History of Wexford County, MI. Compiled by John H. Wheeler Published in 1903 by B. F. Bowen Biography Page 151

HUMPHREY W. MILLER

The best title one can establish to the high and generous esteem of a community is a protracted and honorable residence in its midst. Mankind is generally fair and just in its judgments. An unusual event may sway it for a time, but when normal conditions are again resumed a just judgment is certain to follow. It is possible to gull the public, but it is impossible to keep it gulled. As sure as fate, true conditions will eventually prevail and then the true public judgment is inevitable. It is for this reason that a man is judged rather by what his neighbors think of him than anything he may have said or done. When a court desires to find out whether or not a witness is truthful, it asks what the person's reputation is for truth in the neighborhood in which he lives The law correctly estimates that the judgment of the public is almost invariably infallible. Judged by this measure, the subject of this review, Humphrey W. Miller, must necessarily be a man of the strictest integrity. In the community where he resides he has made his home for nearly thirty-two years - almost a generation. His residence therein has certainly been a protracted one and that it has been an honorable one is well established by the high regard in which he is held by all who have known him for so many years. Humphrey W. Miller. a resident of section 30, Selma township, is a native of Ohio, born in Fulton county, September 4, 1848. His parents were Humphrey and Catharine (Hamilton) Miller, also natives of Ohio. The father died while the subject was yet an infant and some time thereafter his mother became the wife of Charles Blackman. In 1850 the family moved to Cass county, Michigan, but remained only a short time, when they moved to Jasper county, Illinois, where they remained three years. In 1853 they again returned to Michigan and located in Pipestone township, Berrien county, where Humphrey W. Miller grew to manhood and received a good common school education. In March, 1872, he came to Wexford county, secured a tract of land, part of section 30, Selma township, and there he has since resided. One year of the time, however, was spent in Cadillac, where he was engaged in the manufacture of brick. He is the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of land in section 30, one hundred acres of which are cleared, well improved and under cultivation. In Berrien county, Michigan, September 5, 1869, Humphrey W. Miller was united in marriage to Miss Jennie Murphy, a native of Michigan, born in Pipestone township, Berrien county, January 1, 1854. Her parents were George and Catharine (Havener) Murphy. The father was a soldier of the Civil war and lost his life in defense of his country. To Mr. and Mrs. Humphrey W. Miller two children were born, viz: Frank W. and Rose C. The latter graduated from the Mt. Pleasant State Normal in the class of 1903 and has been a successful teacher for eight years in Wexford county. Frank is foreman for Anderson & McCoy, lumbermen at South Bordman, Michigan. Being an old resident of Selma township, having watched its growth and development almost from its earliest settlement, it is only natural that Mr. Miller should be deeply interested in all that concerns its material welfare. He has been its treasurer and was a school officer almost from the time that school districts were organized within its borders. He served for years as one of its justices of the peace and is still counseled with by his neighbors and fellow citizens on matters of business and all affairs which pertain to the law. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, actively interested in the work of the order and has advanced through the various degrees to that of Royal Arch and Knight Templar. He is also a very active member of the Patrons of Husbandry. His standing in the community is an enviable one, made so by the uniform intelligence, integrity and kindness with which all who come in contact with him are treated. From a very insignificant beginning, by native industry he has accumulated a competency, reared a noble family and all his life has conducted himself in a manner to win the approval, respect and confidence of his fellowmen.