An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893, pages 340-341 I. COMPTON, a pioneer of' Klickitat county, was born in Marion county, Indiana, in 1828, a son of Joshua and Olive (Renworthy) Compton, natives of Ohio and South Carolina, respectively. The family ancestry can be traced through the Revolutionary period, also can give reminiscences of the time of the coming of the Mayflower. The family is a long-lived race, sonic of the grandparents living to extreme old age. Joshua Compton moved with his family from Wayne county, Indiana, to Marion county, Indiana, at an early day, and at that time Indianapolis contained but a few houses. He bought 160 acres or Government land, paying $1.25 per acre, which he cleared, and put a part under cultivation. They obtained their living from their farm products and wild game, which was plentiful at that time. Mr. Compton died in 1842, and his wife departed this life some twenty years hater. I. Compton, the subject of this sketch, received his early education and training in Marion county. Being the third in a family of nine children, he was thrown upon his own resources at the age of eighteen years. In 1856 he went to Iowa, two years later returned to his home, in 1859 removed to Portland, Oregon, eight years afterwards removed to Puget Sound, and in 1876 came to Klickitat county, Washington. Mr. Compton took up 160 acres of government land, located six miles east of Goldendale, all of which is now under a fine state of cultivation. He had a fine orchard of apple, peach, pear and prune trees. He was engaged in farming and stock-raising until April, 1892, when he moved to and purchased four and a half acres in Goldendale. Three acres is devoted to prunes and the remainder to other fruits and vegetables. Mr. Compton has had much experience in fruit-raising, and will soon make that occupation one of the industries of the place. He was married in Marion county; Indiana, in 1858, to Miss Mary Jane Turner, a native of Virginia. They have three children: Ida Alice Blanchard, living on the Columbia river; James T., who owns the old home farm; and Frank S., at home. The family are members of Grange No. 83, at No. 6, Klickitat county, of which James T. is Worthy Master, and was one of the organizers of the society in the county. Politically, Mr. Compton votes with the People's party. He is one of the leading, thrifty and progressive men of Klickitat county, also one of the pioneers, and takes a deep interest in every enterprise for the good of his community. Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in September 2003 by Jeffrey L. Elmer * * * * Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the individual featured in the biographies.