James Compton Sutton

Description

James Compton Sutton, Jr. (1847 – 1914) owned property on what is present-day Tyson according to 1862, 1870, and 1878 plat maps. His father, James Sutton, Sr., moved to Missouri in 1819 to assist his uncle, John Sutton, with their blacksmith shop, located at Second and Spruce Street in St. Louis. In 1826, Sutton Sr. purchased land from the Gratiot family.

The Suttons were enslavers. In 1830, James Sutton, Sr., held a young man in slavery in St. Louis. In 1850, he enslaved four people in St. Louis County, and in 1860, he held five people in slavery in St. Louis Central Township.

Bio

Born to parents James Sutton, Sr. and Ann L. Wells, James Compton Sutton, 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 in St. Louis. In 1826, Sutton Sr. purchased land from the Gratiot family. Sutton, Jr. was listed as owning property on present-day Tyson from 1862 to 1878.

Sutton, 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 of St. Louis. 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. 1

Census records do not distinguish clearly between James Sutton, 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.

Birth Date

1847

Death Date

1914

Sex

Male

Child of

James Sutton Sr.

Ann L. Wells

Sibling of

Henry L. Sutton

John L. Sutton

Mary Compton Sutton Marshall

Charles W. Sutton

Sarah Wilgus Sutton Harrison

Kate Compton Sutton Thomas

Josephine “Josie” Ann Sutton Thomas

William B. Sutton

Enslaver

1830 census:
Boy age 10-23
1850 census:
Man age 27
Boy age 8
Girl age 10
Woman age 40
1860 census:
Girl age 6
Woman age 32
Woman age 50
Boy age 2
Girl age <1 year

Dates of Tyson Land Ownership

1862

1870

1878