HUMPHREY A. TOMPKINS

HUMPHREY A. TOMPKINS, farmer, Franklin, Heard County, son of Nicholas and Lucinda T. (Springer) Tompkins, was born in Heard County March 9, 1851.

His paternal grandfather, Giles Tompkins, was a soldier in the patriot army during the Revolutionary War, and migrated from Virginia to Georgia, and settled in Oglethorpe County the latter part of the last century. Mr. Tompkins‘ father was born in Oglethorpe County in 1798, received such education as could be obtained at the country schools of the locality at the time, and when grown, entered upon farming as a life pursuit. Later, he moved to Putnam County, Georgia, and thence to Troup County about 1830, and settled on land now within the bounds of Heard County. He served during the Seminole War, holding a commission as major. He also served as a soldier in the War with Mexico. At the close of that war he returned to his farm. Such were his skill as a planter and his business sagacity and management that he became the owner of 175 slaves and the largest land-owner in Heard County. He died Aug. 12, 1860. He was married twice; his second wife being the mother of the subject of this sketch. She was a daughter of William G. and Mary (Baxter) Springer. Mr. Springer was for many years an Indian agent. By this marriage he had five children: William G., John T., Humphrey A., Benjamin Hill, and Eliza Baxter.

Mr. Tompkins was raised on the family plantation, and received as good an education as was obtainable, considering the locality, and the fact that his boyhood was passed during "war times.” When only fourteen years old he assumed control of his father’s extensive plantation, which had suffered immensely from the ravages of war, and entered upon the management of the property. With wonderfully good judgment, a perseverance and a spirit of determination, that quailed not at any obstacle, he succeeded in preserving intact and rehabilitating the large and valuable estate, which today stands as a monument to his unwearying industry and tireless energy. Notwithstanding the apparently stern and inflexible will needed to accomplish such results, he is one of the most genial and whole-souled gentlemen to be found in any community.

In 1890 he was elected treasurer over an opponent, who had held the office fourteen years, and was regarded as invincible, which speaks volumes for the estimation in which he is held, and the good will entertained toward him by his fellow citizens.

Mr. Tompkins was happily married in 1882 to Miss Viola L., daughter of Matthew and Lousiana (Yates) Monk-—a union which has been blessed with four children: John S., Effie Lou, Eliza Baxter, and Florence C. He is an ardent member of the Masonic fraternity, and a prominent and influential member of the Methodist Church.

Source: Memoirs of Georgia, Containing historical accounts of the states civil, military, industrial and professional interests and personal sketches of many of it’s people, Volume I, The Southern Historical Association, Atlanta, Georgia, 1895

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