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William Compton is the father of Charles W. Compton.

Charles W. Compton became an undertaker in 1855

Newspaper Articles:

March 8, 1885 - Identified at the Morgue

From: Industries of NJ 1882

Charles W. Compton

Furnishing Undertaker, No 216 Market Street. Ever since the year 1855 the name of Charles W. Compton has been familiar to the people of Newark, and a more successful undertaker than he has never entered into the somewhat grave though important business of preparing coffins or caskets for the reception of the remains of mortality. His magnificent establishment at No. 216 Market Street was erected by him in the year 1871, and is one of the finest iron front buildings in the city. It is 25 x 100 feet in dimensions and five stories in height. The main floor is devoted to the undertaking business, while the remainder of the building is let out for other purposes. There is constantly being prepared at this establishment a variety of coffins and caskets, as complete and extensive as any in America, from the plain, unostentatious kind to those of really superlative magnificence. Every requisite for funerals is provided, and the establishment is as complete and extensive as any in the country. Calls by day or by night are attended to, and there is telephonic communication with various public places. The office and salesroom is handsomely fitted up in solid walnut and is elegantly furnished. There is a competent force of careful and experienced assistants, and the business is conducted with order, promptness, and perfect system. Mr. Compton is always very exact in furnishing coffins, hearses, and carriages, and everything else in connection with funerals. The patronage is derived from the city and surrounding neighborhood. mr. Compton is a native of Newark. He is a practical cabinetmaker and undertaker, having served an apprenticeship at the business, and has gained his present position in the business community by his own personal exertions and well-directed efforts. he has officiated at thousands of funerals, from the poor and lowly to the imposing pageantry which drew thousands of people to witness the display attendant upon the burial of some public man. In all his experience he has never failed to render perfect satisfaction, and has won the admiration, gratitude, and esteem of his fellow citizens for the marked kindness displayed.

From: "Newark, NJ Illustrated" 1893

Charles W. Compton

Among the numerous professions there is none more importance than that of the funeral director. Following this business, there is no name better known to the citizens of Newark than that of Mr. Charles W. Compton, whose place of business, Photo of himself and residence, form the illustrations on this page. His complete establishment , located at No. 216 Market Street, was one of the first iron front buildings in the city. Everything requisite for the business is provided, and the house is as varied and extensive as any in the country. Mr. Compton is a Newarker and by trade a cabinet maker and undertaker. For 36 years he has officiated at thousands of funerals, from the poor and humble to the imposing pageantry which drew vast numbers of people to witness the funeral rites attendant upon the burial of some noted person. In all cases he has won the esteem of his fellow citizens for the marked kindness displayed. The majority of improvements adopted in the profession have been introduced by Mr. Compton, the most important of which is the child's hearse, which has been in universal use throughout this country for more than thirty years. Prior to that time he realized the danger attendant upon carrying in coaches the remains of children who died from contagious disease, and was the first to design and make use of a separate conveyance especially adapted for that purpose. No act of his long business life has given him more real credit, nor in fact, none more really meritorious than the introduction of this hearse.

Charles W. Compton is one of the best known men among the business characters of Newark, nor have many been more successful. As before stated his business place at No. 216 Market Street is where he has done business all his life, as his honored father did before him.

In thousands of homes, Mr. Compton, in the performance of his professional duties, with his sincerely sympathetic manner, has modified and alleviated the mournful situation attendant upon the disposing of their dead. In his earlier life Mr. Compton crossed the ocean several times in pursuit of pleasure, and gathered a fund of knowledge at the same time, which he has often used most effectively.