From the 1921 Scofield History of Hancock County, page 1244
[bracketed text] and paragraph breaks added for clarity and readability.

Humphrey, Arda L., who is very profitably engaged in operating the homestead of his family in Hancock Township is one of the reliable citizens of Hancock County.  He was born in Fountain Green Township, in January, 1882, a son of Gill and Margaret (Yetter) Humphrey, natives of Adams County, Ill., and Fountain Green Township, respectively.  The maternal grandparents, Louis and Martha Yetter, were early settlers of Fountain Green Township, and he was a native of Pennsylvania.  After their marriage, Gill Humphrey and his wife settled in Fountain Green Township, but in two years moved to Hancock Township and lived on rented land for four years, when they bought 116 acres of land on sections 2 and 11, where they lived and farmed until 1902, when they moved to Carthage, and there he died in May 1906.  His widow survives him and lives at Kansas City, Mo.  Their children were as follows: Arda; and Martha, who is Mrs. Edward Miller, of Kansas City, Mo.

In 1907 Arda Humphrey assumed charge of the homestead, which he rents from his mother, and here he carries on general farming.  Mr. Humphrey is a well educated man, for after leaving the district schools, he took a course in Professor Meyer's Normal School, at Macomb, Ill.  Since 1916 he has served as township trustee, to which he was elected on the Democratic ticket.  He is insured in the Bankers of Iowa Insurance Company.  A man of intelligent effort in his line, he has proven that farming pays, and that it is one of the best callings a man can adopt.

On October 7, 1906, Mr. Humphrey was married to Mattie Orth, born in Hancock County, May 9, 1886, a daughter of Henry and Rosa (Sells) Orth, and they have one daughter, Ardith, who was born January 24, 1919.

Arda Humphrey was a trustee of the Majorville Cemetery Association, formed sometime after February, 1927.  Click here to read E. W. Huston's letter to The News about the association.
 

Arda L. Humphrey was the oldest child and only son of Gill [Humphrey] and Margaret Yetter [Humphrey] Hayford an was born Jan. 8, 1882, in Fountain Green Twp. and passed away at the St. Francis hospital in Macomb at 4:15 p. m. July 25, 1936, being 54 years, 6 months and 17 days of age.

The cause of his death was anemia and gall bladder trouble.

There had been a noticeable decline in health since 1934 at which time he passed through a siege of measles.  But only since the middle of May of this year, did his health become so impaired as to need medical attention.  As he did not improve, he entered the hospital in Monday and was under the care of Dr. Hartman for the last 5 days of his life.

He grew up in the Majorville church community.  Attending Walnut district school and later spent almost two years in Meyers and Miller Normal school in Macomb.

He then took up farming with his father on the home place.  Later in 1902 they rented the home farm and moved to Carthage where they conducted the hotel "Shorman" for several years.  It was here his father died on May 9, 1906.  The first summer after moving to Carthage he rented and farmed an acreage and made his home with his Aunt Ella and Will Day.

In the following fall on Oct. 7th, he was married to Mattie E. Orth in Elvaston, Ill., by Rev. L. P. Bear.  They immediately came back to the old home farm and began the homemaking in our midst. Amid life-long friends, relatives and neighbors, and here several years later their daughter was born.

Their home was one of hospitality where we all loved to go and visit.

[incomplete] leaving the home farm, so moved to Keokuk, Iowa, for a short stay.  Later buying and moving to their present home in Centennial school district, McDonough county, and at the time of his death he was nicely managing a fruit and berry farm, along with a Leghorn chicken ranch.

Arda was of a bright jovial disposition, living always on the sunny side of life.  A good husband and a very kind and indulgent father and always mindful of sister and his invalid mother and throughout his life he has been a builder and booster of the Majorville church and Sunday school.  Being converted in the Billy Sunday's meeting in Carthage, Ill., and will be sadly missed by old and young.

He leaves to mourn, his wife and daughter, Ardith, his sister, Mrs. Martha Miller, and invalid mother, Mrs. Maggie Hayford of Kansas City, Mo.

Three infant sisters preceded him in death many years ago.

Only one own uncle is living, Maurice Yetter, of Fountain Green, Ill.  Many Humphrey[,] Wright and Yetter cousins mourn the passing of Arda Humphrey.

Funeral was conducted by his pastor, Rev. Keith Loveless, at 2:30 p. m. Tuesday at the Majorville church.  Burial was in the cemetery beside the church.

Casket bearers were Charlie Martin, Charlie Conn, Roy Cuba, Orval White, John Rings, Harley Parker.

Miss Lois Young of Colchester, Ill, very sweetly sang Ivory Palaces and Well say Good-Night Here But Good-Morning - Heaven.

The floral tributes were many and very beautiful.

See: Gill Humphrey and Maggie Yetter

Mattie Orth Humphrey married John Franklin Rings on March 10, 1938.

Mattie died December 16, 1951, and was buried next to Arda at Mt. Auburn Cemetery.

Humphrey, Gill M, head, white, male, March 1850, 50, married for 19 years, born IL, father born KY, mother born VA, farmer, months not employed - 0, could read, write and speak English, owned his farm home, farm schedule 29

Margaret E, wife, white, female, Jan 1863, 37, married for 19 years; mother of 5 children, 2 living; born IL, father born PA, mother born TN, could read, write and speak English

Arthur L, son, white, male, Jan 1881, 19, single, born IL, both parents born IL, could read, write and speak English

Martha F, daughter, white, female, Feb 1896, 4, single, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English

Orth, Henry, head, white, male, June 1862, 27, married for 15 years, born IL, both parents born Germany, laundryman, months not employed - 0, could read, write and speak English, rented his home

Rosa, wife, white, female, Dec 1867, 32, married for 15 years; mother of 5 children, all living; born IL, both parents born IL, could read, write and speak English

Mattie, daughter, white, female, May 1886, 14, single, born IL, both parents born IL, at school for 8 months, could read, write and speak English

Blance, daughter, white, female, May 1888, 12, single, born IL, both parents born IL, at school for 6 months, could read, write and speak English

Arthur, son, white, male, Dec 1890, 9, single, born IL, both parents born IL, at school for 6 months, could read, write and speak English

Reva, daughter, white, female, July 1897, 2, single, born IL, both parents born IL

Jesse, son, white, male, Mar 1900, 2/12, single, born IL, both parents born IL

Humphrey, Arty, head, male, white, 28, married (1st) for 3 years, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, farmer, general farm, employer, could read and write, rented his farm home, farm schedule 44

Mattie, wife, female, white, 23, married (1st) for 3 years, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, could read and write

Humphrey, Arda L, head, renter, male, white, 38, married, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, farmer, general farm, employer, farm schedule 96

Mattie E, wife, female, white, 33, married, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English

Ardith I, daughter, female, white, 0 11/12, single, born IL, both parents born IL

Humphrey, Arda L, head, owned his home, [no entry for home value], owned a radio, lived on a farm, male, white, 48, married, age at first marriage - 24, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English, farmer, truck farm, spoke English, whether a veteran of the U.S. military or naval forces mobilized for any war or expedition - no, farm schedule 6

Mattie E, wife, female, white, 43, married, age at first marriage - 20, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English

Ardith I, daughter, female, white, 11, single, attended school after Sept. 1, 1929, could read and write, born IL, both parents born IL, spoke English