HENRY HUMBERGER, who is carrying on farming interests in Perry county, his home being in Thorn township, was born at the place of his present residence on section 26, his natal day being Dec. 26, 1842.  His parents were John and Mary Ann (Basshore) Humberger.  The family is of German lineage and the first American ancestors of our subject settled in Pennsylvania.  Adam Humberger, an uncle of our subject, resided in Somerset and is said to have been the inventor of the revolving pistol, although he did not get the credit of his invention.  He was also the first member of the Universalist church who ever secured the promise of a Methodist Episcopal minister to preach his funeral sermon and to tell the assembled congregation that he had died in the faith in which he had lived.  He passed away in New Lexington and he was widely known as a prominent and honored man.  The father was born on section 35, Thorn township, Perry county, Feb. 22, 1803, and on the 9th of Oct., 1828, he led to the marriage altar Miss Basshore, whose birth occurred Feb. 24, 1809.  She was a daughter of Frederick Basshore, who settled near Rushville, Richland township, Fairfield county, in 1803, coming to Ohio from Pennsylvania.  He wedded Mary E. Keister.  Both Mr. and Mrs. Basshore were members of the Reformed Presbyterian church and the former died at the age of sixty-five years, while the latter passed away in her eightieth year.  The paternal grandfather of our subject was Peter Humberger, who came to Perry county in 1802, his brothers, John and Henry, also locating with him in this county on section 35, Thorn township.
     John Humberger, the father of our subject, resided on section 26, Thorn township, and engaged in general farming and stock-raising until his death, which occurred when his son Henry was about three years of age.  His widow long survived him and died about twenty-years ago at the old home place, when seventy-four years of age.  They, too, were consistent Christian people, belonging to the Lutheran church, in which Mr. Humberger served as a deacon.  He voted with the Democracy, but never cared for office.  In his family were ten children, six of whom are yet living: David, a resident farmer of Whitley county, Indiana; Frederick, who was a farmer of the same county and died there at the age of sixty-three; Mary Ann, the widow of Simon Long, and a resident of Tiffin, Ohio; Elizabeth, who acts as her brother Henry's housekeeper and is the widow of Lewis Rankin, of Kentucky; Peter, who was a farmer and died in Illinois at the age of thirty-five years; Margaret, who became the wife of Barnard Mechling, of Hopewell township, Perry county, and died in 1863; John, who is a minister of the Lutheran church in this state; Henry, the eighth in order of birth; George W., who died in Nebraska at about the age of fifty-six years; and Benjamin, who is a farmer and cattle raiser of Colorado.  All of these children were born on the old homestead in Perry.
     Our subject remained on his father's farm until the breaking out of the Civil war, when with patriotic spirit he enlisted in Company I, One Hundred and Fifty-second Infantry.  He had gone to that state on a visit and enlisted while there, serving until the close of the war, when he was honorably discharged at Charleston, West Virginia.  He participated in many skirmishes and after receiving an honorable discharge returned to his home in this county.  He then purchased the old farm, upon which he has since resided and here he has made many improvements.  The farm comprises one hundred and eighteen acres, of which he has sold eighteen acres.  The land which he still owns is under a very high state of cultivation.  He has remodeled the house in which he was born, a two-story brick dwelling, and it is now a very comfortable and attractive residence.  He also built a new barn and has placed his place in an excellent state of improvement, successfully carrying on general farming and being recognized as one of the leading and successful agriculturists of his community.
     On the 14th of April, 1867, Mr. Humberger wedded Miss Eliza Snyder, a daughter of Daniel and Mary (Greenawalt) Snyder, early settlers of Thorn township, her father being a prominent farmer there.  He died in that township at a very advanced age.  Mrs. Humberger was born, reared and educated in that township and was a conscientious member of the Lutheran church.  She died at her husband's home Mar. 11, 1901, at the age of fifty-five years and the household thus mourned the loss of a devoted wife and a kind and loving mother.  She had three children, all of whom still survive her.  Mary is the wife of Benjamin Franklin Lutz, of Somerset, where he is engaged in the grocery business.  He is a native of Hopewell township, Perry county.  They have five children, Edith, Floyd, Bessie, Evelyn and Ralph, all of whom were born in Somerset.  Elva May, the second daughter of Mr. Humberger, is the wife of Samuel Binckley, a son of Aaron Binckley, a resident farmer Reading township, and they have three children, Nellie, Gladys, and Robert.  Oscar, the only son of our subject, is now sixteen years of age and resides upon the home farm, where all of the children were born.
     In his political views Mr. Humberger is a Democrat, while in religious faith he is a Lutheran.  His life has ever been honorable and upright, and he is justly esteemed for his genuine worth.  Mr. Humberger has seen many improvements made in Perry county, for his early recollections tell him that there was a large amount of wild land which he has seen developed into beautiful homes and farms.  He is one of the men who have helped to make this a rich agricultural district, his efforts proving of great value to the community.
Source: Biographical Record of Fairfield & Perry Counties, Ohio - Illustrated - Publ. New York & Chicago - The S. J. Clarke Publishing Company - 1902 - pp. 444 - 448