Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1891-08-06
Obituary.

Obituary.
Jasper w. Compton entered the
Heavenly rest ON July 9, 1891, at his
home in Barton county, 10 miles west
of Great Bend. The deceased was
born in Tazewell county, Virginia, on
the 10th day of August, 1846. On the
18th day of March, 1872, Jasper W.
Compton and Miss Matte Bird were
united in holy matrimony by Rev. A.
Ashworth. Mr.. Compton, with his
family, removed from Bland county,
Virginia, to Barton county, Kansas, in
March, 1878, and was a citizen of the
same till his death. He knew what
hard times were, and the struggles pc
culiar to new country; but he was a
good manager and possessed good 5usi-
ness ability, as well as his wife, and
they were successful in their efforts.
They owned 4S0 acres of land with a
good house and barn, and some stock.
Thus he had provided for his family a
good home, with many of the comforts
of life. He had arranged his business
affairs previous to his death, deciding
everything to Mrs. Compton, to be dis
tributed to his heirs according to will
previously made.
Mr.. Compton had been afflicted for
thirteen years, and part of that time,
great sufferer. His disease was a
complicated one. First, the catarrh,
then rheumatism, dropsy, and erysip-
elias. He tried many remedies, but
relief. He was confined to the house
for some years before his death, and
part of the time TO his bed. His death
was expected, by his friends, at any
time for two or three years; but he
struggled ON and battled with the mon
ster, death, and would rally from the
sinking spells which he so often had.
But there came last struggle and his
suffering was DER and he quietly passed
away. A few days before the end came
he began to grow worse. The doctor
was called and Mr.. Compton consented
to be tapped, as the doctor said that was
the only means of relief; but it failed
to relieve him, as no water was taken
from him. On the morning of his death
he called for Matte, his wife, after his
breakfast had been prepared and
brought to him, and said to her, "I
can't eat anything" She offered to fix
him something else, which she did, but
he could not eat it. Then he said to
her, Matte, do not leave me, for am
so very sick and suffering so much"
Then he said, 'send for johnny (his
son, for he was dying.) Johnny had
gone out to the harvest field, about
twenty rods from the house. He came
running, but his father only breathed
twice after he got in the house. And
then the end, came, and the family was
deprived of husband and father, but
their loss was his gain. He bore his
intense suffering without a murmur,
without complaining. He leaves de-
voted wife and six children, and num-
ber Of near relatives and hosts of
friends to mourn his death. Mr.. Comp
ton had not only acted wisely in his
secular affairs, but i'll the welfare of his
soul. He first joined the Methodist
Church South. Sometime after he got
a letter from that church, and in
August, 1S79,. joined the Methodist
Episcopal Church, and remained a
member of the same until his death.
Shortly after joining the NJ. E. Church
he professed religion, and often told
his friends that he was fully prepared
to die, and not tc be uneasy about his
future welfare.
It was my lot to preach the funeral,
and when was told that Mr.. Compton
was prepared to die, it gave me great
comfort, and foundation from which
to speak. ''Therefore be We also ready,
for in such an hour as ye think not, the
Son of man cometh." Great events
require preparation. Why not prepare
to meet thy God, Oh. Isrel?'
Mrs. Compton and family have the
sincere sympathies of the community,
as was shown on the day of the funeral.
Though in the midst of harvest, large
congregation gathered to pay their re-
spects to the dead and the living. We
commit them all to One who is "a very
present help in trouble"
4 Rev. W. E. KNIGHT.
i WHAT our pension system needs in
the way of revision is the cutting off OF
fraudulent claimants and some means