| 4. | Jacob T. Compton was born on 3 Aug 1836 in Williamsport, Washington, Maryland, USA (son of Ezekiel Compton and Rebecca Compton); died in Sep 1905 in Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA; was buried in 201 South 30th street, Penbrook, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA. Other Events:
- Military: Co. D 24th USCT
- Military: LengthOfService: 7 Mos 14 Days; Regiment: 24th PA Colored Vol.; MilitaryCompany: D; Rank: Sergeant
- Musician: He helped organize and became the leader of the Excelsior band, which was the best and the best known colored band in Central Pennsylvania.
- Race: Black
- Religious: For many years he was director of the choirs of the A.M.E. and A.M.E. Zion churches and also had charge Sunday school music. He organized and directed the choir of the Harris A.M.E. Zion Church on Marion street.
- Veteran: Civil War: Co. D 24th USCT
- Name: Jacob T Campton
- Name: Jacob T Cumpton
- Residence: 1840, Williamsport, Washington, Maryland, USA
- Residence: 1 Jul 1863, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA; 25 Age: 25
- Military Enlistment: 15 Feb 1865
- MilitaryDischarge: 1 Oct 1865
- Residence: 1877, 416 South, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA; Occupation: Laborer
- Social Clubs: 1 Sep 1877, Harrisburg, Dauphin, Pennsylvania, USA; Special Meeting of Brotherly Love Lodge No. 896 G.U.O. of O.F.
- Census: 1890
- Residence: Jun 1890, Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne, Pennsylvania, USA; EnumerationDistrict: 131
Notes:
Prince Hall Mason
One of the four figures depicted in the sculpture created as part of the Commonwealth Monument Project that exists at Capitol Park.
Listed occupation: Carriage Driver
Jacob Compton, the great-grandfather of local musician Jimmy Wood, played an important role in the history of one Americas most beloved presidents; he spirited Abraham Lincoln out of Harrisburg to evade assassination. Other than the final attempt that took his life, there were at least five other attempted assassinations of President Abraham Lincoln. One took place even before he took office. In late February of 1861 as he traveled to Washington D.C. from his home in Springfield, Illinois. One of his stops included Harrisburg, and the people of the capital city gathered to see the president-elect. After a flag raising ceremony, city residents went down to Second and Vine Streets, where the train transporting Lincoln and his party arrived around 1:30pm. He was taken to the Jones House hotel in a carriage, and after Governor Curtin introduced him to the crowd of 30,000, from a balcony Lincoln gave a short speech brimming with patriotism. Lincoln then gave another patriotic speech to the Pennsylvania State Legislature. After returning to the Jones House, the populace believed he would leave in the morning for Baltimore. However, that evening, Simon Cameron consulted with Curtin and Allan Pinkerton, a Chicago police detective traveling with Lincoln, about a plot to assassinate the president-elect. After hearing of the danger along the planned route, Cameron hastily sent for his personal carriage driver, Jacob Compton, to drive one of the two carriages carrying Lincoln and his fellow travelers. In the night, the carriages were secretly transported to a special train bound first for Philadelphia, then Baltimore, and ultimately to Washington, where he arrived safely. However, while Compton may have had a brush with fame as he guided the future president to safety, he was well-known in Harrisburg as a musician and giving participant in both the Old Eighth Ward and in his church community, Wesley Union A.M.E. Zion church.
Obituary:
DROVE LINCOLN'S CARRIAGE.
Jacob Compton, Who Was His Coachman Here, Dead Jacob T. Compton, who drove the carriage which conveyed President-elect Lincoln from the Jones House, which is now known us the Commonwealth hotel to the railway station on the eve of his inauguration as President, died yesterday at the residence of his sister, Mrs. Catherine Shaw, Brown and Ash avenues, this city.
He was born August 3, 1836 at Williamsport, Maryland. His parents died of Cholera within a few days of each other in 1854. Being charged with assisting two slaves, George and John Butler, to escape, he fled from Williamsport in 1855 and came to Harrisburg.
A year after reaching Harrisburg he entered the service of Hon. Simon Cameron as coachman.
...
He was sergeant of Company D, Twenty-fourth infantry, U.S.C.T. and was honorably discharged at the close of the war. Upon his return from the army he became a musician. He helped organize and became the leader of the Excelsior band, which was the best and the best known colored band in Central Pennsylvania. For many years he was director of the choirs of the A.M.E. and A.M.E. Zion churches and also had charge Sunday school music. He organized and directed the choir of the Harris A.M.E. Zion Church on Marion street. The funeral services will be held tomorrow afternoon at 2.30 o'clock from the East State Street A. M. E. church, with Rev. Solomon Porter Hood in charge. The Odd Fellows and Masons will attend.
Harrisburg Daily Independent
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
07 Sep 1905, Thu • Page 5
Buried:
Lincoln Cemetery
Jacob married Emma Cumpton. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]
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