Norris Matthew Compton (1836 - 1919)

Born 26 Apr 1836 in Sullivanville, Chemung, New York, United States

Ancestors

Descendants

Died 22 Nov 1919 at age 83 in Horseheads, Chemung, New York, United States

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Biography

Recollections from grandson John Compton Leffler (son of Lena Compton who was Norris’s daughter and sister to William R. Compton, Sr.) written in March 1973:

“Norris M. Compton was the only child of Peter Compton and Amy Norris Compton, who survived infancy. He was spoiled, a great whiner in his old age, and - as far as I could piece together - a dreamer with no business sense. He was dapper in dress, had a fine handlebar mustache, loved fine horses, good cigars, and, I suspect, whiskey - which could be detected on his breath on occasion. At those times, his wife, Mary (Brigham), would show signs of tears, and the tension could be felt. He never went to church.

In his younger years, he did quite well at the family farm in Sullivanville, NY running a good dairy, and raising crops for feed. In midlife, he took a plunge in a dairy farm on a high ridge 1000 feet above Seneca Lake. It was a day’s journey by carriage from Horseheads, where he lived during my childhood, and I loved going with him to the Hill Farm. He was always fun on those trips and had a pocketful of hard candies to dispense enroute. The view from the farm was breathtaking.

On the Hill Farm he was a pioneer in the import of Holstein cattle, noted for the quantity if not the quality of their milk. I loved the dairy with its cool, sweet smell, and the shallow pans of milk set out in a dark corner for the cream to rise to the top. This was before the day of pasteurization and separator machines, but grandfather was very fussy about the cleanliness in the cow barn and dairy. The cow’s teats were washed before milking. The milkers had to wash their hands every two cows! He employed 12 hands on Hill Farm. He was the first President of the New York State Holstein Breeders Association.

The price of milk went down in the panic of 1907, and soon thereafter he could not meet his mortgage and lost Hill Farm and the old family farm at Sullivanville. He was never the same after that, and after my grandmother's (Mary Brigham) death in 1910, he lived until 1919 - a whining old man, cared for in turn by his three daughters Ida, Edith and Lena, and financed by his prosperous son, William R. Compton (Sr.) of Elmira.”

From: “Our County and It’s People, A History of the Valley and County of Chemung”, by Ausburn Towner, 1892, page 40: Norris M. Compton received a common school and academic education, graduating from the Wyoming Seminary at Kingston, PA. He was a travelling salesman for J. Richardson & Co. of Elmira for nine years, when he went into business for himself at Horseheads, handling patent shafting and pole coupling.

From: “A Biographical Record of Chemung County, New York”, 1902, page 53:

Norris M. Compton (son of Peter Compton and Amy Norris) was born in Veteran, NY on April 26, 1836, and pursued his education in Wyoming Seminary at Kingston, Pennsylvania, where he took a general course. He followed the occupation of farming in Veteran, and was also engaged in general merchandise for a number of years, maintaining his residence in Sullivanville. In 1902, he resided in Horseheads and occupied a clerical position in the office of his son (William R. Compton). Norris and his wife Mary gave their children the best home training and such educational privileges as their means would allow, thus fitting them as well as possible for the practical and responsible duties of life. They attended the Methodist Episcopal Church. Norris, in his political views, was an active Republican, staunchly supporting the principles of the party but never seeking office.

In the “Directory of Chemung & Schuyler Counties Gazetteer and Business Directory, 1868-69”: Compton, Norris M. (Sullivanville), cigar maker. Compton, Peter, (Sullivanville), patentee and manufacturer of bee hives, and farmer.

Obituary: Elmira Advertiser, November 25, 1919:

Norris M. Compton, father of the late United States Marshal William R. Compton and one of the pioneer residents of Chemung county, died November 22 at Naperville, IL. His funeral will be held tomorrow morning at 10:30 in the Methodist church in Horseheads. He is survived by his daughters, Mrs. James R. Fitzgerald of Naperville, Mrs. L.H. Lent of Ridgefield Park, NJ, and Mrs. J.F. Leffler of Buffalo. Besides William R. Compton, decedent was the father also of the late Johnson B. Compton. He was a member of Baldwin Post No. 6 G.A.R. of this city and was one of the old residents. He was also president of the Holstein Friesian Breeders’ Association of Chemung County a number of years ago. His mother, Amy Norris, rode through what is now the flourishing city of Elmira in an ox cart near a century ago, and remembered plainly the first store in this community.

Educated at Wyoming Seminary in Kingston, Pennsylvania, where he took general studies. Followed the occupation of farming in Veteran, N.Y., and was also engaged in general merchandise for many years. Lived in Sullivanville, N.Y.

Obituary, November, 1919, Tioga County, NY:

Norris M. Compton Dies Was at the Home of a Daughter in Illinois

Norris M. Compton passed away at the home of one of his daughters, Mrs. J. H. Fitzgerald, at Naperville Ill., Saturday, aged 84 years. He had been spending much time with another daughter at Buffalo, Mrs. J. F. Leffler, and went to Naperville a few weeks ago.

Always a resident of this county, he was among the well known men of the section. His ancestors, the Norris and Compton families, were among the pioneers of the southern tier, and composed that hardy stock which settled and developed the locality. Mr. Compton was born at Sullivanville and was a son of the late Peter and Amy Compton, the father being a minister. He died many years ago but the mother lived to be nearly 108 years of age and passed away about 10 years ago. She lived with her son in this village for many years. Deceased served in the civil war as a musician in the 29th Pennsylvania Regiment and was a member of Baldwin post. A few years ago he was extensively engaged in farming and was among the first men in the county to introduce full blood Holstein cattle. He was one of the organizers and the first president of the Chemung Valley Holstein Breeders’ Association. He was engaged for several years as a clerk in the U. S. Marshall’s office in Elmira. Following the death of his wife a few years ago, Mr. Compton had apartments at the Platt house.

Deceased was the father of the late William R. Compton, prominent as a Republican political leader in this county and for several years U.S. Marshall for this district. He is survived by three daughters - Mrs James Fitzgerald of Naperville, Ill., at whose home he passed away; Mrs. Lewis H. Lent of Richfield Park, N.J.; Mrs. Leffler, wife of Rev. John F. Leffler, pastor of the Normal Park Methodist church at Buffalo, NY.

The funeral was held at the Methodist church in this village Wednesday, at 10:30, Rev. Wm. Jacques, officiating. Burial was in Maple Grove cemetery.

Sources

• Family genealogy notes.

John Compton Leffler, grandson.

• Fact: Also Known As N Marx Compton
• Fact: Residence (1850) Barton, Tioga, New York, United States
• Fact: Residence (1855) E.D. 1, Barton, Tioga, New York, United States
• Fact: Residence (1865) District 01, Veteran, Chemung, New York, United States
• Fact: Residence (1880) Meadville, Crawford, Pennsylvania, United States
• Fact: Residence (1900) Horseheads Township (excl. Elmira Heights vill.) Horseheads village (part), Chemung, New York, United States
• Fact: Residence (1905) Horseheads, E.D. 01, Chemung, New York
• Fact: Residence (1905) Horseheads, Chemung, New York
• Fact: http://familysearch.org/v1/LifeSketch Norris M. Compton (son of Peter Compton and Amy Norris) was born in Veteran, NY on April 26, 1836 and pursued his education in Wyoming Seminary at Kingston, Pennsylvania, where he took a general course. He followed the occupation of farming in Veteran, and was also engaged in general merchandise for a number of years, maintaining his residence in Sullivanville. In 1902, he resided in Horseheads and occupied a clerical position in the office of his son (William R. Compton). Norris and his wife Mary gave their children the best home training and such educational privileges as their means would allow, thus fitting them as well as possible for the practical and responsible duties of life. They attended the Methodist Episcopal Church. Norris, in his political views, was an active Republican, staunchly supporting the principles of the party but never seeking office. Norris M. Compton passed away at the home of one of his daughters, Mrs. J. R. Fitzgerald, at Naperville, IL, Saturday, aged 84 years. He had been spending much time with another daughter at Buffalo, Mrs. J. F. Leffler, and went to Naperville a few weeks ago. Always a resident of this county, he was among the well known men of the section. His ancestors, the Norris and Compton families, were among the pioneers of the southern tier, and composed that hardy stock which settled and developed the locality. Mr. Compton was born at Sullivanville and was a son of the late Peter and Amy Compton, the father being a minister. He died many years ago but the mother lived to be nearly 100 years of age and passed away about 10 years ago. She lived with her son in this village for many years. The deceased served in the Civil War as a musician in the 29th Pennsylvania Regiment and was a member of the Baldwin Post. A few years ago he was extensively engaged in farming and was among the first men in the county to introduce full blood Holstein cattle. He was one of the organizers and the first president of the Chemung Valley Holstein Breeder’s Association. He was engaged for several years as a clerk in the U. S. Marshall’s office in Elmira. Following the death of his wife a few years ago, Mr. Compton had apartments at the Platt House. Deceased was the father of the late William R. Compton, prominent as a Republican political leader in this county and for several years U.S. marshall for this district. He is survived by three daughters – Mrs. J. Fitzgerald of Naperville, IL, at whose home he passed away; Mrs. Lewis H. Lent of Richfield Park, NJ; Mrs. Leffler, wife of Rev. John F. Leffler, pastor of the Normal Park Methodist church at Buffalo.
• Fact: Burial Van Duzer Cemetery, Chemung, New York, United States
• "Family Tree," database, FamilySearch (http://familysearch.org : modified 11 September 2020, 13:16), entry for Norris Matthew Compton (PID https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/4:1:273W-61S ); contributed by various users.