Albert (Babcock) Humphrey (1881 - 1968)

Born 13 Mar 1881 in Bear Valley, Richland, Wisconsin, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 5 Apr 1968 at age 87 in Sheboygan, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, United States

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Rachel Lemke [send private message]

Biography

Albert (Babcock) Humphrey was born on 13 Mar 1881 to parents James Babcock and Martha Hunt in the unincorporated area Bear Valley, Town of Ithaca, Richland County, Wisconsin, just west of Lime Ridge, Sauk County.^[1][2] It is unclear when or why he changed his last name to Humphrey. In 1898, Albert served in the Spanish-American War during the Philippine Campaign.^[2] A 1901 enlistment record shows he was using the Humphrey last name by then and it notes his birth location as Lime Ridge, Wisconsin. ^[3]

"Welsh Pioneers of Waukesha Co." notes that Albert Humphrey was in the 1910 Genesee Census as a Teamster running a creamery wagon. Albert and family are listed as in the 1920 Delafield Census as well. ^[4]

Albert married Sadie May Jones of Delafield, Wisconsin and they had two children:^[5]

1. Bernice Humphrey (later Gazinski) (1917-1989)
2. Donald Humphrey (died at childbirth, Halloween 1922)

In 1918 Albert resided with his spouse at Peawaukee, Wisconsin according to his Draft Registration. ^[6]

In Waukesha, Wisconsin, Albert was a member of the Spanish-American War Veterans Post. In October 1963, he relocated to Sheboygan, Wisconsin to live with his granddaughter Carol Sizonen at 1628 Alabama Avenue.^[2]

Albert passed away on 5 Apr 1968 after a long illness at Sheboygan Memorial Hospital in Sheboygan. He was aged 87. Albert was buried in Jerusalem Cemetery in Wales, Wisconsin.^[2]

Note: The death of Albert's mother in 1887 when he was 7 or 8 leaves a question of where was he between then and his 1901 military enlistment. In 1905 after his discharge from the Spanish American War service Albert worked on the farm of John Evans in Ixonia in Jefferson County, Wisconsin. Nearby resides a 54 year old landlord named John E. Humphrey whose wifeis Sarah Evans. Other Humphreys live in the area including 80 year old H.E. Humphrey who lists his occupation as capitalist and is remembered as someone who raised his own and adopted children. ^[7] The Evans and Humphreys were prominent Welsh families in the area. Albert may have had a previous association with the Humphrey family of this area leading to his return when discharged. ^[8] Whatever Albert's relation to the Humphrey family, he is listed among the "Welsh" pioneers of Genesee County, though he may only be Welsh by association or adoption.

Sources

1. ↑ His obituary (cited) states he was born in Lime Ridge itself.
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3} Obituary of Albert Humphrey, The Sheboygan Press, 5 Apr 1968, Page 16
3. ↑ Army Enlistment and Discharge Record
4. ↑ Welsh Pioneers of Waukesha Co.,page 43, 57
5. ↑ Personal recollection of events witnessed by Rachel (Gazinski) Lemke as remembered 28 Dec 2020.
6. ↑ 1918 WWI Draft Registration
7. ↑ The History of Jefferson County. page 719
8. ↑ 1905 Wisconsin Census