether, of about $250.

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1 1.2} United States. 1910 U.S. Census Population Schedule. (National Archives Microfilm Publication T624).