Sunday Stories: Joseph and Louisa Humphrey

Excerpted from the Sutherland Centennial 1891 – 1991, published in 1991.

Joseph Henry Humphrey was born April 19, 1863 in Shelby County, Ohio. His parents were Mary Elizabeth and James DeWayne Humphrey. At the age of four years he moved with his parents to Moroa, Illinois, where he grew to manhood.

In 1893 he and his family came to Nebraska. Coming in an immigration car with the family in one and their household goods and livestock in the other end. They resided south of Paxton for several years. He met and married Louisa Katie Refior, who was born May 29, 1873, in Lee County, Iowa. Her parents were Catherine Anerheimer and George Refior.

At the age of 11 years, she moved with her parents to a homestead twelve miles southwest of Paxton where she grew up.

She taught school for several years. Soon after her marriage to Joe, they move to the Sutherland area and later built a home in the west part of Sutherland, where they lived their remaining years. They farmed for a living. They were the parents of four children: Clara, Myrtie, George and Katie. Two are still living (1991), Clara Sanderson of Rapid City and Katie Vanarsdall of Portland, Oregon.

At an early age they joined the Methodist Church and were faithful to the end.