Frederick Humphrey
Surnames: Kline, Thomas, Wright, Yates
Regions: Montgomery Co., NY; Saratoga Co., NY; Troy, Rensselaer Co., N.Y; Shopiere, Rock Co., WI
From The Portrait and Biographical Album of Rock County, Wis., publ, 1889 - page 569
FREDERICK HUMPHREY, of Shopiere, is numbered among the pioneer settlers and honored citizens of this county. He was born in Troy, Rensselaer Co., N.Y., May 20, 1801, and in that city received his education and learned the carpenter's trade, serving a term of apprenticeship for seven years, after which he engaged in that occupation for a livelihood. On the 25th day of January, 1825, in Saratoga County, N.Y., the marriage ceremony was performed which united the destinies of Mr. HUMPHREY and Miss Eliza YATES, and on the 25th of January, 1889, occurred the sixty-fourth anniversary of their marriage. In 1836, they removed to Montgomery County, N.Y., where four children were born unto them. He there worked at his trade and became one of the successful contractors and builders of that county, erecting many elegant and useful structures. After eleven years spent in that county, the family emigrated to the west and in 1847, located in Turtle Township, Rock County, Wis., where our subject entered 120 acres of land, his sons cultivating the same while he continued to follow his trade. Here also he erected many fine buildings, and in 1847, built a bridge across the creek at Shopiere.
A family of ten children were born to Mr. and Mrs. HUMPHREY, eight of whom grew to manhood and womanhood - Harriet became the wife of James KLINE, who emigrated to Wisconsin and then removed to Minnesota, where he died, while she yet resides in Kingston, Minn.; William, who is a carpenter by trade, is living in Sharon, Walworth County, Wis.; Sarah is the wife of Bruce THOMAS, of Irwin, Shelby County, Iowa; Frederick makes his home in Shopiere; Frank, a carpenter and builder, is living in Dakota; Justus, died in Ulster County, N.Y., June 4, 1876; Mary became the wife of Stillman WRIGHT, of Berlin, Wis., and died Dec. 17, 1875; two children died in infancy.
Mr. and Mrs. HUMPHREY are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and for many years he has belonged to the Masonic Fraternity. Public spirited and progressive, he takes great interest in the welfare of the community and has been prominently concerned in political affairs. He has filled various offices, including that of County Treasurer, member of the Board of County Supervisors and for many years was Justice of the Peace. He is a man highly respected for his honest, upright life, and is well-known throughout the county.