Lyman U. Humphrey | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 11th Governor of Kansas | |
| In office January 14, 1889 – January 9, 1893 | |
| Lieutenant | Andrew Jackson Felt |
| Preceded by | John A. Martin |
| Succeeded by | Lorenzo D. Lewelling |
| 8th Lieutenant Governor of Kansas | |
| In office 1877–1881 | |
| Governor | George T. Anthony John P. St. John |
| Preceded by | Melville J. Salter |
| Succeeded by | David Wesley Finney |
| Member of theKansas House of Representatives | |
| In office 1876 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1844-07-25)July 25, 1844 |
| Died | September 12, 1915(1915-09-12) (aged 71) |
| Political party | Republican |
| Spouse | |
| Alma mater | University of Michigan (J.D.) |
| Profession | Soldier, attorney, teacher, newspaper editor, politician |
| Signature | .png) |
Lyman Underwood Humphrey (July 25, 1844 – September 12, 1915) was the 11thgovernor of Kansas.
Humphrey was born inNew Baltimore, Ohio, to Lyman and Elizabeth (Everhart) Humphrey, one of two sons born to the couple. His father was born inConnecticut, but relocated toDeerfield, Ohio, where he purchased atannery formerly owned byJesse Grant (father ofUlysses S. Grant). Humphrey's father gave up the tannery business after several years and began to practice law. His father died in 1853 and through the influence of his mother, Humphrey received a common school education first in New Baltimore and then high school inMassillon, Ohio. He left school in 1861 to join the76th Ohio Infantry. He later received his J.D. from theUniversity of Michigan in 1867.
The 76th Ohio was part of theArmy of the Tennessee. Humphrey rose quickly through the ranks and was promoted tofirst lieutenant. He participated in twenty-seven battles and skirmishes includingFort Donelson,Shiloh,Corinth, the siege ofVicksburg,Resaca, andAtlanta. The regiment participated in themarch to the sea and through the Carolinas to the battle ofBentonville. AtRinggold Gap on November 27, 1863, Humphrey was wounded but missed no duty due to the wound. He was mustered out with the regiment atLouisville, Kentucky on July 19, 1865.
Humphrey married Amanda Leonard on December 25, 1872, inBeardstown, Illinois. They had four sons, two of whom died in infancy.[1]
Following theCivil War, Humphrey attendedMount Union College for one year followed by a year in the law department of theUniversity of Michigan. Short on funds, Humphrey left school, but was admitted to the Ohio bar in 1868. He moved toShelby County, Missouri where he became a teacher and newspaper editor of theShelby County Herald. Humphrey was admitted to the Missouri bar in 1870.
The following year, Humphrey moved toIndependence, Kansas, where he practiced law and started theSouth Kansas Tribune newspaper. He gave up the newspaper a year later and settled into the practice of law full-time, until December 1872 when he helped found the Commercial Bank of Independence. Humphrey became the bank's president and helped reorganize the bank in 1891 as the Commercial National Bank. He continued with the bank until he was elected governor.
Humphrey was a devotedRepublican and was active in party politics in every state in which he lived. In 1872 he unsuccessfully ran for theKansas House of Representatives because he opposed the issue of railroad bonds. Four years later he was overwhelmingly elected to representMontgomery County in the Kansas House of Representatives. Before his term expired, Humphrey was appointed the ninthlieutenant governor to fill the vacancy left by Melville J. Salter. During the regular election of 1878, he was elected to the same position by a margin of 40,000 votes. Humphrey completed his term as lieutenant governor and was elected to theKansas Senate in 1884.[2]
Humphrey ran for governor in 1888 and won the position by the largest plurality to that time in Kansas; he won the majority vote in all but two counties. He defeated theDemocratic candidate John Martin (not to be confused with the previous Republican Governor of Kansas John A. Martin). Humphrey was reelected to a second term in 1890.
Following his term as governor, Humphrey returned to the practice of law. In 1892, he ran unsuccessfully for theUnited States House of Representatives. Humphrey died at Independence on September 12, 1915, and is buried in Mount Hope Cemetery.[1]
| Party political offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Republican nominee forGovernor of Kansas 1888,1890 | Succeeded by Abram W. Smith |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Lieutenant Governor of Kansas 1877–1881 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Governor of Kansas 1889–1893 | Succeeded by |
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| National | |
| Other | |
