Samuel John UMPHREY, Sr. (31 Jan 1788-28 Jan 1862) +
Lucinda WOOLERY (16 Mar 1788-8 Jun 1862)

Emmeline (27 Dec 1811-186x) — m. Jacob Shewfelt on 1 Jan 1837

James Hamilton (13 Feb 1813-25 Nov 1867) — m. Anne Brethour in 1836

John (1818-21 Oct 1878) — m. Rachel Graham in 1840

Matthew (1 Nov 1822-5 Apr 1897) — m. Mary Noble in Oct 1845; m. Catherine Flynn on 3 Apr 1868; m. Mary Keller Keefe on 13 Aug 1875

Samuel John, Jr. (14 Dec 1822-28 Apr 1898) — m. Rachel Kester on 5 Nov 1844

Mary (4 Jun 1826-10 Apr 1913) — m. Peter Noble on 13 Sep 1842

Margaret Jane “Maggie” (~1830-????) — m. Thomas Noble, Jr. on 10 Mar 1860

Samuel was born in Prescott, Edwardsburgh Township, County of Grenville, Ontario, which is on the north bank of the St. Lawrence River opposite Ogdensburg, New York. He was probably the youngest of five children to James and Charlotte Humphrey. His father was one of the Scotch-Irish United Empire Loyalist (Tory) soldiers from New York who settled in Prescott after the war. Samuel and his descendants dropped the leading H from the family name.

Lucinda was variously said to be born in Canada or in New York, and was of Dutch ancestry, which likely meant German. Her parents were named John and Polly Woolery.

On 10 Oct 1810, Samuel applied as the son of a loyalist soldier and a resident of Edwardsburgh Township for a land grant of 200 acres. It was granted the following year. Samuel and Lucinda married about 1811. They lived in Samuel’s home town of Prescott for about 25 years. In 1837, they moved to Brock Township, Ontario (later York) County, Ontario.

The 1851 Canada census listed Samuel (64) and Lucinda (62) Umphry in Brock Township, York County, Ontario with son John Umphrey (34) and family. Their daughter Margaret (21) was still with them.

There’s a report that in 1860 they were living in Forestville, Sanilac County, Michigan with their son Samuel, but I find no evidence for this. The 1861 Canada census showed them, both aged 73, staying with son John and family, still in Brock Township.

They died six months apart in 1862, reportedly while staying at the home of their son Samuel Jr. in Forestville. The story is that Samuel brought them back to Ontario for burial. However, Samuel Jr.’s own autobiographical account contradicts this, claiming they were living in Brock at the time of their deaths. In any case, they are buried in St. John Cemetery, Sunderland, Brock Township, Durham Regional Municipality, Ontario. Many other Umphreys are buried there too.

Children

Emmeline Umphrey (1811-186x)

Emmeline married Jacob Shewfelt (~1807-????), son of Peter Shewfelt and Anna Maria Kester, on 1 Jan 1837. His family name is also spelled Sheufelt. They lived at first in Brock Township. Their children:

Melinda (10 Dec 1837-14 Nov 1904) — m. Andrew Lawrence in 1858

Agnes “Nancy” (3 Dec 1839-4 Mar 1898) — m. William McKay poss. on 2 Sep 1860

Mary (~1840-????) — allegedly m. William McKay on 2 Sep 1860

Lucinda (~1844-?~1862?) — m. Nathan G. McKenzie on 12 May 1861

James (28 Jul 1846-12 Jul 1923) — m. Frances Wilson on 28 Dec 1867

Rachel (27 Dec 1848-21 Feb 1924) — m. John Henry on 26 Dec 1865; m. John Barcume on 4 Apr 1871

Jacob, Jr. (~1850-????)

Samuel John “John” (24 Jun 1853-3 Jan 1903) — m. Eveline Bell in 1879

Margaret (~1855-????)

The 1851 census showed them in Brock Township with seven children, Melinda through Jacob Jr., plus a 15-year-old named George Pearson. They moved to Lexington, Sanilac County, Michigan in the 1850s. The 1860 census listed them in Lexington with children Mary (20), Lucinda (16), James (14), Rachel (11), Samuel (7), and Margaret (5). Melinda and apparently Agnes/Nancy were married and gone, but where was Jacob Jr.? Emmeline died there in the early 1860s. Jacob married Ann Lakin (~1831-????), a young widow from New Jersey with two children, on 9 Nov 1864. The 1870 census showed the blended family still in Lexington. Emmeline’s children Rachel, Samuel (who later went by John), and Margaret, all reportedly born in Michigan, were still at home. I can’t find them after that.

There’s some confusion about daughters Nancy and Mary. The 1860 wedding record says Mary Shewfelt was the one who married Scotland-born William McKay (1824-?1900?), but Nancy was his wife in 1880 and at her death in 1898, and her death record claims she married him at age 20. It doesn’t help that there were several William McKays of similar age living in Michigan in the 1800s, and even more than one from Scotland.

More confusion: Emmeline’s husband had a slightly older cousin with the same name who also named a son Jacob Shewfelt, Jr.

James Hamilton Umphrey (1813-1867)

James married Ann or Anna Brethour (29 Jan 1812-30 Jan 1877) from Ballingarrane, County Limerick, Ireland in 1836. Known children:

Samuel (1837-2 Jun 1919) — m. Elizabeth A. Moore on 26 May 1862

William Jefferson (1839-30 Sep 1916) — m. Frances Ann “Fanny” Shannon on 10 Jan 1866

Michael (1840-21 Feb 1915) — m. Elizabeth Sinclair

Mary E. (17 Feb 1843-11 Mar 1935) — m. Charles D. Waid on 9 Jun 1869

James Wesley (Apr 1845-7 Feb 1910) — m. Martha McIndoo on 19 Jan 1870; m. Nancy Samis/Sarris in 189x

Lucinda (1847-17 Nov 1914) — m. Powell Harman on 10 Sep 1868

Alexander (1847-????) — unsure of

Eliza Ann (28 May 1851-4 Nov 1940) — m. John A. Webster in 187x

Margaret (17 Mar 1852-9 Jan 1930) — m. Phillip Harrison on 15 Mar 1879

In 1851, they were living in Brock Township, York County, near the family of one David Brethour (52), doubtless some relation to Ann but much too old to be her brother David. Children listed were Samuel (15), William (13), Michael (11), Mary (9), James W. (7), Lucinda (6), and Eliza Ann (1). In 1861, the census showed them as “Humphrey” in Georgina, York County, and children were Samuel (24), William (22), Michael (20), Mary (18), James Wesley (16), Alexander (14), Eliza Ann (12), and Margaret (6). I have no explanation yet for daughter Lucinda being replaced with a son named Alexander, whom I can find no trace of before or after this census. James died in 1867 and is buried in St. John Cemetery, the same place as his parents. The 1871 census for Georgina showed Michael as head of household with a wife and son, plus mother Ann (58) and younger sisters Eliza Ann (19) and Margaret (16), and a couple of laborers from Ireland and Scotland. Ann died 10 years later and is buried with James. Their son James is there too. Their findagrave.com page incorrectly claims Ann was born in 1792.

John Umphrey (1818-1878)

John married Rachel Graham (1823-6 May 1887) from Ireland in 1840. The 1851, 1861, and 1871 censuses showed them in Brock Township, Ontario. Their children:

Robert (16 Aug 1841-29 Nov 1918) — m. Caroline Emily Hastings on 7 Jun 1882

James Graham (17 May 1843-29 Oct 1916) — m. Mary J. Walker on 21 May 1874

Ann (~1845-????)

Catherine “Katie” (4 Jan 1850-3 Feb 1946) — m. Aaron James Barker in 1875

Elizabeth G. “Lizzie” (~1853-after 1911) — m. Rowland Beatty Hastings on 27 Dec 1882

John F. (Jun 1854-6 Feb 1927) — m. Ida Louisa Moore on 13 Jun 1882

Margaret E. “Maggie” (25 Jan 1858-20 Sep 1942) — m. Edward E. Rusnell on 14 Nov 1906

Mary Emeline (18 Apr 1861-29 Nov 1942) — m. Alfred Wesley Jasper St. John

Samuel Henry (17 Mar 1863-1945) — m. Martha Emma Bacon on 22 Dec 1889

William Jefferson (~1868-1946) — m. Lila Edna Maud Thompson on 11 Sep 1915

The 1871 census showed all ten children still home. John died in 1878 and is buried in St. John Cemetery, Sunderland, Durham Regional Municipality, Ontario, the same place as his parents. Rachel died in 1887 and is buried with him. At least two of their children are also buried there.

Dr. Russell St. John of Uxbridge, Ontario published a book called Origins of the St. John Family, from Palatines to Pioneers in 2001 that mentions this family. Presumably, he was a descendant of Mary Emeline.

Matthew Umphrey (1822-1897)

Matthew has his own entry in the family tree.

Samuel John Umphrey, Jr. (1822-1898)

Samuel, Jr. was born in Brock Township, York County, Ontario. Date of birth comes from his autobiography, and conflicts with that of his brother Matthew. He married Rachel Kester (24 Dec 1824-3 Feb 1912), variously said to be from Pennsylvania or from Ontario, in 1844. They had nine children:

Adam (17 Aug 1845-Jul 1918) — m. Malvina “Vina” Wixson

Henry (3 Sep 1847-9 Jun 1932) — m. Almina “Mina” Ellis on 24 Jul 1885

George (4 Sep 1849-18 Sep 1920) — m. Elizabeth Scott on 10 Dec 1870

Emarilla (11 Aug 1851-11 Jun 1879) — m. Harrison Long

Wellington (28 Sep 1855-7 Mar 1923) — m. Eleanor Soule on 30 Jun 1878

Nelson (6 Nov 1857-9 Sep 1921) — m. Anna Cook on 7 Apr 1880

Sarah Alice (8 Sep 1860-22 Apr 1869)

John Franklin (15 Nov 1861-11 Nov 1920) — m. E. Maude Bradshaw on 29 Aug 1888

James Wesley (8 Nov 1863-7 Jul 1943) — m. ??? by 1900; divorced after 1910

They moved to Sanilac County, Michigan probably about 1860, although they don’t show up in the census until 1880, possibly because they moved around quite a lot, including to Iowa (where son Henry settled), Missouri, and Minnesota. Sam was a saw-mill operator, hotel-keeper, merchant, justice of the peace, and postmaster, along with being a farmer throughout. By 1880, only the two youngest were still with him and Rcahel. He died in 1898 and is buried in Croswell Cemetery, Croswell, Sanilac County, Michigan. Rachel died in 1912 and is buried with him.

A James W. Umphrey of the right age, married and with Canadian parents, was a patient at the Eastern Michigan Asylum for the Insane in Pontiac, Oakland County in 1900 and 1910. He appears to have been this family’s James.

Mary Umphrey (1826-1913)

Mary married Peter Noble (2 Nov 1821-26 Jan 1901) from Brock District, son of Thomas Smith Noble and Lydia Shewfelt and grandson of Hodsdon ancestors Stephen Noble and Esther Smith, in 1842. Their children:

Lucinda C. (18 Oct 1842-14 Apr 1935) — m. William S. Moore

Thomas ?Miles? (13 Sep 1847-27 Jul 1921) — m. Mary McGill Smith on 28 Mar 1872

Emmeline (12 May 1851-15 Jul 1877) — m. Charles Edward Ross on 1 Jan 1869

Samuel (22 Jul 1852-25 May 1927) — m. Marietta Wiltsie on 29 Dec 1872; m. Matilda Jane Smith on 15 Dec 1878

Anthony (~1854-????) — prob. died young

Ambrose (5 May 1857-7 Mar 1941) — m. Margaret McIntyre on 5 Jun 1879

Mary Emmer “Minnie” (18 Jan 1861-12 Feb 1941) — m. George Edwin McGill on 7 Nov 1880; m. Charles Scott on 10 Oct 1901; m. William U. Smith on 17 Jun 1922

Peter Melvin “Melvin” (4 May 1864-4 Jul 1936) — m. Emma Caroline “Carrie” Sasse about 1890

Some records of the family list a son named Achsah, born about 1845. I have found no evidence for that yet. Between 1857 and 1860, like so many other families in southern Ontario, they moved west into Michigan, where their last two children were born. In 1860 and 1870, they were living in Worth Township, Sanilac County, Michigan. In 1880 they were in Verona, Huron County with just the two youngest. In 1900 Mary (74) and Peter (80) were back in Worth Township with an adopted son, Albert Swartz (10). Peter died the following year. Mary was still there in 1910, living with her namesake daughter and family. Mary died in 1913 and is buried with Peter in Croswell Cemetery, Croswell, Sanilac County, Michigan.

Melvin’s only child Maude E. Noble (May 1894-10 Dec 1925) spent most of her life in an insane asylum in Spink County, South Dakota. Paired with the experience of Melvin’s cousin James Wesley Umphrey, this starts to suggest a pattern.

Margaret Jane “Maggie” Umphrey (~1830-????)

Maggie married Thomas Noble, Jr. (~1835-????), Canada-born son of Thomas Smith Noble and Lydia Shewfelt and grandson of Hodsdon ancestors Stephen Noble and Esther Smith, on 10 Mar 1860 in Sanilac County, Michigan. The 1860 census showed them, ages 25 and 26, living in Delaware Township, Sanilac County. In 1870 they were in Fremont Township, Sanilac County, listed as ages 35 and 38. In 1880 they were still in Fremont. They had no surviving children. I can’t find them after 1880.

Autobiography of Samuel Umphrey, Jr.

Samuel, like his brother Matthew, wrote an autobiographical sketch for an 1884 book entitled Portrait and Biographical Album of Sanilac County. The text, from pages 345-347:


Samuel Umphrey, farmer, section 23, Fremont Township, was born Dec. 14, 1822, in the township of Brock, Ontario. His parents, Samuel and Lucinda (Woolery) Umphrey, both died in that township. His father was born Jan. 31, 1788, at Prescott, of Scotch-Irish parentage, and died at the age of 75 years. His mother descended from Dutch ancestors, and was born March 16, 1788, in Canada.

Mr. Umphrey was reared on a farm in the Dominion and obtained his education in a select school, there being no public schools at that period where he lived. On setting out to become responsible for his own fortunes, he bought a small farm, on which he lived alone one summer, and in the ensuing fall determined on securing companionship. He was married Nov. 5, 1844, to Rachel Kester. She was [born] Dec. 24, 1824, in the township of Markham, Can. Her father, Philip Kester, died in that township June 22, 1881, aged about 90 years. Her mother, Mary (Brown) Kester, died about 1867. They belonged to the agricultural class.

Mr. Umphrey lived two years on the farm referred to, when he sold it and purchased another, which comprised 170 acres. A year later he again sold out and embarked in a commercial enterprise, in the township of Reach. Soon afterward he transferred his stock of goods to a small village named Borilla, where he operated one year. He exchanged his mercantile interests and possessions for a farm soon afterward, of which he retained the ownership but a short time. On selling the place, he built a saw-mill, which he managed three years and exchanged for a hotel situated 16 miles northeast of Toronto, at a point called Milliken’s Corners.

He ran the hotel three years, and made another exchange for a farm, which he operated three years, and then he made another trade for a farm in Worth Township, in Sanilac County [Michigan]. It contained 80 acres, and the next year he cleared 46 acres, which he thinks the heaviest clearing up to that date ever done in one year in Sanilac County. After a residence on it of two years he made an exchange for a farm of 160 acres in another part of the same township, lying on the Wild-Cat Road. He lived and labored theron three years, when he rented it for a year and went to Iowa with his family, $1,800 in cash, two span of horses and a wagon. Mrs. Umphrey carried 35 pounds of feathers. One year later they retraced their steps to Sanilac County, bringing back $600 in money, but minus horses, harness, wagon and feathers. This loss was all entailed by the financial panic which caused the low price of all farm produce.

They returned in the fall and rented a hotel at Amadore, where they remained until spring, when they once more re-possessed their farm. Three years later the place was sold, and the family removed to Chillicothe, Mo., and bought a hotel, paying therefor $8,000. Six months afterward, Mr. Umphrey exchanged the house for 476 acres of land in Carroll Co., Mo., which was the home of the family for two years. At the end of that time, the proprietor exchanged the property for another hotel at Chillicothe, valued at $13,000, which included livery with stables and all other fixtures. Six months later, Mr. Umphrey exchanged the hotel for a farm, and not long afterward the former was burned, entailing upon him a loss of $5,000. He collected his remaining means and went to Jackson Co., Minn., where he pre-empted 160 acres of land, on which he remained until the grasshoppers “jumped his claim” and destroyed his crops. This occurred the second year after his arrival. They placed a family in charge of the house on the place, and returned to Worth Township, to care for a sick daughter.

Mr. Umphrey went to work as a carpenter. He bought 40 acres of State lands in the township of Fremont near Roseburg, and began improvements, erecting needed farm buildings, etc. After a stay thereon of three years, he sold out and bought a store. He continued his mercantile enterprise one year, meanwhile exchanging his farm in Minnesota for the one he now owns and occupies in Fremont. He soon exchanged his store and trade for another farm, and moved where he now resides. The title to the place he had traded for proving defective, he was obliged to take the store back into his possession, which he did, leaving one of his sons to manage his agricultural interests. In six months he sold the building and removed his stock of goods to Port Huron, where he transacted commercial business about ten months. He sold his stock, and, being in poor health, he suffered serious financial loss from being unable to give proper attention to his accounts. He then settled on the farm where he has since resided. It comprises 80 acres, and he has improved 50 acres and built a good house and barn.

Mr. Umphrey has had a life full of eventful change. In addition to his hand-to-hand struggle with the chances of fortune, he has discharged the duties of his citizenship and borne the vicissitudes of his changeful career with equanimity. He has been Justice of the Peace, Overseer of the Poor and while in Minnesota was Postmaster of Hersey, a position he also filled at Roseburg. This county was in its pioneer days when he first made it his home, and he has a fair record as a sportsman in the days when civilization was far enough in the rear to admit of the delights of the hunter’s life. He has killed deer and bear within three miles of Lexington village, and also along the Wild-Cat Road. He is a Republican in political connection and views; both he and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Nine children have been born to them, whose records are given as follows: Adam was born Aug. 27, 1845, and was married Sept. 23, 1870, to Vina Wixson; Henry was born Sept. 3, 1847; George was born Sept. 4, 1849, and was married Dec, 10, 1870, to Elizabeth Scott; Amarillis was born Aug. 11, 1851, and died June 11, 1879. Nelson was born Sept. 28, 1855, and was married in May, 1880 to Anna Cook; Wellington, born Nov 6., 1857, was married June 30, 1878, to Elinor Soule [editor: records indicate Samuel switched the dates of birth for Nelson and Wellington]; Sarah Alice was born Sept. 8, 1860, and died April 22, 1869. John Franklin was born Nov. 15, 1861, and James Wesley, Nov. 8, 1863.

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