PIONEER IS CALLED TO HER REWARD

A Continuous Resident of the County for the Past 80 Years

Mrs. John Compton, nee Nancy Boyce, was born in Magnolia, Harrison county, Iowa December 8, 1848, and passed away Monday afternoon, April 16. When an infant she, with her parents, moved to Kanesville, now Council Bluffs, Iowa. Later in 1854 they moved to Washington county, settling in Cuming City.

Coming at this early date, she saw the changes from time to time when the red men hunted over the prairies and fished in the streams, and to see them roaming over the vast expanse of open domain, either in groups or singly was a daily occurrence. She saw the change in the order of things, and settlers come and make their homes and churches and schools become a part of the new life. She saw roads laid out and villages spring into existence. What a wonderful experience was hers, this transition from a bleak, barren prairie to a land of homes and churches and schools, paved roads and automobiles; what a change she saw.

Here she grew to womanhood, and on November 15, 1870 she was married to John Allen Compton, and to them nine children were born, eight of whom are still living. She did her part as a pioneer mother and wife and did it cheerfully, and with a faith in the future of her chosen home, taking the adversities of the pioneer as a matter of course, and even in her older age she was known and respected for her cheerful aspect of life.

Those who survive her are: Mrs. J. G. McManigal of Winnebago, Neb.; Mrs. Harry Ervey, A.A. Compton, J.M. Compton and Mrs. Maud Lemon of Blair; Mrs. Ben Peck of Decatur; Carl Compton of Weeping Water; and Mrs. Louis Lund of Casper, Wyoming and three stepchildren: Mrs. Frank McManigal, Charles E. Compton and A.P. Compton all of Blair, besides twenty nine grandchildren and twenty three great grandchildren.

The funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon from the Church of God, and interment was made in the Blair cemetery.

Thus comes the end of life for another of our worthy pioneers. Time is making heavy inroads on their numbers, and ere long these hardy souls who did so much to bring about the present high order of living for us will have passed into history.

#2-Printed in the April 19, 1934 The Pioneer-Tribune, Blair, Nebraska

OLDEST PIONEER IN COUNTY DIES IN BLAIR MONDAY

Mrs. Nancy Boyce Compton, Aged 85, Came To County In 1854

SERVICES WERE HELD IN BLAIR YESTERDAY

Widow of the late John Allen Compton, She Was Married in 1870; Nine Children Survive, of Whom Four are Living in Blair

Washington County’s oldest pioneer, Mrs. Nancy Boyce Compton, aged 85, who came here in 1854, died Monday afternoon near Blair at the home of her son-in-law and daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Harry Ervey. During her 80 years of residence in the county, she had seen practically all of the present towns of the county laid out and settled. Although in failing health, Mrs. Compton was active until just a week before her death.

Born at Kanesville, Iowa, now Council Bluffs, December 28, 1848, she came to Washington County in 1854, when only six years old. On November 15, 1870, she was married to John Allen Compton here, and to this union, nine children were born, one of whom preceded them in death. The following survive: Mrs. Harry Ervey, Mrs. Maude Lemon, A.A. Compton and J.M. Compton, all of Blair; Mrs. J.A. McManigal of Winnebago; Mrs. Ben Peck of Decatur; Carl Compton of Weeping Water; and Mrs. Louie Lund of Casper, Wyoming. Also left to mourn her departure are three step-children: Mrs. Frank McManigal, Charles E. Compton and A.P. Compton, all of Blair. There are 29 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services were held Wednesday afternoon in the Church of God on west Washington Street, and the church was packed with old friends who had come to pay their last respects to a true pioneer. Interment was in the Blair cemetery.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Washington County Genealogical Society – Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair Public Library in Blair, Nebraska ~~~

Died on 4/16/1934 Buried in Blair Cemetery, Blair, Nebraska Find a Grave Memorial #76905350 – Nancy R. (Boyce) Compton