"Uncle John" Cumpton, pioneer resident of Comanche County and one of the most-loved citizens of Protection, passed away quietly at his home Wednesday at 8:15 p.m. after a lingering illness.Mr. Cumpton had been in ill health for the past year, and in the last few weeks had been bedfast. His death came when he failed to rally from a severe heart attack.
At his bedside when death came were "Uncle John's" three children, Mrs. Flossie Weede, Mrs. Gary Reed of Clovis, N. M., and J. P. Cumpton; his sister, Mrs. Celia Easley, and his grandson, Henry Alexander.
Mr. Cumpton was one of the early settlers of Comanche County, having settled on a homestead in the Collier Flats district 49 years ago. He was one of a very few in the county who still controlled the land originally homesteaded.
John A. Cumpton was born in Walshville, Montgomery County, Ill., August 7, 1853, where he spent his boyhood days, and passed from this life August 3, (1932), at the age of 78 years, 10 months and 27 days.
He was united in marriage with Miss Rebecca Jane Steidley at the home of her parents in Hettrick, Ill., June 16, 1880.
On June 25, 1884, Mr. Cumpton came to Kansas and settled on a claim nine miles southeast of what is now Protection. In 1885, Mrs. Cumpton came to Kansas and joined her husband on the farm, on which they lived until 1912, when they moved to the present home place in Protection. Mrs. Cumpton preceded her husband in death April 20, 1930.
Five children were born to this union, three daughters, Flossie, now Mrs. J. A., Weede of Protection; Mary, now Mrs. Gary Reed of Clovis, N. N., and Goldie, who passed away January 16, 1913; and two sons, J. P. Cumpton of Protection, and Carl Frederick, who died in infancy.
Besides his children, Mr. Cumpton leaves to mourn his death, hs sister, Mrs. Celia Easley; five grandchildren, Myrna Myrl, Wanda Lee and Jimmy Weede, and Mrs. Barth Lee and Henry Alexander of Supply, Okla., and two great grandchildren, Donna Dixie and Rex Lee of Supply, besides a host of friends.
Funeral services will be held at the Methodist Episcopal Church at 11 a.m., Sunday, with the Rev. E. F. Cory of Lewis and Rev. S. C. Foster presiding.
(From The Protection Post.)
John A. Cumpton is buried in the Protection Cemetery.
Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!
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