Louis B. Humphreys

Louis Booth Humphreys was born in Camden on January 14, 1859, a son of Charles S. and Caroline (Fetters) Humphreys, and represents some of the old families in this section. His grandfather, Joshua Humphreys, was born in Moorestown, N.J. Charles S. Humphreys, son of Joshua, was the celebrated animal painter, considered the best painter of horses in motion in the world. His paintings were given a prominent place at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876, and his fame spread through two continents. He died at Long Branch in 1880.

Louis B. Humphreys was educated in the public schools and Bryant & Stratton’s Business College. He went into the real estate business for himself, opening an office at 39 North Third Street, and later built his offices at the south-west corner of Third and Market Streets. In his time he was one of the most successful and important insurance and real estate brokers in the city, with offices for many years at 230–232 Market Street. He handled some very important real estate transactions, notably the sale of the post-office site to the United States government.

Louis B. Humphreys Sr. passed away in Camden on December 28, 1934. The business was carried on by his son, Louis B. Humphreys Jr., and was still a going concern into the 1960s.

Many thanks to Jerilyn Gainsford Henderson for her help in creating this web-page.

Louis Booth Humphreys is a successful and well-known real estate and insurance agent of Camden, N.J., with place of business at the south-west corner of Third and Market Streets. He was born in Camden, January 14, 1859, a son of Charles S. and Caroline (Fetters) Humphreys, and represents some of the old families in this section. His grandfather, Joshua Humphreys, was born in Moorestown, N.J., and kept a general store there for a number of years. He died in Camden. He married Abigail Cox, and reared a family of seven children.

Charles S. Humphreys, son of Joshua, was the celebrated animal painter. He was born in Moorestown, and acquired his early education there, developing his artistic talent amid the rural surroundings of his boyhood. He was considered the best painter of horses in motion in the world. He would sketch and paint from life. His paintings were given a prominent place at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia in 1876, and his fame as an animal painter spread through two continents. His home was in Camden. He died at Long Branch in 1880 while there for his health, and his death was chronicled in the foreign as well as the American papers. His wife, Mrs. Caroline Fetters Humphreys, was a daughter of Richard Fetters and Hope Stone Fetters.

Richard Fetters was one of the wealthiest and most prominent men of the city. He was the proprietor of that part of Camden formerly known as Fettersville, was a leading spirit in almost every large enterprise, and at one time owned nearly all of South Camden. He staked out the land into house lots, and sold it at an immense profit. In local politics also Mr. Fetters took a very active part. He died in 1863, leaving an immense estate. His wife was a native of Camden, a member of an old family. She died at the age of forty-two, leaving three children: Elizabeth; Eveline E.; and Caroline, aforementioned, who married Charles S. Humphreys. She was a woman of noble character, an intelligent helpmeet to her artist husband. She died at the age of sixty-three years. Mr. and Mrs. Humphreys attended worship at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. They were the parents of five children: Charles F., an officer in the United States Navy, who died at the age of thirty-six; Eveline, who died in infancy; George W., an insurance broker in Burlington, N.J.; Louis Booth, the subject of this sketch; and Ella F., wife of Dr. Harry H. Pemberton, of Long Branch.

Louis Booth Humphreys was born and grew to manhood in the First Ward of Camden, where he still makes his home, and was educated in the public schools and Bryant & Stratton’s Business College. He was graduated at the age of eighteen, and went into the real estate business for himself, opening an office at 39 North Third Street. His business prospered; and at the end of two years he bought the land at the south-west corner of Third and Market Streets, and erected the building in which he is now established. For some fourteen years he was actively engaged in real estate and insurance business, giving little time to rest or recreation; and the continued strain undermined his health to such an extent that in 1892 he was forced to dispose of his business, and retire for a while. In 1894 he resumed his work, and is now one of the busiest men in the city and a very heavy property owner. He has handled some very important real estate transactions, notably the sale of the post-office site to the United States government.

Mr. Humphreys was married in 1882 to Jennie McMullen Strong, daughter of Nathan Strong, Esq. (deceased), a leading lawyer for many years in Philadelphia. Four children have blessed this union, namely: Clarence Fetters; Louis Booth, Jr.; Donald Strong; and Ralph Osborn, who lived but five months.

In politics Mr. Humphreys favors the Republican side. He and his family attend worship at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in this city, and he was for a number of years librarian of the Sunday-school.