At the right is a Humphreys family photo taken by a photographer in Ida Grove, Iowa (about 8 miles away from Battle Creek, Iowa where their farm is located). The Humphreys lived in Iowa from 1880 to late 1894 or early 1895. This is the family before Minnie is married to Billy Malcom in 1894. Notice that Minnie and Emma are wearing matching dresses. They look like a well-to-do family. Josh is a landowner and part time farmer. He probably runs a grocery store in Anthon, Iowa. It is about 12 or 13 miles as the crow flies from Battle Creek to Anthon. This photo was sent to me by Bill Humphreys in Ontario. Before that I only had a poor quality photo copy of this wonderful picture.►
The picture below ▼shows the cover of an autograph book used on the occasion of Frederick Lake Humphreys graduation from the Sioux Valley Business College in Correctionville, Iowa. The date is Feb 12th 1891. The autograph book is signed by his parents, Josh and Emma, and by his uncle, Joel Benson Lake, Emma's older brother. Joel was also signed as witness or best man at Josh and Emma's marriage in January 1871. Their autographs are reproduced below and capture the literacy level of his parents. They are poetic, sentimental and a poignant reminder of those more genteel times so long ago. I want to thank Amy Humphreys for sending me these family treasures.
Below is Joshua's autograph to his son Fred.
Emma Humphreys' autograph.▼.jpg)
Next: Joel Benson Lake's autograph. ▼Joel was often near or may have lived with Josh and Emma before he was married. See the short write-up about him from the Woodbury and Plymouth County History along with one for Josh from the same book.
Below are copies of short biographical write-ups that were published in 1890 and 91. The volume was called the History of the Counties of Woodbury and Plymouth, Iowa, Warner and Co. Publishers, Chicago, Illinois. Josh's write-up in on page 830 and 831. Joel, his brother-in-law, is on page 886. There are many inaccuracies in the Josh write-up. For instance, his father did not live until he was 105 years of age and Josh and Emma were married in January 1871. Then there is that "barn burner" piece of information about Josh being in the US Secret service for three years. Which three years were those? I do know that Josh was a mysterious person, traveled a lot and was often away from home. So who knows. I do know that even in so called "official printed information" such as census records, there is correct and incorrect information. A lot depends on the accuracy of the census taker or interviewer and a lot depends on what information is fed to the interviewer by the interviewee. The Joel Lake biography looks pretty accurate to me.
