Freeman Compton

As printed in 1894

FREEMAN COMPTON, a leading business man of Hamilton, is a native of Ohio, born in Hamilton County on the 21st of May, 1831. The family of which he is a member was first represented in this state by his grandfather, Jacob Compton, who was reared and married in New Jersey and thence removed to Ohio, locating in Cincinnati as early as 179(1. At that time this now prosperous city was thinly populated, with few indications of its present prosperity. There he followed the cooper’s trade until his death.

While the family were in Kentucky, en route from New Jersey to Ohio, Abraham Compton, the father of Freeman, was born, February 29, 179(1. He grew to manhood in Cincinnati, where he learned the trade of a carpenter. After his marriage to Miss Abigail Phillips he settled on a small farm in Hamilton County, which he cultivated, and at the same time devoted some attention to his trade. He died at his home near Mt. Pleasant, at the age of eighty-seven years. His wife survived him, passing away at the age of ninety. In religious belief they were members of the Old-school Baptist Church.

In the parental family there were five sons and five daughters, namely: Catherine, widow of Henry Herdenbrook, of- Piqua, Miami County; Oliver P., a soldier in an Iowa regiment, who died in the hospital at Keokuk, Iowa, from the effects of exposure at the battle of Shiloh; Orminah, who married Lester Kennedy, and died in Cincinnati; Sarah, Mrs. James Johnson, deceased; Freeman, of this sketch; Alvira, who died at the age of eighteen years; Alfred, a lumber merchant of Hamilton; John A., Color Bearer of Company C, Sixty-ninth Ohio Infantry, who was killed at the battle of Resaca, and in whose honor the Grand Army- Post at Hamilton is named; Spencer P., who resides in Hamilton; and Hannah, wife of Josiah Bunting, of this city.

The first work at which our subject was employed was in Hamilton County, where he was assistant to a carpenter, who paid him $8 for the first month’s service, and fifty cents per day the second month. He came to Hamilton in the fall of 1852, and continued operations here until 1856. In that year he went West to Iowa, and resided in Keokuk until 1859, and there he began his life work of contracting. In 1859 he returned to Ohio. During the progress of the Rebellion, in 1864, he enlisted in Hamilton County in Company F, One Hundred and Thirty-eighth Ohio Infantry, in which he served four months. In 1866 he came to Hamilton after an absence of ten years, and the following year began as a contractor, in which he has since continued with marked success. In addition to contracting he has since 1884 conducted an extensive lumber business. Under his supervision many of Hamilton’s finest buildings, both private residences and public blocks, have been erected, and among the latter may be mentioned the Butler County Infirmary, which cost about $85,000, and the court house, which cost over $300,000, our subject having been the original contractor for the entire work. Among the fine residences erected by him are Linas Clawson ’s, Dr. Skinner’s,,7. C. Hooven’s, J. E. Hancock’s, M. Kilskeimer’s and J. J. McMaken’s. His work has always been in Butler County.

The first wife of Mr. Compton, who in maidenhood was Josephine Smith, of Mt. Pleasant, Ohio, died July 19, 1886, leaving two sons, George A. and Charles L. Three daughters were born of this union, but all died in childhood. In February, 1889, Mr. Compton was united in marriage with Miss Marietta Lashhorn, a native of Hamilton. They have established a pleasant home in their elegant and tastefully appointed residence at No. 944 Campbell Avenue. In politics he favors Republican principles, and religiously is a member of the Christian Church of Hamilton, and a member of its first board. He has passed the various chairs in Hamilton Lodge No. 17, I. O. O. F. As a citizen he possesses energy, public spirit and good judgment. His talents have been devoted to his business affairs, and his enjoyment obtained in domestic and social life.

As printed in Memorial record of Butler County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of representative citizens of the county together with biographies and portraits of all the presidents of the United States (1894). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.