Wife of Lower Sioux Agency physician, Philander Humphrey; she was killed along with her husband and two of her children on the day the Dakota War broke out in 1862. When the Lower Agency was attacked on the morning of August 18, Dr. Humphrey managed to escape. He and his wife, who was recovering from childbirth, and his three children tried to make their way to Fort Ridgely, 13 miles away. They crossed the river and reached the Magner log cabin at Birch Coulee, about four miles away. It had been abandoned. Mrs. Humphrey was unable to continue on, so they stopped there to rest. Mr. Humphrey placed her on a bed and sent his 12-year old son John to find some water. Before the boy returned, Indians attacked, set fire to the log cabin, and killed the family. Her son hid in the trees. At Fort Ridgely, Captain Marsh and his men received word of the attack at the Lower Agency, and rushed to the fort. On the way, they stopped at a burning log cabin and found the remains of the Humphrey family. Mrs. Humphrey's son John, who had witnessed the killings, emerged from the bushes. Captain Marsh comforted him and then urged him on to the fort. He arrived there safely.
Mrs. Humphrey was buried, along with two of her children, in the same grave as her husband.
(c) Copyright 2009 Cindy Coffin
Mrs. Humphrey was buried, along with two of her children, in the same grave as her husband.
(c) Copyright 2009 Cindy Coffin
Wife of Lower Sioux Agency physician, Philander Humphrey; she was killed along with her husband and two of her children on the day the Dakota War broke out in 1862. When the Lower Agency was attacked on the morning of August 18, Dr. Humphrey managed to escape. He and his wife, who was recovering from childbirth, and his three children tried to make their way to Fort Ridgely, 13 miles away. They crossed the river and reached the Magner log cabin at Birch Coulee, about four miles away. It had been abandoned. Mrs. Humphrey was unable to continue on, so they stopped there to rest. Mr. Humphrey placed her on a bed and sent his 12-year old son John to find some water. Before the boy returned, Indians attacked, set fire to the log cabin, and killed the family. Her son hid in the trees. At Fort Ridgely, Captain Marsh and his men received word of the attack at the Lower Agency, and rushed to the fort. On the way, they stopped at a burning log cabin and found the remains of the Humphrey family. Mrs. Humphrey's son John, who had witnessed the killings, emerged from the bushes. Captain Marsh comforted him and then urged him on to the fort. He arrived there safely.
Mrs. Humphrey was buried, along with two of her children, in the same grave as her husband.
(c) Copyright 2009 Cindy Coffin
Mrs. Humphrey was buried, along with two of her children, in the same grave as her husband.
(c) Copyright 2009 Cindy Coffin
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