was born August 25, 1796, in Corinth, Vt. He was the son of Ebenezer and Huldah (Keeney) Humphrey, also natives of Vermont. He came when eighteen years of age from his native State to this locality, walking all the way and carrying his haversack upon his back. His father was a soldier of 1812, and was a pensioner of the Government. Arthur settled here about 1814, and entered lands on the hills back six miles from Patriot near Bark Works. Here he lived with his parents till his marriage, then began for himself, his parents residing there till their deaths. After his marriage, he purchased a farm two miles back of Patriot in the woods and cleared it up, residing there about thirty years. He then purchased land in the Bottom, and became quite wealthy, owning 1,100 acres in Palmetto and Egypt Bottoms. He did a general farming business and later in life dealt in notes and securities to a large extent. He married Catharine Tripp, born in New York, 1804, a daughter of ___ and Eva (Hagerman) Tripp, and they reared five children: Hulday, Elias, Cornelius, Lodina, wife of James T. Bodkin; Almira, wife of Thomas E. Abbott. The father died November 24, 1857; mother, August 22, 1856. Mr. Humphrey was a man of great business qualifications, and in his lifetime did a great deal of hard labor. Cornelius H. Humphrey, born in this county, December 5, 1830, was a son of Arthur Humphrey, above mentioned. He grew to maturity in this his native county on the farm, and was a farmer all his life. He obtained a common school education, and September 6, 1854, was married to Jane Harris, daughter of Jacob R. Harris, by Rev. Elijah W. Burriss. He resided on the farm in Mexico Bottom about two years and then came to Egypt Bottom where he lived several years after. He did a general farming and stock raising business, and also dealt in produce on the river to a considerable extent. He gave up active labor about 1869 and rented his farm for a few seasons, and moved to Patriot where he died February 16, 1872. He was a man of good business judgement and quite successful in his undertakings. For about three years before his death he conducted a grocery store at Patriot. He reared five children: Abbie A., wife of William F. North; Katie G., wife of E.E. North; Clara H., wife of A.L. North; Mary H., wife of Hugh Espey; Cornelius H., at home.
Source: History of Switzerland County, Indiana 1885. Chicago, Illinois: Weakley, Harraman & Co., 1885
Transcribed by: Sheila Kell