Editing Humphreys, Missouri (section)

==History==
Humphreys, originally known as Haley City,<ref name=gnis/> was first surveyed in April 1881 by G.M. Garvey for the Stringer family. When originally established, it consisted of just seventeen blocks with 246 lots. Additions of three blocks and nine blocks were made in January and May 1882, respectively.<ref>''History of Adair, Sullivan, Putnam, and Schuyler Counties, Missouri'', Goodspeed Publishing Co., Chicago, 1888</ref> It was sometime during that spring of 1882 that the town name was changed to Humphreys. The town experienced rapid early growth, being located on the Quincy, Missouri & Pacific Railroad, with the train depot being constructed in August 1881. James Stringer established the first store in June 1881, and by the end of the year the new town supported four hotels, two drug stores, two dry goods stores, a general merchandise, and a millinery. A harness shop joined the business list in 1884 and blacksmiths in 1886 and 1887.<ref>''The Complete History of Sullivan County, Missouri'', Vol. 1 1836-1900. By Gladys Crumpacker, History Publications Inc. 1977</ref>

Light industry of a sort came to Humphreys in 1882 with the establishment of the Humphreys Milling Company, a steam-powered flour mill located in a large three-story building. It was said to have produced up to twenty-five barrels of flour per day at peak capacity. The citizenry's need for news was met by the ''Humphreys Gazette'', a weekly newspaper founded in late 1881 by Joseph S. Wright. The name was changed to the ''Humphreys Advance'' in 1884 but the venture ultimately proved unprofitable and publication ceased in August 1887.

=== Education ===
[[Image:HumphreysCollege.JPG|thumb|upright|Humphreys College & Business Institute as sketched in 1887.]]
The children of Humphreys were educated in a typical one-room rural schoolhouse, located about three-fourths of a mile northwest of the community until 1885. At that time, the elementary and secondary education were combined with and housed in the building containing the Humphreys College and Business Institute. The College was established in 1884 on four acres of land donated by James M. Stringer. A large two-story brick structure was constructed between June and September 1884, with the first class admission beginning on September 29 of the aforementioned year. Humphreys College was co-education and offered two course tracks of study—preparatory and collegiate, with a reported enrollment in 1887 of 157 students. No dormitories were constructed; however, ample housing was available in the town's hotels and private homes.<ref>Goodspeed's ''History of Adair, Sullivan, Putnam...''</ref> Humphreys College and Business Institute was completely destroyed by fire on April 8, 1893.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sullivancountymissouri.com/milanimages/fires.php#1893humphreys|title=Fires|publisher=Sullivan County Historical Society|accessdate=September 12, 2011}}</ref>