An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 412-413 THOMAS J. HUMES, Superior Judge of King county, Washington, was born on the Wabash river in Clinton county, Indiana, February 14, 1849. His father, James Humes, a native of Pike county, Ohio, removed to Indiana when eighteen years of age, and there engaged in fanning. He married Miss Sarah Start, of Ohio. In 1833 they removed to Keokuk county, Iowa, where Mr. Humes has since followed an agricultural life. The Humes family are of Scotch-Irish descent, their ancestors having emigrated to the United States prior to the Revolutionary war. Swearing allegiance to the colonies, they took part in that war, and their descendants participated in the war of 1812. Thomas J. was educated in the common schools of Keokuk county and the public schools of Chicago. At the age of seventeen he began teaching school in Keokuk county, and so was enabled to secure the higher branches of education. He then engaged in the study of law in the office of George D. Wooden, at Sigourney, the county seat of Keokuk county, and was admitted to the bar in February, 1870. He entered upon the practice of his profession in Washington, Washington county, Kansas, the same year, and was elected Prosecuting Attorney for the county, holding the office for two years. In 1813 he made the trip to this coast, visiting Nevada, Oregon and California, and returning to Washington, Kansas, in 1874. He resumed the practice of law at Washington, and represented the county in the State Legislature in 1877 and 1879, being twice elected by the Republican party. From 1880 to 1882 he was Assistant United States Attorney, with headquarters at Topeka, resigning that position in 1882 to come to Seattle and identify himself with this rising young city. Here he immediately opened an office and entered upon his profession, which he continued alone up to 1888. Then he entered into partnership with William R. Andrews, under the firm name of Humes & Andrews, which co-partnership continued up to 1890, when the legal business of Seattle had assumed such proportions that additional judges of the Superior Court were required, and Judge Humes was appointed by Governor Ferry to his present position. He was elected to the office in November following, and was re-nominated for the same position in the fall of 1892, for a period of four years. The members of the first Territorial Legislature were elected upon the woman-suffrage issue. Judge Humes was the anti-suffrage candidate of the Republican party, and was elected by about 500 majority. Upon his return to Washington, Kansas, in 1874, the subject of our sketch was married to Alma Roberts. They have had eight children, five of whom survive: Start, Thomas J., Jr., Samuel J., Nathan R. and Edmund. The Judge has traded somewhat in real estate, but the practice of his profession has been the chief object of his life, and to it he has devoted his energy and ability. Being of active mind and quick perception, as an attorney his efforts have been crowned with success, and as a judge his rulings are impartial and strictly in accordance with law and the facts in the case. Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in October 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer * * * * Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individual featured in the biographies.