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Sanford-Shulsen Family
Entries: 110474 Updated: 2009-10-15 01:11:38 UTC (Thu) Contact: Evelyn
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Descendants of Thomas, Robert, Andrew and Zachary Sanford of Milford, Hartford and Saybrook, Connecticut; Descendants of John Sanford of Rhode Island
ID: I33300
Name: Elmer J HUMPHRIES
Sex: M
Birth: 9 APR 1875 in Freetown, NY
Death: 25 SEP 1952 in Wilmington, DE
Burial: 27 SEP 1952 Centerville, DE
_UID: 28D1D6A8C73D2048BBCC9B52960CAF4EF686
Note:
Elmer was son of a dairy farmer but decided he'd try other work. He and his partner, George Stafford, were grain and feed merchants. In about 1910 they also became contractors using the then new cement block method of construction for homes, and later for farm buildings. In 1915 their work was admired by Henry F. DuPont and Elmer was hired to design and supervise construction of new barns at his estate, Winterthur Farms, to replace buildings that had been destroyed by fire. In 1918 Humphries was named Superintendent and he remained in this position for the rest of his life.
Winterthur was both Henry DuPont's family estate and a working farm that reflected his interest in refining the Holstein breed of dairy cattle. It also produced beef and poultry on thousands of acres and employed hundreds of men, including my father who was employed in 1918 as a test dairyman. In 1920 Humphries designed and build a residence for his own use at Winterthur. Later he built a summer home at Hances Point near town of Northeast, Maryland. During the later years he was involved in converting DuPont's residence into what is now the Winterthur Museum. DuPont also owned a large home and guest house in Boca Raton, Florida. DuPont once sent Humphries there with a crew to rebuild the kitchen. Elmer took Zettie with him on what was to be the first of their many trips to Florida.
Humphries was an effective leader and manager; a short, quiet man who conveyed a lot of meaning with very few words. He also was an instinctive designer-builder and many of the present Winterthur buildings are a testiment to his work... During summers in the 30s and 40s my family visited my grandparents at their Winterthur and summer homes.
On their 56th wedding anniversary Elmer and Zettie went to Rehobeth Beach where he became ill. He barely managed to drive home, then developed a very high fever and died soon after. Elmer was buried in his family plot at the Lower Brandywine Church in Centerville, DE. He was a 32nd degree Mason.
Marriage 1 Zetteen Eliza STAFFORD b: 14 FEB 1877 in Messengerville, NY
Married: 9 SEP 1896 in Cortland, NY
Children
Lola Josephine HUMPHRIES b: 31 DEC 1897 in McGraw, NY
Hazel Elizabeth HUMPHRIES b: 11 NOV 1901 in McGraw, NY
Thelma Lucile HUMPHRIES b: 8 JUN 1911 in McGraw, NY
Sources:
Title: Stephen J. Sanford
Abbrev: Stephen J. Sanford
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1875 - 1952 (77 years)
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