• • • George Compton 1846 - 1925 Written by a daughter Leone Compton Christensen My father, George Compton, was born on Front Street, Parish of Passenham, Deanshanger, England, 10 May 1846, to Elizabeth Andrews and James Compton. He had two brothers, Oliver and Albert, and two sisters, Sarah Anne and Eliza. He was baptized by William Cull in 1865, the only one in his family to join the church. When a small boy, Father often wandered down by a small creek and enjoyed himself catching pike fish. He had little actual schooling as it became necessary for him to leave school before he was even able to write his own name. Father received most of his education in "The School of Life" and in real experiences. He learned to be an excellent speller and reader through diligently studying pieces of newspapers, that he had found and saved. In the evenings in front of the :fireplace, he would spell and sound out the words. Whenever he had any spare time he would study. One memory he often told took place when he was quite young. He and other young boys were often bullied by an older boy who would grab their caps and run away with them. George's Mother grew tired ohhis and had someone kill a hedgehog (an animal similar to a porcupine). Then she carefully made a cap with the quills pointing out, and at dusk had George go out to play. Sure enough, the bully came and grabbed the cape. He never bullied George again. He went to work early in life to help support his mother and family because his father drank heavily. While in his teens, he became a stationary engineer at Wolverton Station which is a foundry in Deanshanger. He worked at this shop until he was twenty-two years of age. At that time he decided to leave his home in England, because of economic and religious reasons, and come to America. His decision to leave was partly through the influence of Joseph and Thomas Durrant. He boarded the ship Minnesota on the 29th of June 1868 and left knowing he would never see his family again. After praying and singing by the passengers, the Minnesota set sail for America. This was said to be it's initial voyage. They arrived in New York at daybreak on the 12th day of July 1868. You won't find George Compton on the British Mission Register, however because he was with the Durrant brothers. They were lined up together and when someone asked him his name he said, "George Compton". They assumed he was one of the brothers and was listed as George C. Durrant. He traveled to Council Bluffs and crossed the Missouri River in a ferry boat. He rode the train as far as Fort Laramie and arrived there on 22 of July. Leaving this picturesque little fort he started to cross the plains. They traveled about twenty miles a day. The sun was hot and the air sultry, the country was flat all around him an~he could see for miles. While fording the South Platte River, one of the company, ('young man seventeen years of age was drowned. He was the only support his blind mother had . /\ .; • • • Page2 On the night of August 4, the company camped at Whiskey Gap, Wyoming. Some of the men took the horses and miles to the river to water them. All at once the Indians who had hidden themselves in the bushes came out whooping and waving buffalo hides to frighten the animals. They were successful in their plan and drove off most of the animals. As they were doing this, the camp leader realized what was happening and shouted, "look to your animals, boys, look to your animals!" Too late! The thieves sped away driving the best animals in head of them. Several horses were found that had been left behind and were good runners. Several men jumped on these animals and started after the Indians. Much later these men returned, not only with the animals that belonged to the camp, but also those that belonged to the Indians. No matter how much they were questioned, or who questioned them, they would not tell what they had done to the Indians. Everyone figured they had killed them. That night smoke signals were seen on the surrounding hills. The leader of the company wagon train understood the signals and moved his company out immediately, traveling all night. The company passed Sweet Water, named Eau Sucre or Sugared Water, by a French trader, from the fact that at one time a pack of mules, laden with sugar, was lost in the stream. They arrived at Emigration Canyon on August 20. "As they gazed with wonder and admiration upon the vast valley before them, it seemed to be clothed in a heavy garment of vegetation, and in the middle was the glistening salt water of the Great Salt Lake ... after crossing the great prairie where there was no sign of civilization this valley seemed like a paradise." George Compton started working on the Union Pacific Railroad, August 31, 1868 for Sharp and Young. At this time the railroad was being constructed through Morgan County and was a blessing for the people. The pay was $10.00 a day for man and team to pickup ties in the canyons around the Richville area and haul them to where the tracks were being laid. George met Eliza Durrant Ursenback, a friend he had known in England. She was a widow with two children, Octave and Sarah Jane. George and Eliza were married November 18, 1873. They lived in Morgan for about seventeen years. She was ill with a heart disease for quite a few years, then died January 8, 1890 in Morgan. He then married Caroline Ager on December 23, 1890. They were the parents of eight children