“Memorial and Biographical History of Dallas County,” published:  
Chicago;  The Lewis Publishing Company, 1892.

W. M. HUMPHREYS was born in Henry county, Tennessee, April 1, 1842, 
and was reared in his native State.  When the Civil war came on he enlisted, 
in May, 1861, in the First Tennessee Infantry, and served two years and nine 
months; he then got a transfer to Forest’s Cavalry, Seventh Tennessee.  He 
participated in the battles of Shiloh, Fayetteville, Perryville, Murfreesboro, 
Athens (Alabama), Fort Pillow, West Point and many others.  He was in 
Mississippi at the time of the surrender, after which he returned home and 
remained one year.

In 1866 Mr. Humphreys came to Texas and located in Dallas county.  After 
renting a farm one year he bought a piece of unimproved land near 
Mesquite.  On the 29th of January, 1867, he wedded Miss Sarah Chapman, 
who was born in August, 1847.  Mention of her father’s family will be found 
in a sketch of J. C. Chapman in this work.  Mr. Humphreys lived on his farm 
for sixteen years.  At the end of that time he sold out and bought land about 
fifteen miles east and south of Dallas.  Here he has 200 acres of fine soil, 
140 acres under cultivation, and all fenced.  Since he purchased this property 
he has made many improvements on it, among which is his fine residence.  
He has also built a cotton gin, which he runs in connection with his farming 
operations.

Mr. Humphreys’ father, Henry Humphreys, was born in Rockingham 
county, North Carolina.  He was there married to Susan Paschall, and after 
his marriage he moved to west Tennessee, where he was prominent among 
the early settlers of that part of the State.  He died in Tennessee, in 1868, at 
the age of seventy-six years, and his wife died in 1889, at the age of eighty-
five.

Like many other young men Mr. Humphreys came to Texas without means, 
but he went earnestly to work and his efforts have been crowned with 
success.  He saved his money, used good judgment in investing it, and now 
has a delightful home and is surrounded with all the comforts of life.  He and 
his wife are the parents of ten children, namely: Henry; James C.; Brittie, 
who died young; Ada; Maud; Forest; Lester; Olley, Robert and Leotes.  Mr. 
Humphreys holds the “Primitive Baptist” faith; has always voted the 
Democratic ticket and says he always expects to.

Submitted by: Justina Cook