Wharton County Biographies

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Wharton County Biographies

George Farmer Burgess
(1861—1919)
BURGESS, George Farmer, a Representative from Texas; born in Wharton, Wharton County, Tex., September 21, 1861; attended the common schools; moved with his mother to Fayette County in 1880 and engaged in agricultural pursuits near Flatonia; was later employed as a clerk in a country store; studied law; was admitted to the bar in 1882 and commenced practice in La Grange, Tex.; moved to Gonzales in 1884; prosecuting attorney of Gonzales County from 1886 to 1889, when he resigned; elected as a Democrat to the Fifty-seventh and to the seven succeeding Congresses (March 4, 1901-March 3, 1917); unsuccessful candidate for the Democratic nomination of United States Senator in 1916; resumed the practice of law at Gonzales, Tex., where he died December 31, 1919; interment in the Masonic Cemetery. Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present Contributed by A. Newell

Judge H. T. Compton
A veteran of the war between the states, in which he saw a long and arduous service until his wounds compelled him to retire from the front, Judge Compton has been a resident of Texas for sixty years and since the war has been closely identified with public affairs in Wharton county.

He was born in Montgomery county, Tennessee, December 23, 1841, one of a family of five children born to W. T. S. and Sarah (Newell) Compton. His father was from Maryland and his mother from Alabama. The father was a merchant and a slave holder before the war and settled in Texas in 1853, coming from Tennessee and stopping awhile in Louisiana, In 1849 he had joined the California forty-niners and had at first a successful experience as a gold seeker, but later lost all he gained while on the gold coast. He returned to Tennessee, after about four years in California, and soon afterward moved to South' Texas, locating in Matagorda county. There he was engaged in farming and in other pursuits and his death occurred in Columbus, Texas, at the age of sixty-five. The Newell family on the maternal side were ironworkers in Tennessee and also planters in that state. Judge Compton's mother died in 1853 soon after the family came to Matagorda county. The father was a man of more than ordinary educational equipment and both he and his wife were devout members of the Episcopal church. Of their children only one besides the judge is now living, J. P. Compton of La Porte, Texas. Those deceased aire Edward, Nannie and Albert. Judge Compton has two half-sisters living in Wharton county—Mrs. A. R. Hudgins and Mrs. S. G. Perviance; also a half-sister, Mrs. H. B. Otto of La Porte.

As a boy Judge Compton attended private schools in Texas and was not yet twenty years old when the war broke out and threw its shadow across every peaceful pursuit. In April, 1861, in the first weeks of the war he enlisted at Richmond, Texas, in Tom Mitchell's Company F of the Twenty-Fourth Texas Cavalry. This regiment was afterward dismounted in Arkansas and thereafter served as an infantry regiment. At Arkansas Post he was captured and sent a prisoner to Camp Butler, Illinois. After three months he was exchanged and then joined Johnston's army in Tennessee. He left the Federal prison ill and therefore did not join his command until the eve of the battle of Chattanooga. Afterward he participated in the battles of Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, Ringgold, New Hope Church, Peach Tree Creek and the many other fights leading up to Atlanta. At Peach Tree Creek he was severely wounded by a bullet which shattered his left arm and passed through his left hip. Gangrene set in and for days his life was despaired of. This severe wound totally incapacitated him for further military service.

At the close of the war Judge Compton located in Wharton county, where he took charge of his uncle's, John D. Newell's, plantation. After two years in that work he was elected tax assessor of Wharton county and filled that office with fidelity and efficiency for ten years. Following that office he was chosen magistrate of precinct No. 1 and has presided over this precinct court to the present time.

In 1887 Judge Compton was married to Miss Emma Hooker of Texas and a daughter of George Hooker, one of the old settlers of this state. Mrs. Compton is living and also her five children, namely: Pearle, Margie, Carrie, Harry and Newell. All have homes in Wharton and were educated in the local schools. Mr. and Mrs. Compton are active members of the Methodist church south. The judge is a charter member of Buchel Camp, No. 228, U. C. V., at Wharton and is now adjutant of the camp. He takes a deep interest in all Confederate matters and has often been a delegate to reunions and other gatherings of the boys in gray.
[A History of Texas and Texans, Vol 4., By Francis White Johnson, Ernest William Winkler, 1914 - Submitted by Brenda Wiesner]