TAZEWELL COUNTY, VA - OBITUARIES - Robert E. Compton, 29 Jan 1904 ============================================================================ USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or for presentation by other persons or organizations. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for purposes other than stated above must obtain the written consent of the file contributor. The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb Archives to store the file permanently for free access. This file was contributed for use in the Virginia USGenWeb Archives by: Karen Eagle Moman arizonaeagle@qwest.net ============================================================================ "Clinch Valley News" Tazewell, Tazewell Co., VA Friday February 12, 1904 Falls Mills, Va., Feb.9 TAZEWELL MAN KILLED IN MEXICO MR. B. P. COMPTON received a telegram a few days ago, notifying him of the death of his son, ROBERT E. COMPTON, who was killed in Mexico on the 29th of January, by a railroad accident, as a freight conductor. It will be remembered that R. E. COMPTON was conductor on the Pocahontas and Clinch Valley Division for several years, up to 11 years ago last December, when he left and went to Mexico, where he held his same job up to the day of his death. Robert was a man who was liked by all who, he came in contact with, and his many friends in Falls Mills grieved to hear of his death. He leaves a father, mother, three brothers and four sisters to mourn their loss. Viz: MR. C. E., W. S. and H. B. COMPTON, MRS. E. C. LUSK, MRS S. H. WYSONG, MRS. J. R. HARRY and MRS. G. W. GIVENS. He was in the 30 year of his age. The sorrowing family and friends have the sympathy of the entire community. The following is a letter which MR. COMPTON received from the Sec. of the O. R. C. San Luis Potos, Mexico Jan 30, 1904 MR. B. P. COMPTON Falls Mills, Va. Dear Sir: Confirming my telegram of the 29, I am sorry to have to communicate to you the news of your sons death. He was killed on the morning of the 28th, while in performance of duty, vainly trying to stop some run-away cars on what is known as the Rascon mountain. No man more truly died at his post of duty than Bob; and it is probable that the fact that these cars were liable to dash into a train at the foot of the mountain and thus sacrifice many other lives caused him to remain at a post of danger, from which most men would have fled. Remains were buried in the main cemetery here, on the 29th, amid tributes of sorrowing friends, and with the last rites of our order, in connection with the services conducted by a clergyman. I have his papers and personal belongings, which I shall be glad to send to you as soon as I receive your directions. All funeral expenses have been paid by the O. R. C., but if it is your wish that they be defrayed by his estate I will furnish you with bills upon application. Regretting the sad circumstances under which I must write, I am, Sincerely yours, W. D. Ives [The father of Robert E. Compton was Ballard Preston Compton, who was the son of Cornelius Compton & Rebecca Jane Patterson. Robert’s mother was Delilah Harless who was the daughter of David Jackson Harless and Mary Jane Wise. However, I believe Robert’s age is listed incorrectly in the article. The article stated Robert was in his 30th year. As you can see by the 1870 & 1880 Tazewell County, Virginia Census listed below, the age is apparently wrong. It appeared, from the two census reports, that Robert was born about 1864-1866. Most likely the age is incorrect in the 1870 report of the two older children]. 1870 TAZEWELL CO VA CENSUS # 247 COMPTON B. P. age 26 farm laborer b. VA (all b. VA) .....Deliah age 26 keeping house .....ROBERT E. age 6 .....Charles E. age 5 .....Maria E. age 1 1880 TAZEWELL CO VA CENSUS: # 178 COMPTON, Ballard age 35 a farmer from VA (All from VA) ........Delilah age 34 wife k-house ........ROBERT E. age 14 son at home ........Charles C. age 13 son at home ,(m. Emma Poe & Sallie Johnson) ........Maria E. age 12 daughter, (m. James R. Harry) ........Harriet age 10 daughter ........Jennie age 8 daughter (Virginia) ........Fannie age 4 daughter (Frances Geneva, m G. Sidney Caldwell, George W. Givens & James W. Buckland as his second wife) ........Winfiela (sic) age 2 son (Winfield , m Margaret M. ‘Maggie’ Tabor, d/o George Cyrus Tabor & Sarah Frances ‘Fannie’ Johnson) This couple also had three other sons: 1. George Emory Compton, b. Jan 1874, d. Mar 1874, 2. Austin Compton , b. 1883, d. 1891, and Henry Bane Compton, b. 1884, d. 1960. 3. Henry Bane Compton married Sue Blanche Hale. I do not know which of the daughters, Maria E. or Harriet were married to E. C. Lusk and/or S. H. Wysong. However, this is the family of Samuel H. Wysong (listed below) but the wife’s name is given as Serrilda. Serrilda is apparently the middle name of either Maria E. or Harriet Compton but I do not know which. It seems it should be Harriet, according to her age in the1880 and 1900 Tazewell Co., VA Census, who married S. H. Wysong. -I AM NOT CERTAIN! Perhaps someone can let us know for certain. 1880 TAZEWELL CO VA CENSUS # 251 Clear Fork Township, Samuel H. Laird, enumerator LAFAYETTE R. WYAING (sic), 39, farmer, b. NC …..Josenia A. (sic) , 40, wife, k-house, b. VA (All children b. VA) …..Ettie A., 14, dau …..Millie J., 12, dau …..SAMUEL H., 10, son …..Sirilda, (sic), 8, dau …..John, 5, son 1900 TAZEWELL CO VA CENSUS # 13, Clear Fork, J. B. Havens, enumerator SAMUEL WYSON, 30, b. Feby 1870 in VA, Carpenter …..Serrilda, 28, b. Dec 1871 in VA., wife, had had 4 children …..Bertie M., 8, b. Dec 1891, in VA., dau …..Annie D., 6, b. June 1893, in VA, dau …..Roby C., 5, b. May 1895 in VA., son …..Milli J., 1, b. Nov 1898 in VA., dau 1900 TAZEWELL CO VA CENSUS # 3, Clear Fork, J. B. Havens, enumerator LAFAYET WYSONG (sic), 57, b. Sep 1842 in NC., Grocery Merchant …..Amanda, C. (sic), 50, b. Apr 1850 in VA, wife, had had 0 children APPARNETLY A SECOND WIFE …..Serrilda, 26, b. Nov 1873 in VA., dress maker …..John C., 23, b. Nov 1876, carpenter Karen EAGLE Moman arizonaeagle@qwest.net June 14, 2002