RILEY L. COMPTON. -In nearly every community of the great northwest are to be found individuals who have succeeded in overcoming unfavorable environments and rising among their fellows to the dignity of successful self-made men. Among such, the gentleman to whose life these lines are devoted deserves to be classed. Riley L. Compton is a representative of one of the old families of Kent county. His father, James R. Compton, having moved to this part of the state from New York about the year I846, settled in Plainfield township, where, with the exception of a few years spent in the township of Cannon, he continued to reside until his death. He was born in October, 88oS, married Sophia J. Law, and departed this life June 9, I880. Mrs. Compton was born in New York state in the year I816, and died at her home in Plainfield township, aged sixty years. Riley L. Compton was born and grew to early manhood on the old homestead, and at intervals during his minority attended the common schools, in which he obtained a fair English education. This, supplemented by close observation in after years, and contact with his fellows in various business transactions, has made him an intelligent and well-informed man. His youth was not passed in the lap of luxury by any means, and while still young he started in the world for himself in the humble, but honorable, capacity of a common laborer in a shingle mill. He worked thus for a period of eight years, carefully husbanding his earnings the meanwhile, and the savings accumulated enabled him to purchase the necessary implements and engage in agriculture. With the exception of the years between 1892 and I896, when he acted as landlord of a hotel in Belmont, Mich., Mr. Compton has given his entire attention to tilling the soil, and the success with which he has met in this honorable and useful calling is creditable to his industry, and superior business foresight. On the 27th of June, 1878, Mr. Compton took to himself a companion in the person of Miss Charlotte Eva Pinkney, daughter of William B. and Lydia (Courtwright) Pinkney, natives, respectively, of England and the state of New Jersey. William B. Pinkney was born in January, I808. He was one of the pioneers of Plainfield township, where his death occurred February 22, I884. Mrs. Pinkney was born in 1814, departed this life in the year I868, and lies beside her husband in the beautiful Livingston cemetery, where a fine monument has been erected. They were parents of twelve children, of whom five were living at the close of the nineteenth century, viz: Elizabeth, wife of Thomas Clark; Benjaman, of near Stockton, Cal.; Frank, of Belding, Mich.; Ella (Mrs. George Eldred), of Mecosta county, and Mrs. Compton. As stated in a previous paragraph, Mr. Compton is a leading farmer of Plainfield, and one of the township's representative citizens, honored and respected for his many sterling qualities and manliness of character. His home life is most agreeable, and every commendable movement for the public good is sure to enlist his sympathy and active cooperation. In politics he was originally a republican, and cast his first presidential ballot for Ulysses S. Grant, but of late years he is active in support of the democratic party, believing the principles it represents to be for the best interest of the country. He is identified with the Masonic and Odd Fellow fraternities, belonging to the lodges at Mill Creek and Rockford, respectively. While not members of any church, Mr. and Mrs. Compton believe in the great religious principles for which the church stands and actively support any moral or religious movement calculated to benefit and uplift humanity. They are parents of four children: William R., Clara May, Edith, and Sabra, whose birthday is exactly ten years to a day later than that of the eldest. The family now have their happy home on the old Pinkney homestead, entered from the government by Mrs. Compton's father, to which Mr. Compton has considerably added and has also greatly improved.