Reuben / Ruben / Roulen Compton and his wife Addie / Adie (Bell) left Kansas and moved with their children to Oklahoma Territory sometime after the birth of their youngest child in April 1892. When they appear in the 1900 Census they are living with their 4 children: James (14), Claud (12), Clyde (10), and daughter Ora (8), in what at the time was Crowell, Woods County, Oklahoma Territory. This area was part of the Cherokee Outlet Opening on Sept. 16, 1893. Oklahoma's fourth and largest land run. In 1900 all of the boys are listed as farm laborers. Their parents Addie and Reuben have been married 15 years … they would not make 25.
The 1910 census paints a very different picture of the Compton family.
Son Claude, (the young man in the photograph) is 22 and no longer living at home. I find him in Grant Co., OK. living in the household of Emerson Randels.
The county where Claud's mother lives has changed and she is shown living in Major County, OK. but I don’t believe she moved. In 1907, when Oklahoma became a state, other counties were formed and the southern portion of Woods County became Major County.
There was also a change in Addie's (44) marital status. She is listed as “widowed” and head of household. Her household includes her 2 youngest children, Clyde (20) and Ora (18) as well as a Mr. Perry W. White (47).
Claud’s father, Reuben Compton (52), apparently unaware of his demise is living in the household of Ingoart Hausen in Orafino, Nez Perce, Idaho and still considers himself “married.”
In 1910 Myra (16), Claud's future wife is living at home with her parents Charles E. and Florine Gilbert & siblings in Grant Co., OK. My guess is that it was sometime in 1911 that Claud F. Compton (23) married Myra / Mira / Mirah Gilbert (17).
The first photo was taken in 1912, more than likely in September. The photograph shows Claud 24, a farmer in Jefferson, Grant Co., OK, holding his infant son Cleo Francis Compton, born June 10, 1912. Standing next to him is his 18 year old wife, Myra.
Written in ink on the reverse is “Claud and Myra Compton” and in pencil, a notation reads “We want 1 dozen like this one. - C. F. Compton”
The 2nd photograph, taken the following year identifies the child as “Cleo Francis Compton age 15 months” dating the photograph to Sept. 1913.
It was also during 1913 that Claud’s youngest (half) brother, Harold White was born in Kansas to Addie and her new husband, Perry White.
On Jan. 13, 1917 Claud and Myra welcome their 2nd child, a daughter Laureta. Claud’s WWI registration card dated June 1917 reveals he is 29 yrs. old, born Feb. 5, 1888 in Sylvia KS.; is employed as a farmer in Jefferson Grant Co., Okla.; his dependents include a wife and 2 children, and he is described as white, tall, slender with brown eyes and dark brown hair.
Younger brother Clyde’s registration card, also dated June 1917 but filled out in Idaho seems to indicate that Clyde at least, was well aware of his father’s whereabouts. Clyde (27) gives his address as Orofino, Nez Perce, Idaho; his occupation as farmer and his employer as Dr. Erle W. Horswill.
By the 1920 Census the Compton family are all once again gathered in Oklahoma. Claud (32), Myra (25) and their 2 young children are still living in Grant Co. OK
Claud’s mother Addie still resides in Majors, OK with her 2nd husband Perry White and son's Clyde (29) and Harold (7).
Claud’s father Reuben has returned from the dead in Idaho and is now "divorced" and living in Blackwell, OK. Also living in his household are his 25 year old niece Edna May (Ballard) Compton and her 2 children.
The 1930 and 1940 Census reveal more changes for the Compton family.
One being that it appears Claude’s younger brother, Clyde (39), is now married to Myra’s mother Florine / Florina / Florince / Flora (56). They are living in Blackwell, OK.
What happened to the rest of the Myra Gilbert’s family remains a mystery.
In 1930 Claude’s father Rueben is still in Blackwell. He is 71 / divorced and has 6 lodgers. He dies 2 years later on Jan. 12, 1932 and is buried in the Blackwell Cemetery.
At the time of the 1930 census Claud and Myra and their children, Cleo (17) and Laureta (13) have left Oklahoma for good and moved to Wichita, KS where Claud works as a pipe fitter and his children grow to adults and eventually marry. Cleo marries Hazel Philpot and Laureta marries James Wilson.
But Claud and Myra’s traveling days are not over. When I next find them, they have moved a thousand miles away to Ogden, Utah. Claud, who has suffered from asthma for over 20 years and has had severe emphysema for the last 5 years, dies in Ogden, Utah on August of 1957 at the age of 69.
After Claud's death it appears Myra and her children Cleo and Laureta moved to Los Angeles, California.
Cleo F. Compton dies in Los Angeles, April 10, 1975.
Laureta Genevieve Wilson dies in LA, Nov. 23, 1979.
And Myra (Gilbert) Compton, the young mother in my photograph outlives them all. She passes away in Los Angeles, CA on Jan. 1, 1985, age 90 years.
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