Compton, Elihu

COMPTON, REED, JOHNSON

Posted By: mjv (email)
Date: 9/9/2020 at 14:39:14

Elihu Compton, Justice of the Peace, Brighton, is a retired farmer. He was born in Montgomery County, Ohio, Dec. 29, 1812, and is a son of Eli and Rebecca Compton, the former a native of South, and the latter of North Carolina. Eli Compton moved from his native State to Ohio in 1808, in company with his parents, who located near Dayton on the Miami River, where his father improved a farm. Rebecca Reed moved from North Carolina in 1809, in company with her parents, James and Mary Reed, who settled near Dayton. They were natives of North Carolina. Her mother died Jan. 18, 1835, and her father, Jan. 12, 1846. Eli Compton and Rebecca Reed became acquainted with each other after their removal to Ohio, and were there subsequently married. They were the parents of eight children: Samuel, deceased; Elihu, the subject of our sketch; Martha, deceased, was the wife of John R. Webb; Rebecca married William Moore; and both are now dead; Nancy married James Heath, and both are now deceased; James and Mary died in infancy; Elizabeth is the widow of Peter Kephart, and now resides in Allen County, Ohio.

Elihu Compton was reared upon a farm. When twelve years of age, his father having been engaged by other persons, loaded two teams with goods to trade to the Indians, one of which was placed in Elihu’s charge. This was at the time a treaty was made by the Government with the Miami and Pottawatomie Indians in 1826, who then inhabited the country about where Wabash, Ind., now stands. With these Indians Eli Compton traded, the sales being effected near where the city of Wabash now stands. Our subject says he returned to Wabash in 1884, but could scarcely realize the changes that had been made. Gov. Cass, of Michigan, was one of the Government agents at the time his father was trading with the Indians. He well remembers seeing Gov. Cass dressed in full uniform, and thought him the finest looking man that he ever saw. In 1826, Elihu was engaged in driving ox-teams, hauling produce from Dayton, Ohio, to Ft. Wayne, Ind. He continued to drive oxen until eighteen years of age, when his father bought horse-teams, which he continued to drive over the same country until twenty-two years of age, when he commenced farming. Elihu never attended school until he was twenty-three years of age. He then entered a select school, where he remained about seven weeks. This was all the education he received in school, but by reading and observation, he has since become a well-informed man.

In December, 1836, Mr. Compton was united in marriage with Miss Sarah Johnson, a native of Green County, Ohio, born May 2, 1812, and the daughter of William and Frances Johnson, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Maryland. Seven children have been born to them: Frances M., born Dec. 2, 1837, died Sept. 5, 1843; Nancy E., born Feb. 6, 1840, married Joseph Smith, and died Oct. 14, 1873; Minerva J., born Sept. 21, 1841, died Jan. 18, 1859; Martha, born May 18, 1843, died Aug. 25, 1846; Johnson R., born June 1, 1845, is a resident of Webster City, Iowa; Hannah E., born April 14, 1847, died in infancy; Sarah M., born April 16, 1851, is the wife of J.I. Isenhart, of Brighton, Iowa. The children were all born in Mercer County, Ohio, where the family lived for many years. The first land owned by Mr. Compton in that county was forty acres. By subsequent purchase he secured a farm of 160 acres, all of which he had well improved. The first cabin that he built was of round poles and was placed together without a single nail. In this cabin the family lived until he was able to build a better house.

In 1845, Mr. Compton was appointed Postmaster of Mercer, Mercer Co., Ohio, receiving his commission from James K. Polk, and held that office for six years, resigning on account of its interfering with his farming. He was also a Justice of the Peace in Mercer County, Ohio, for twelve years. In 1854 he became dissatisfied with his residence in that county, on account of the sulphur in the water, and in 1855 sold out and came with his family in a spring wagon to Washington County, Iowa, and bought 160 acres of land in Clay Township, eighty acres of which was partially improved. On that farm he continued to reside until 1865, when he sold out and purchased property in Brighton, where he has since continued to reside. He has served about twenty-three years as Justice of the Peace, in addition to which he has filled other county and township offices, serving with credit to himself and his constituents. Mrs. Compton is a member of the Baptist Church, and has always taken great interest in Church work. Few men are better known or more universally esteemed than Squire Compton.

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington County, Iowa (1887). Excerpt from Biographical Sketch of Elihu Compton, pages 287-288.