Born on Oil Spring Run in Malta Township, Morgan County, Ohio to John (a farm laborer) and Margaret Ellen Stewart (a housekeeper born in New York) Humphrey, John Henry was raised on the same farm near the salt works where he would die. Although he could not write initially, he was able to read and played a Hopf violin made in Germany; he may have learned how from reading Sidney Ryan's True Violinist (1872). The 1900 Census reports that he could both read and write by then. As an adult, he would have seen steam locomotives on the Zanesville and Ohio River Railway which stopped at Shawnee Junction (aka Oil Spring); in 1896, he sold a small strip of land 20 feet wide x300 feet long to them for $50. His farm was near the railroad trestle next to the hollow known as Gillespie Run on Oil Spring Road north of McConnelsville off the river road. In the fall season, he enjoyed making dandelion, cherry, blackberry, and grape wine as well as apple cider. On occasions, he and Cyrus Bankes hunted for fox and 'coons.
On 20 December 1882 in Muskingum County, he married Harriet "Hattie" Hughes (1864-1950) and gave her a heart shaped locket. Together, they had four children: 1) Clarence Edgar "Ed" (1884-1956), 2) Stella (1885-1963); 3) Bessie (1886-1969); and 4) Golda F. (1889-1974).
A "highly regarded citizen," he died due to valvular heart disease and chronic inflammation of the kidneys on 9 June 1926 at Shanee Junction where he farmed his entire life. His body was buried by Fisher and Young undertakers in the McConnelsville Cemetery on 11 June 1926. --John V. Richardson Jr.
Born on Oil Spring Run in Malta Township, Morgan County, Ohio to John (a farm laborer) and Margaret Ellen Stewart (a housekeeper born in New York) Humphrey, John Henry was raised on the same farm near the salt works where he would die. Although he could not write initially, he was able to read and played a Hopf violin made in Germany; he may have learned how from reading Sidney Ryan's True Violinist (1872). The 1900 Census reports that he could both read and write by then. As an adult, he would have seen steam locomotives on the Zanesville and Ohio River Railway which stopped at Shawnee Junction (aka Oil Spring); in 1896, he sold a small strip of land 20 feet wide x300 feet long to them for $50. His farm was near the railroad trestle next to the hollow known as Gillespie Run on Oil Spring Road north of McConnelsville off the river road. In the fall season, he enjoyed making dandelion, cherry, blackberry, and grape wine as well as apple cider. On occasions, he and Cyrus Bankes hunted for fox and 'coons.
On 20 December 1882 in Muskingum County, he married Harriet "Hattie" Hughes (1864-1950) and gave her a heart shaped locket. Together, they had four children: 1) Clarence Edgar "Ed" (1884-1956), 2) Stella (1885-1963); 3) Bessie (1886-1969); and 4) Golda F. (1889-1974).
A "highly regarded citizen," he died due to valvular heart disease and chronic inflammation of the kidneys on 9 June 1926 at Shanee Junction where he farmed his entire life. His body was buried by Fisher and Young undertakers in the McConnelsville Cemetery on 11 June 1926. --John V. Richardson Jr.
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