P. M. COMPTON
Milledgeville, GA.
The Comptons are of English origin. The first
ancestor of P.M. Compton on this side of the water was a political refugee,
who was forced to leave his country on account of the part he took in political
troubles between Charles I and II. He settled first in Maryland and moved
afterward to Virginia. Jordon Compton, father of the subject of this sketch,
was born in Halifax and reared in Dinwiddie County, Va. He moved to Georgia,
stopping temporarily in Oglethorpe County, about the year 1805 and located
in Monticello, Jasper County, in 1806. He was a carpenter and mill-wright
by trade, and carried on that business during his residence there. He subsequently
however abandoned that calling and removed to the country and took up planting
as a occupation. He was an industrious and successful planter, a stanch
friend and an agreeable companion. He died May 30, 1864, and was buried
on the old homestead, seven miles west of Monticello, where he settled
nearly sixty years before. His wife was a Virginia born lady, a Miss Chappell.
They had nine children, all of whom are now dead but three: P.M., Catherine
and J.R.
P.M. Compton was born in Jasper
County, Ga., September 10, 1810. He received a fair common school education.
On reaching his majority he embarked in mercantile pursuits at Jackson
in Butts County, Ga., and was so engaged for about ten years. He became
a candidate for the legislature in 1842 and was elected on the old Whig
ticket. After one term in the legislature he was elected surveyor-general
of the State and held the office continuously, with the exception of one
term, for ten years. His duties as surveyor-general necessitated
his removal to Milledgeville, then the State capital. he resumed his mercantile
pursuits in Milledgeville in 1857, and has followed it uninterruptedly
since. His store is one of the old landmarks in Milledgeville and he is
one of the staunchest business men in the place. He is enterprising and
public spirited and has assisted in all the movements set on foot to better
the condition of the town. Mr. Compton married a lady of northern birth,
Miss Lydia Devreaux of New Jersey. He has raised to maturity seven children,
namely: J. Chappell, Charles W., Lyman H., Guy D., Mary, Laura and Anna
Belle, to all of whom he gave good educations and most of whom are now
settled off in life, and themselves mothers and fathers. Source:
Biographical Souvenir of the States of Georgia and Florida. Chicago, IL:
F.A. Battey & Company, 1889.
Eileen Babb McAdams copyright 2005