John Wallace Vance Humble
Biographical Sketch from
"Biographical and Historical Record of Kosciusko County, Indiana" pub. 1887.

JOHN W. V. HUMBLE, farmer, Tippecanoe Township, owns 295 acres of land. He was born in Madison County, Ohio, October 7, 1826, and when seven years of age, removed to Shelby County, where he lived until he reached his majority. He has been twice married. He was first married December 12, 1847, to Harriet P. BOTHEL, who was born and reared in Shelby County. She died in October, 1849, and was buried in Plattsville cemetery. She left one child, Margaret Ann, who is the wife of John STEWART, a resident of this county.

He married his second wife, June 16, 1850, who was Fannie Marie MILES, also a native of Shelby County. She died November 16, 1883, and is buried in North Webster cemetery. Her parents were John and Polly (STOKER) MILES. Her grandfather STOKER was born in Germany and came to America when a young man and died in Montgomery County, Ohio. Her father was born and reared in Virginia.

Mr. HUMBLE was the son of Cornelius and Anna A. (VANCE) HUMBLE. His father was born in Kentucky June 16, 1791, and when a young man came to Ohio, where he grew to manhood and was married near Sandusky. He died in March 1874. The mother was born in 1801, in Ohio where she was reared and educated. She died at the age of 55 years.

The HUMBLES are of English origin and first settled in Kentucky. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Uriah HUMBLE and his grandmother Humble was formerly Miss Kane (CAIN). His grandfather VANCE settled where Cincinnati now is, when that great city was a wilderness. The VANCES are also of English origin.

Mr HUMBLE's first wife was the daughter of William BOTHEL who was born in Ireland and came to America when four years of age. His father died on the ocean and was buried in the sea. The mother afterward married a man name SNYDER. William BOTHEL was the only child of his father.

Mr. HUMBLE came to Noble County, Indiana, in the spring of 1851, and settled upon a farm near Cromwell where he lived 9 years. It was then a wilderness. He went to work to make him a home, then sold that and purchased a farm 3 miles from Leesburg in Kosciusko County. After living upon it three years, he exchanged it for his present farm.

He started in life with no help except his own strong hands and now has a competence for his declining years. The best wages that were paid to farm hands was $10 per month. The average farm hand received from $6 to $8 a month.

Mr. HUMBLE assisted Thomas H. BOTHEL in building a sawmill on Turkey Creek, a dam being built between two lakes, one of which was called Nine-mile Lake. Mr HUMBLE has served as township trustee three terms. In politics he is a Republican, having come from the old-line Whigs. Both he and his wife were members of the Church of God.

The children of J.W.V. and Fannie Marie HUMBLE are: Amanda C., wife of C.D.RIPPEY; Mary J., wife of J.W.RITTER; S.F.HUMBLE; Lida C., wife of A.B.C.WARNER; Hattie P., wife of C.L.WEAVER; G. Mead; Rose Elna and Jessie May.

Return to Custer/Humble page