William Compton

COMPTON, EARL, KNIGHT

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson (email)
Date: 9/19/2004 at 18:32:16

William Compton, Douglas twp., retired; P.O. Winterset; was born in Butler county, Ohio, in 1818, and in 1837, removed to Peoria county, Illinois, where he remained until 1839 and then emigrated to Washington county, Iowa, and lived there until his removal to Polk county in 1846, and came to this county in 1849 and moved the first woman and family on what is known as the town quarter section of land; he was the first man who sold groceries in Madison county, and afterward bought of Hart & Hinkly their mill site on Middle river, where they had been running a corn cracker; he built on this fine mill site the first grist-mill erected in the county; he also built in connection with this a saw-mill, and put up a carding machine; he married Miss Sarah Earl in 1842; she was born in Indiana, and died in 1872; he afterward married Sarah Knight in 1873; she was born in Lawrence county, Illinois; has seven children by his first marriage: Adeline, Angenette, Granville, Margaret, Elsie, Elizabeth and Esther; lost one daughter, Sarah Ellen.

Footnote: Since the above was put in type Mr. Compton has passed away. He died at his home June 25, 1879.

Taken from the book, "The History of Madison County, Iowa, 1879" page 601