Plumas County Biographies

John Davenport Compton

Transcribed by Craig Hahn, Dec. 2004

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son of David and Sarah Compton, was born at New Egypt, Monmouth county, New 
Jersey, March 9, 1832. When thirteen years of age he went to Allentown and lived 
four years. After a residence of short periods in various places he started from 
New York February 5, 1853, for California, coming via Aspinwall. He sailed from 
this point for San Francisco on the ill-fated steamer Tennessee, which was lost 
four miles above the heads, named from this accident Tennessee Cove. The 
passengers were rescued by the tug Defiance. Mr. Compton kept books a short time 
in San Francisco, dealt in general merchandise for three years at Union city, 
Alameda county, and then embarked in the same business in Marysville, in 
partnership with John Quin. In November, 1862, he came to Round valley and 
opened a branch store. In 1864 he bought out his partner, and continued the 
business until 1870. Four years after he came to Greenville, and in 1876 opened 
the present business with John McBeth. Mr. Compton was engaged in mining at 
Cherokee from 1870 to 1875, and lost $75,000. He was married in 1878 to Miss M. 
A. Holland, of Boston, Massachusetts, who has given birth to two children, 
Virgil D. L., born August 13, 1879, and William H. T., born September 27, 1881. 
In 1865 Mr. Compton was elected county surveyor and served two terms. He is a 
member of the Masonic and Workmen orders. 
 
Illustrated History of Plumas, Lassen & Sierra Counties, with California from 
1513 to 1850. – Fariss and Smith, San Francisco,  1882. p 307