Historical Tyson Landowners
James compton sutton jr.
Born to parents James Sutton Sr. and Ann L. Wells, James Compton Jr. lived from 1819 to 1914. Sutton Sr. moved to Missouri in 1819 to assist his uncle John Sutton with their blacksmith shop, located at Second and Spruce Street, St. Louis. In 1826, Sutton Sr. purchased land from the Gratiot family. James Compton Jr. was first listed as owning property on present-day Tyson from 1862 to 1878.
Compton Jr. had many siblings. One, Judge Henry L. Sutton, was the first presiding judge of St. Louis County and was instrumental in the split of the county from the city. Other siblings included John L. Sutton, Mary Compton Sutton Marshall, Charles W. Sutton, Sarah Wilgus Sutton Harrison, Kate Compton Sutton Thomas, Josephine “Josie” Ann Sutton Thomas, and William B. Sutton.
Census records do not distinguish clearly between James Compton Jr. and his father, however it’s likely both were enslavers. In 1830 they enslaved a boy between the age of 10-23. In 1850, they enslaved a 27 year old man, an 8 year old boy, a 10 year old girl, and a 40 year old woman. In 1860, they enslaved a 6 year old girl, two women aged 32 and 50, a 2 year old boy and a girl just a few months old.
Julius Hutawa’s 1862 Atlas of the County of St. Louis. showing Sutton’s land.
Image of John S. Wilson, Charles S. Humphrey, Sadie H. Sappington, Louise C. Smith, Margaret L. Sutton, Sadie S. Wilson, James Sutton Jr., Mary Ann Wilson, and servants Izah Harris, Florence Rogers, and Lizzie Rogers in front of the Sutton Mansion which was also the location of the first county court of St. Louis County.
Resources
About Maplewood. (n.d.). City of Maplewood. Retrieved June 20, 2024, from https://www.cityofmaplewood.com/community/history/index.php
Biro, E. Tyson Border Polygon. (2023) Tyson Research Center.
James Compton Sutton (1847-1914). (n.d.). Find A Grave. Retrieved June 20, 2024, from https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/41917669/james_compton-sutton
Kearns, E. Sutton’s Land 1862 ArcGIS Polygon. (2024) Washington University in St. Louis.
Maplewood History: James C. Sutton’s Mansion with a Surprise Ending. (n.d.) 40 South News. Retrieved June 20, 2024, from https://40southnews.com/maplewood-history-james-c-suttons-mansion-with-a-surprise-ending/
Maplewood History: Rarer Than Rare – Mind blowing JC Sutton Artifacts Resurface. (n.d.). 40 South News. Retrieved June 20, 2024, from https://40southnews.com/maplewood-history-rarer-than-rare-mind-blowing-jc-sutton-artifacts-resurface/
St. Louis Integrated Database of Enslavement | Washington University in St. Louis. (n.d.). Retrieved June 17, 2024, from https://sites.wustl.edu/enslavementstl/search/.
This Tyson landowner profile was researched and written by Undergraduate Fellow Emmett Kearns and edited by Undergraduate Fellow Juliana Morera during summer 2024.