| Notes |
- Among the old settlers and Ieading ciri_ens of Greenwood township is Elisha Compton. He was born in Coshocton county, Ohio, on the 20th of October, 1838. His ancestors were of English descent, and they settled in Old Virginia at a period previous to the Revolutionary war. George W. Compton, his father, was born in Culpeper county, Virginia, and was married there to Amelia Wood, whose ancestors were also early residents of the Old Dominion. Soon after his marriage George W. Compton starred with his young wife for Ohio, and settled in Coshocton county. This was about the year 1818. He chose as his location the point of land running down between the Tuscarawas and Walhonding rivers, which there unite to form the Muskgum. This was the birthplace of Elisha Compton. There were eight children in the family, and the subject of this sketch was the fourth in the order of his birth. He lived in Ohio until about eighteen years of age. For the boys of that day the ordinary district schools were the only means of obtaining an education, and much attention was paid to schooling. The whole family moved to Illinois in 1856, settling in the spring of that year on section 32 of Greenwood township. Ar that rime, this part of the county was but thinly inhabited. The improvements were confined to the edge of the timber. The prairie was almost entirely without settlements. Before the family left Ohio, his father had purchased a thousand acres of land and had a house built ready for occupancy. His father lived in this place till his death, which occured on the 28th of January, 1877. His mother died on the 4th day of April, 1870. George W. Compton was a man of great industry and of superior business management. In his youth he had enjoyed but scanty educational advantages, but possessed good natural abilities, and was known as a shrewd and successful trader. He had no ambition for public life, and was better suited for the plain career of a quiet farmer. He was moral and temperate in his habits, and was respected by everybody who knew him for his many good qualities as a neighbor and a cirieen. He was a member of the United Brethren Church. In his politics he was a republican, and had been a member of that party from its first organirarion. He accumu
lated considerable property.
Elisha Compton was married on the 1st day of November, 1860, to Miss Ardenia Ann Teasley. This marriage took place at Greenville, Bond counrv. Mrs. Compton was born in Bond county, October 30, 1841. Her father, William Teasley, was from Kentucky, and came to Illinois about the year 1836, at the age of twenty-one. Her mother's name before marriage was Martha Ann Jett. After his marriage Elisha Compton began farming for himself, and a couple of years afterward moved on the place where he now lives. He owns I80 acres of land. The names of his children are: Martha A., William G., Mary A., Liutisha B., Henry C., Alfarata, and Albert. In his politics he has always been a member of the republican part}, and his first vote for president was cast for Abraham Lincoln, at his first election in 1860. Although he has been an earnest republican, and on general issues has supported the candi¬dares of that party, yet in local elections and in choosing township officers, he has always felt himself free to vote for the best man for the position without regard to his political proclivities. He was elected justice of the peace in 1878. He is a member of the Methodist Church. As one of the representative citizens of Greenwood township and one of the old settlers ?fthis part of the county, his name deserves a place in this work.
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1838 - 1914 (75 years)
