JAMES BIRCH HUMPHREY (1880-1968)

 

     JAMES BIRCH HUMPHREY was born Sept. 1st 1880, in Lincoln County, MO., the son of JAMES and ADA NICHOLS HUMPHREY.

     He attended the Lincoln County Schools and the old Buchanan College, and started his career by teaching in the Harmony Grove district.  It was while teaching there he met Miss MARY FINNERTY.  On Sept. 24, 1902, they were married and by this union, two daughters, MARGUERITE and MARY, were born.  On Sept. 30, 1905, his wife passed away.

    May 24, 1907, he  was married to the former Miss MARY ISABEL PAGE.  At about that time, he ceased teaching school and bought a farm northwest of Troy.  Mr. and Mrs. HUMPHREY became the parents of two sons and four daughters.

    In 1918, Mr. HUMPHREY took his family to St. Louis where he worked for Wagner Electric for the duration of World War I.  He then went to work for the American Railway Express and worked there until 1922, when he was injured.  The family then returned to their farm in Lincoln County, where he and Mrs. HUMPHREY lived until about 10 years ago when they sold the farm and moved to Troy.  However, Mr. HUMPHREY didn’t retire at this time, as he  was in the seed and insurance business.  He continued active in the insurance business until about three years ago when his health began to fail.  His condition became progressively worse the past few weeks, and on Sept. 3rd, he was taken to the Lincoln County Memorial Hospital.  It was there he passed away Monday, Sept. 16, 1968, at the age of 88 years and 15 days.

    Preceding Mr. HUMPHREY in death, other than his parents, were his oldest daughter, ADA MARGUERITE WRAY, who passed away July 14, 1952, and his oldest son, TALMAGE PAGE HUMPHREY, who died Aug. 31, 1909, at the age of six months; one sister, Miss FLOY HUMPHREY and three brothers; EDWIN, HUGH and SYDNOR, and one son-in-law CHARLIE DEE WHITE.

    Surviving are his wife of their residence in Troy; his son, JOSEPH SHELBY HUMPHREY and his wife HATTIE, of Troy; five daughters: Mrs. MARY WHITE, of St. Louis, Mrs. HELEN McMAHAN and her husband, ALBERT, of St Louis, Mrs. MELBY SIMMONS and her husband, CLARENCE of Troy, Mrs. DONNIE SMITH and her husband MERRILL of Chula Vista, Calif., and Mrs. JOYCE BLAIR and her husband BILL of Rochester, N.Y.; 15 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; 2 sisters-in-law, Mrs. ELANOR HUMPHREY, of Troy, and Mrs. MAMIE HUMPHREY, of Bowling Green; other relatives and many, many friends.

    Mr. HUMPHREY’s generosity in thought, word, and deed were greatly appreciated.  He was a man who stood by his beliefs, and was kind to everyone.  He was fair to everyone in all his dealings.  He was dearly loved by his devoted family who cared for him so tenderly during his illness.  He was a member of the Troy Holiness Church and lived his Christianity every day.  Mr. HUMPHREY was highly esteemed throughout his lifetime.  Needless to say, Mr. HUMPHREY will be greatly missed by all those who loved and revered him.

   Funeral services for Mr. HUMPHREY were held Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock , Sept. 18, from the Troy Holiness Church, with REV. D. L. GOINS in charge.  He was assisted by Rev. TED MATKIN.  Internment was in the Sulphur Lick Cemetery.

    Casket bearers were:  DALE WRAY, DENNIS HUMPHREY, and DARRELL, McMAHAN, grandsons; and RIGGS, RAYMOND and RALPH HUMPHREY, nephews.

 

Comments of Contributor Allison Page Hockman:

This is a transcribed copy of the Newspaper Obituary, believed to be from the Troy Free Press.  The newspaper copy was provided to me in May, 2009, from the files of the Lincoln County Genealogy Society.  My grandfather WILLIAM HENRY PAGE, was the half-brother of MARY ISABEL HUMPHREY, who was the wife of  JAMES BIRCH HUMPHREY.