Compton - Eli
Source: Sunday Star, March 13, 1898 p 8
Eli Compton died on Sunday morning at his home in Longview, of heart disease after a long illness. He was one of the oldest citizens of this community. On May 19, 1816, he was born in Dayton, Ohio. In 1850 he came to this city from Tippecanoe County. Since that time he has resided here. In early life he was a contractor of public works, but of late years, he had filled the office of constable and justice of the peace. His wife, now in her 80th year survives him. Nine children were born to them but only three live - Matilda; Eveline and Ella. The funeral was from the old home on Wednesday and interment was at Oak Hill. - kbz
Source: Crawfordsville Weekly Journal Friday, 11 March, 1898
Eli Compton died Sunday morning at his home after an illness of some time. The funeral occurred from the residence, 1009 West Market Street, on Wednesday afternoon at 2 o’clock. Interment was at Oak Hill. Eli Compton was a native of Dayton, Ohio, May 19, 1816, being the date of his birth. His father, Amos Compton, was born in South Carolina, and his mother in East Tennessee. Their parents brought them to Ohio, where they were married. In 1858 or 1859 they moved to Iowa, and there both died in 1864 and are resting in Marshall County. The Comptons were formerly Quakers, or Friends. Eli Compton’s life was somewhat varied in the different channels of labor in which he has sought a livelihood. He spent the first twenty three years of his life on a farm. At that age he came to Tippecanoe County, Ind., and was engaged in superintending the construction of a plank road from Lafayette to Crawfordsville. In 1850 he came to Montgomery County and entered the sawmill or lumber business, and for two years superintended the cutting of the railroad bed through Crawfordsville and vicinity, and the grading of one mile of that road, viz., the Louisville, New Albany & Chicago. During the Civil War he spent two years in the quartermaster’s department as an employee. He spent one year in the hardware store of Cumberland & Harter, also with Cumberland & Graves for a time. Later he acted as constable in Montgomery County, and in 1880 was elected Justice of the Peace, an office he filled several years. He was married December 19, 1839 to Matilda, daughter of Levi and Betsy Mills, of Fort Wayne, Ind. they had nine children, but three of whom are living: Matilda J., Evelyn H., and Ella W. Mrs. Compton is now in her eightieth year. Mr. Compton leaves one brother, Amos Compton, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and two sisters, Mrs. Rebecca Beam and Mrs. Rachel Daugherty, of Fort Wayne. He was a consistent member of Center Presbyterian Church and a gentleman honored by all who knew him. -s