MARY MURDOCK COMPTON

Butte County

Biographies

MARY MURDOCK COMPTON

MARY MURDOCK COMPTON.—To the pioneer women of California, no less than to the pioneer men, are due the honor and respect of the generations that have followed; for without their loving sympathy and support, without their devotion and toil, there had been no civilization carved in the wilderness and no homes built in lonely places. They have borne their full share in the making of a great commonwealth; and their names are held in loving remembrance in the hearts of the children of the golden West, and will continue so to be through all generations to come.

A prominent place among the pioneer women of the Golden State must be accorded the late Mary Murdock Compton, wife of Henry Clay Compton, Sr., an honored pioneer and extensive rancher and cattleman of Butte County. Mrs. Compton was a daughter of Gawn and Ann (Cain) Murdock, and was born in Belfast, Ireland. Her father was a farmer in County Down, and it was there that he died. Her mother, Mrs. Ann Murdock, came to the United States on a sailing vessel which took three months to cross the ocean; finally landing at New Orleans, she continued her trip up the Mississippi River to the Ohio, and up that river to her destination in the Buckeye state. Mary Murdock had a brother, William Murdock, who came to California in 1849 and who, became a large landholder and stock-raiser in what is now Glenn County. In 1850 he went back East and purchased five hundred head of cattle in the Mississippi valley, which he and his brothers drove back to California in 1853. Accompanying the party was Mrs. Ann Murdock and her children, Hance, John, Samuel and Mary. After a long and tiresome trip across the plains the party arrived at the end of their journey, in seven months and twenty days, in November, 1853. Mrs. Ann Murdock lived for a time in Yuba City, but spent her last days with her daughter, Mrs. Mary Murdock Compton.

In Marysville, November 30, 1859, Mary Murdock was united in marriage with H. C. Compton, who in time became one of the largest ranchers and stock-owners in his community. At his death in 1888, he left a large estate, which his widow, being endowed with much native business ability, assumed the management of and, assisted by her sons, conducted a successful business until she retired to her ranch near Chico.

Mr. and Mrs. H. C. Compton, Sr., were the parents of six children, all born on the Parrott Grant in Butte County: Adam M., a rancher near Chico; Lizzie Ann, married Edward Gordon and resides on the old Packer ranch near Princeton; H. C., Jr., a stockman residing in Chico; Ira L., a rancher near Princeton; Mary E., married John Deter and after his death became the wife of Rev. George Meeker, residing on the York road; and Jane, who died in infancy.

On May 24, 1915, Mrs. Compton passed away at the home of her son, H. C. Compton, in Chico, mourned by a large circle of friends and relatives. Her death marked the passing of another pioneer upbuilder of the great commonwealth of California.

Transcribed 11-12-07 Marilyn R. Pankey.

Source: "History of Butte County, Cal.," by George C. Mansfield, Pages 510-511, Historic Record Co, Los Angeles, CA, 1918.

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