Mervin Glen Compton

Notes:

Mervin worked for the Veteran's Administration. He was an employee of the Federal Government for over 32 years at the time of his retirment in 1976.

Mervin married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

1. Living

Notes:

When he registered for the draft during World War I, he was a resident of Wahkon, Minnesota, and employed as a farm hand, "where opportunity offered." He supported his wife and one child, as their only support. He was of medium heighth and slender, with blue eyes and light hair.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1920 Census
Minnesota, Mille Lacs County, Isle Harbor Twp
Enumerated April 15, 1930
ED 48-10 SD Sheet 2B
Compton, Guy G Head M W 30 Neb Unk Carolina Farm Laborer Working Out
Compton, Bessie M Wf F W 27 Wisc Wisc Wisc None
Compton, Mervin Son M W 8 S Neb Neb Wisc None

1930 Census
Minnesota, Mille Lacs County, Isle Harbor Twp
Enumerated April 15, 1930
ED 48-10 SD Sheet 2B
36-36
Compton, Guy G Head M W 40 m20 Neb Ill SC Farmer
Compton, Bessie M Wf F W 37 m 18 Wisc Wisc Wisc Laborer Farm
Compton, Mervin G Ab Son M W 19 S Neb Neb Wisc None
Compton, Robert W Son M W 4 10/12 S Minn Neb Wisc None
Pearson, Earl C Lodger Minn US US Laborer Farm

Guy married Bessie M. Phinney in Jun 1910. Bessie (daughter of William Frank Phinney and Elizabeth Bossert) was born on 22 Apr 1892 in Cassville, Grant County, Wisconsin; died on 17 Oct 1969 in Wahkon, Mill Lacs County, Minnesota; was buried on 20 Oct 1969 in Sunset Park Cemetery, Isle, Mill Lacs County, Minnesota. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Her son Robert notes that she was known as "Cody" when she was young.

Notes:

Said to be the son of Morris Robert PHINNEY and Mary Esther HEDGES.

Jo Peck supplied the following excerpt from his obituary, "He grew to manhood on his father's farm and has always followed the occupation of farming....he married Lizzie Bossert, and in 1901 they moved to Petersburg, Nebr., and lived in that state until 1914, when they went to Hartford. He was always of a kind, genial disposition, a good friend and neighbor, always ready to assist those in need, being ever forgetful of himself...He leaves a wife, two sons and three daughters, father and brother. Services were held at M.E. Church by Rev. C.H. Graf."

(Research):

Census Listings:

FamilySearch 1880 Census

Census Place:Waterloo, Grant, Wisconsin
Source:FHL Film 1255427 National Archives Film T9-1427
Page 37
William PHINNEY Self M M W 24 WI Occ:Farmer Fa: MA Mo: MA
Elizabeth PHINNEY Wife F M W 19 WI Occ:Keeping House Fa: GER Mo: GER

William married Elizabeth Bossert on 31 Dec 1879 in Cassville, Grant County, Wisconsin. Elizabeth (daughter of Andrew Bossert and Anna Jesse) was born on 17 Oct 1860 in Waterloo Township, Grant County, Wisconsin; died about 1915. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Married:
Per the Grant Co., WI marriage records:

Bossert, Lizzie, married William Frank Phinney, 31 Dec 1879, recorded in Bk. 9, Pg. 133. Lizzie was listed as the daughter of Andrew and Ann (Unknown) Bossert. William the son of Morris and Mary (Unknown) Phinney. Mary is likely Mary Ester (Hedges) Phinney per another marriage record.

Notes:

Jo Peck notes that family legend indicates he came from Frankfurt "On the Maine," Germany. Census records have differing answers, as can be noted below. He is listed in GERMANS TO AMERICA as arriving at U.S. Ports, 1850-1855, Volume 8, August to December 1854, on page 477. He left from Havre to New York on the Ravenswood, arriving November 25, 1854, with his destination indicated as New York. He lived in Genesee County, often a stopover place for those planning to move to Michigan and Wisconsin, due to its proximity to Lake Erie. She indicates that the Wisconsin Census record of 1860 shows him at 26, Anna 24, with real estate valued at $200 and personal property valued at $20.

Jo's mother said that Andrew accepted the Adventist message around 1860, joining the new Waterloo Township just forming. The SDA Religion started in Battle Creek, Michigan, between 1855 and 1860, with Jo's maternal great great granfather and wife one of the original 10 families there...and with Andrew joining the same church in Wisconsin in the 1860's.

Civil War records describe Andrew as being 5 feet 6 1/2 inches tall, blue eyed and with light hair and a light complexion. He served as a Private in Company C, 6th Regiment of Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers, and was discharged on July 14, 1865. He bought his army Springfield rifle for $6. Family stories say he walked home from Dubuque, Iowa, where he was discharged. Jo has his service and pension records, including Anna's Widow's Declaration for a Pension, which included the date and place of their marriage. It was this that inspired her to write the Town Historian of Elba, New York, and triggered his fantastic reply that he had gotten another letter that very same day from a descendant of Anna's brother, George, who had traveled from Germany with her and was married on the very same day by the same minister. This opened up the Jesse line for both Jo and Dot Williams to explore. All the biographical information about the descendants of Andrew and Anna Bossert was excerpted from material written by Jo.

The 1877 Grant County Atlas shows Andrew owning Lot 80, in Waterloo Township, where the old Bossert farm was located in a hollow on Chaffee Road. It is said the original house on the hill burned, and they built the next one in the hollow. There is a natural spring on the land with watercress. There were also Indian Mounds on the land that Jo's grandfather would not let his family disturb.

The 1895 Atlas showed the Bossert Homestead as belonging to Andrew's son Joseph, and a neighboring parcel belonging to Joe's on, Harry Bossert. The farm has since passed out of the family. Anna and Andrew had moved to Cassville in 1892, due to Andrew's failing health. Jo indicates that their home is still standing, but is almost unrecognizable with its changed facade. The old Seventh-day Adventist Church and cemetery on Highway 133, south of Cassville in Section 19 of Waterloo Township, still stand. Andrew Bossert was a deacon of this church. Andrew and Anna are buried behind the church, near their old home in Waterloo, as are Jo's grandparents Joe and Minnie.


Grant Co. Death Records:

Bossert, A., age 65, married to Annie Jessie, died 4 Dec 1895, recorded in Bk. 3, Pg. 153. No parents names listed.

and

Bossert, Andrew, age 63, married to Annie Jessie, died 4 Dec 1895, recorded in Bk. 3., Pg. 263. No parents listed.

The birth information for the children of Anna and Andrew did NOT appear in GRANT COUNTY, WISCONSIN BIRTH RECORDS - EARLIEST TO 1891.

www.familysearch.org also lists this family, with information being submitted by CAROL N GARNER, 2315 VAN BUREN AVE, OGDEN UT USA 84401; Submission: AF97-111200.

(Research):
Census Listings:

1870 Census, Waterloo, Grant, WI, Household 80

Andrew Bossert, 39, Farmer, $1500, $400, Hesse Darmstadt
Ann Bossert, 30, House Keeper, Prussia
Elizabeth Bossert, 9, WI
Joseph Bossert, 7, WI
Mary Bossert, 3, WI
Henry Darling, 33, Works on Farm, MA
Francis, 19, House Work, WI (Wife of Henry??)

1880 Census

Census Place:Waterloo, Grant, Wisconsin Source:FHL Film 1255427 National Archives Film T9-1427
Page 38 RelationSexMarrRaceAgeBirthplace
Andrew BOSSERT Self M M W 50 FRANKFORT Occ: Farmer Fa: FRA Mo: FRA
Kenie BOSSERT Wife F M W 40 POLAND Occ: Keeping House Fa: POLAND Mo: POLAND
Joseph BOSSERT Son M S W 17 WI Fa: FRA Mo: POLAND
Mary BOSSERT Dau F S W 13 WI Fa: FRANKFORT Mo: POLAND
Franks BOSSERT Dau F S W 9 WI Fa: FRANKFORT Mo: POLAND
Clarence BOSSERT Son M S W 7 WI Fa: FRANKFORT Mo: POLAND
Millie BOSSERT Dau F S W 2 WI Fa: FRANKFORT Mo: POLAND

Andrew married Anna Jesse on 24 Nov 1859 in Byron, Genesee County, New York. Anna (daughter of Andrew Jesse and Mary Bajrovik) was born on 8 Sep 1839 in Strelitz, Kreis Kolmar, Posen, Prussia; died on 16 Jan 1931 in Cassville, Grant County, Wisconsin; was buried in Advent Cemetery, Waterloo Township, Grant County, Wisconsin. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Jo Peck writes that "Behind the little white Advent Church in Waterloo Township are the graves of the early pioneers. Near Andrew and Anna's stone are three children's graves: George, Charlie and Annie. Annie could be the baby Maria Anna listed in the family Bible page, and George and Charlie could have been born in 1866 and 1875, filling in the blank spaces in the list of children's births.

Obituary ANNA JESSE BOSSERT Mrs. Ann Bossert of Cassville, Wisconsin, was born in Germany, September 8, 1839. She came to the United States with her brother George Jesse in 1857 and lived with him in Michigan until she was united in marriage to Andrew Bossert in the year 1859. They moved to Cassville the same year and later settled on a farm in Waterloo township. In 1864 her husband was called to serve in the Union Army in the Civil War. During this time she remained at home and cared for the farm.

She became a member of the Seventh Day Adventist church in 1870 and until her death she has been a firm believer in the faith she accepted.

In the year 1892 they moved to Cassville where she has resided until her death January 16th, at the age of 91 years, 4 months and 8 days. Her husband preceded her 36 years. She leaves to mourn her loss 5 children, Joe A., Francis D., and Mildred, Mrs. C. A. Kirschbaum of Cassville, also Mary and C.S. of Mora, Minn.; nine grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren and one great great grandchild. She was a kind and loving mother and friend not only to her immediate family but also to all who came in contact with her. She was known in the community as "Grandma Bossert". In this community she will be greatly missed by both young and old. She was a firm believer in Christ, and his soon return to this earth to claim his honest and faithful ones; and she lived in the hope that she would have a part in the resurrection of the Just--By one who mourns.

(Research):

Census Listings:

1900 Census
Wisconsin, Grant County, Cassville Village
Enumerated 11 Jun 1900
SD 2 ED 26 Sheet 10A Stamped 56
219-221
Bossert, Anna Head W F Sept 1839 60 Wd 10/6 Germany Germany Germany 1845 45 Na
Bossert, Clarence Son W M May 1873 27 S Wisc Germany Germany School Teacher
Bossert, Mildred Dtr W F Nov 1877 22 S 0/0 Wisc Germany Germany

1910 Census
Wisconsin, Grant County, Cassville Village
SD 3 ED 17 Sheet 7B
170-170
Bossert, Mrs. Anna Head F W 70 W 50 10/6 Germany Germany Germany 1858 Retired Own Income
Bossert, Mary Dtr F W 35 S Wisc Germany Germany None
Bossert, Mildred Dtr F W 28 S Wisc Germany Germany

1920 Census
Wisconsin, Grant County, Cassville Vilage, Cassville
Enumerated 17 Jan 1920
SD 3 ED 90 Sheets 1A and 1B, Stamped 166
16-16
Bossert, Anna Head F F W 80 Wd 18?? Na Un Germany/German Germany/German Germany/German None
Bossert, Joseph A Son M W 57 Wd Wisc Germany/German Germany/German None
Bossert, Frankie D Dtr F W 48 S Wisc Germany/German Germany/German None
Bossert, Millie V Dtr F W 35 S Wisc Germany/German Germany/German None

1930 Census
Wisconsin, Grant County, Cassville Village
ED 22-9 SD 12 Sheet 3B
Amelia Street
92-93
Bossert, Anna Head O 3000 F W 90 Wd Germany Germany Germany German 1857 Na None
Bossert, Frances D Dtr F W 58 S Wisc Germany Germany None