Born in Scott county, Iowa, February 5, 1845. His parents Robert and Jane (Robinson) Humphrey, were natives, respectively of Virginia and Ohio and settled in Scott county in 1839. Mr. Humphrey served in the Civil War in Company I, Forth-fourth Regiment, Iowa Infantry. After the war he taught school for a time, read law in the office of Cook & Cook, of Davenport, Iowa, and was admitted to the bar in 1872. He located at Clarion in 1874 but spent two years in Des Moines before returning to Clarion. He was the first county attorney of Wright county, serving in that capacity in the years 1887 and 1888. He was also a member of the twentieth General assembly, serving in the House as representative from the district composed of Wright and Humboldt counties, and has held other offices of a local character. He was well versed in the law and an earnest advocate. He was a member of the Grand Armey of the Republic and a Mason.