John S. Humphries
John Samuel Humphries, his personal and family background, and his alleged involvement in the Mountain Meadows Massacre
John S. Humphries
1826-1903
Biographical Sketch
Early Years in the East Midlands of England
John Samuel Humphries was born in 1826 in Gosberton, Lincolnshire, England, the oldest son of Samuel Humphries and Rebecca Thompson. After contact with Mormon missionaries, he converted to Mormonism.
Immigration to America and onto Utah
In the late 1840s, Humphries immigrated to America. In 1849, the 23-year-old Humphries crossed the plains to Utah Territory.
To Cedar City and the Ironworks
During the 1850s, Humphries lived in Cedar City, where he farmed and labored at the Iron Works. Iron Works records reflect that at some time Humphries worked as a filler, keeping the charge in the blast furnace. He owned lots for a home and garden plot in Cedar City.
In 1855, he married Hannah Baugh of Shropshire, England, the daughter of John and Rachel Bailey Baugh.
In the Iron Military District: Fifer John Humphries, Company F, John Higbee's 3rd Battalion, Cedar City
In 1857, Humphries, 31, was a fifer in Company F, one of two companies in Major John M. Higbee's 3rd Battalion of the local militia.
It is uncertain whether Humphries was actually at Mountain Meadows. He is not listed in Judge John Cradlebaugh's 1859 arrest warrant, which listed so many other Cedar City militiamen implicated in the massacre. Nor was he listed in the text of John D. Lee's Mormonism Unveiled or any other of Lee's statements. The only early source to identify him was William Bishop, John D. Lee's attorney, who listed "John Humphreys, of Cedar City". However, since Bishop's "list of assassins" appended to Mormonism Unveiled, virtually always follows Lee in identifying massacre participants, it may be that Bishop was mistaken in including Humphries in his list. On the other hand, Walker, Turley and Leonard list Humphries in their Appendix C, although they note that no source provides any specifics about his role.
At any rate, if he was at Mountain Meadows at the time of the massacre, he did not occupy a leadership position in either the militia or church. His role, if any, during the massacre is unknown.
Moving to Northern Utah
Judging from the fact that the Humphries's wife gave birth to a baby in Payson in late 1857 or early 1858, it appears that they were among the first families to abandon Cedar City after the disastrous massacre at Mountain Meadows and the many failures of the ironworks.
By the early 1862, the Humphries had moved farther north to Cache Valley where they settled in Wellsville and stayed for many years. In the early 1880s, they moved to Park City in Summit County.
Final Years
Over the years, the Humphries had 15 children. John S. Humpries died in 1903 in Salt Lake City, survived by his wife, Hannah, and twelve surviving children.
References
Carter, Heartthrobs of the West, 10:457; Lee, Mormonism Unveiled, 379; Lee Trial transcripts; New.FamilySearch.org; Shirts and Shirts, A Trial Furnace, 293, 394, 486, 492; Walker, et al, Massacre at Mountain Meadows, Appendix C.
For full bibliographic information see Bibliography.
External Links
For further information on John S. Humphries, see:
- http://mountainmeadowsmassacre.org/appendices/appendix-c-the-militiamen
- Deseret Iron Company Account Book, 1854-1867: http://www.footnote.com/document/241905844/
Further information and confirmation needed. Please contact editor@1857ironcountymilitia.com.
