John Humphrey House

Constructed in 1881, this Orland Park historic home was constructed for the family of Illinois senator John Humphrey. Only the second home constructed in the future city of Orland Park, the home was later acquired by Humphrey and was named as the House of Representatives in 1870 and the Senator of Illinois in 1886. In the year 2005, the John Humphrey House was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The house is currently owned by the Orland Park Historical Society which offers tours for the public.

John Humphrey was born in Wisbech, England on June 20, 1838 and he emigrated to the United States ten years later with his family. During this time, the Humphrey family were among the first settlers of European descent to arive in what would become Orland Park, Illinois. Throughout his childhood, John Humphrey accompanied his family on the field and completed his studies at a public school. When Humphrey grew up to be an adult, he traveled to California on a wagon train to start his career. After several years of working in California, John returned home and married his wife Amelia Patrick in 1863. John Humphrey's political career started began when he was elected to the Cook County Board of Supervisors, in 1866. Additionally, in 1870, John Humphrey was selected as the supervisor of Orland Township and three years later he was elected as the township treasurer. Furthermore, when the Wabash, Saint Louis & Pacific Railroad declared to open a station near his childhood home, John Humphrey purchased a large portion of land in the town center next to the station. Shortly after the town was incorporated, John Humphrey served as the first president of his town. Humphrey constructed this house in 1881, and at that time, it was only the second house built in the future city of Orland Park.

In 1987, the John Humphrey House was acquired by the Orland Historical Society after the death of the youngest Humphrey heir. According to many articles, John Humphrey and Amelia Humphrey had six children: Libby, Wilt, Lillian, Thomas, Clara Mable, and Maude. Libby, the oldest, died at the age of eleven. Wilt, their oldest son, grew up to be a lawyer. Lilian and Thomas died at a young age. Clara Marble grew up with Wilt. In 1894, Amelia Humphrey who was John Humphrey's first wife was found dead in Humphrey's dining area. After losing his wife, John Humphrey was remarried the same year he lost his first wife. His second wife, Ida Humphrey, and John Humphrey had one child named John.

1. Prabook. John Humphrey, Accessed November 9th 2021. https://prabook.com/web/john.humphrey/2229119.
2. Shanahan, Edward . Haunted Senator John Humphrey House - Chicago Paranormal Location, February 1st 2012. Accessed November 9th 2021. https://www.chicagonow.com/chicago-paranormal-and-spiritual/2012/02/haunted-senator-john-humphrey-house-chicago-paranormal-location/.
3. Sheikah, Yasmeen. Second Oldest Home In Orland Haunted By Family's Spirits: Psychic, October 12th 2020. Accessed November 9th 2021. https://patch.com/illinois/orlandpark/second-oldest-home-orland-haunted-familys-spirits-psychic.
4. Wikipedia Foundation, Wikipedia. John Humphrey House (Orland Park), Invalid date. Accessed November 9th, 2021. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Humphrey_House_(Orland_Park,_Illinois).