According to "The Forsythe-Humphrey Story", written by his granddaughter, Jonathan Jesse Compton was the son of James Compton and Phoebe Lamoreux. He was born in New York, but his daughter incorrectly states that he was born in Ohio in the 1880 Federal Illinois Census for Maquon, Knox County, Illinois. A Jonathan Compton is found in the 1820 Federal Census Index for Wayne, Steuben County, New York, but this person would be a head of household, and therefore not Jonathan Jesse. Jonathan died of heart disease.
Jonathan Jesse married Julia Ann Taylor on 17 April 1840 in Jamestown, Chautauqua, New York. By her own words, she claims in the 27 December, 1906 Canton Weekly Register that they were married in January 1837 in Auburn, New York. Julia would have only been 12 years old at the time. Also, their first child was not born until June 1841, so it seems unlikely that they were married as early as 1837. On the Widow’s Civil War Application, the marriage date is listed as 9 April 1840.
Julia Ann Taylor was born in Cato, Cayuga County, New York. She stated in the same newspaper article, that she was born in Auburn, but this appears to be incorrect also. Her daughter was incorrect when she listed her mother as born in Indiana in the 1880 census mentioned above. Julia died in 1913 at the age of 88 years, 10 months, and 6 days. Why her tombstone says 1912 is anybody’s guess. About 7 years before she died, Julia had a stroke, and was an invalid. This may explain some of the inconsistencies in her statements. She was cared for in her home in Avon, Illinois by her half sister Colista Taylor Hamill.

Jonathan and Julia had 12 children, the first 2 were born in Jamestown, New York, the next 6 in Canton, Illinois, and the rest in Avon, Illinois:

Sarah Mariah (10 Jun 1841 - 1906, OK) m. 15 Sep 1859, Macomb, IL, Addison Clark Lindsey
    c1. John Lewis (12 Jul 1861 - 11 Apr 1936) m. 1 Sep 1886, Laura Atlanta Taylor (Charles Clark, Lewis Adelbert, Grace)
    c2. Thomas Adelbert (1 Jan 1865 - ) m. 27 Jun 1901, LaVina Jennings McCulloch (the adopted dau. of David Humphrey and Phoebe Compton) - they adoped a daughter, Irene
    c3. Theodore Clark (10 Jul 1867 - ) m. 5 Jul 1894, Grace Kinne (c: Ruah, Cecil, Kinne, Bernice, Compton Zalmon, Joaquin, Flavilla)
    c4. Percy Addision "Tad" (25 Nov 1869 - ) m. 28 Sep 1893, Angie Paul Gill (c: Ora Maria [m. Clyde Allen] and Hazel Julia [m. Willard Barclay])
William L. W. (1 May 1843 - 2 May 1856, Avon, IL)
Catherine Sorell (17 Apr 1845 - 21 Jan 1929, Kewanee, IL) m. 1863, Macomb, IL, John William B. Hodson
    c1. Alma m. George Cheesman
John Bennett (18 Mar 1846 - 24 Nov 1890, Springfield, IL) m. "Emma" Isabelle "Belle" Rogers Frampton
Dewitt Clinton (Sep 1850 - 19 Mar 1851, Rock County, Wisconsin)
twin son (1852 - 1852)
twin son (1852 - 1852)
Sorelda Ann (29 May 1854 - 2 Feb 1925, Galesburg, IL) m. James Randolph Cunningham
    c1. Ora S. m. Will Carney
    c2. Arthur (c. Frank)
Phoebe Jane (3 May 1857 - 25 Oct 1938, Wilmington, IL) m. 2 Feb 1870 David Henry Humphrey
Ida May (23 Jan 1859 - 14 Sep 1864)
Julia Isabell (16 May 1861 - 20 Mar 1934, South Bend, IN) m. Timothy William Daniel Goodsil (son of Samantha Grover, the wife of Alonzo Taylor [son of Bennet Taylor and Rachel Jelliffe])
Minnie Emaline (1 Dec 1866 - Dec 1929, Detroit, MI) m. Oct 1888, Charles David Hamill

The family moved from Jamestown, Chautauqua, New York where their first two children were born, then to Canton, Fulton County, Illinois sometime after 1 May in 1843 via canal on the Ohio, Mississippi, and Illinois rivers. Julia was incorrect when she stated 1840 in the newspaper article stated above. Jonathan is found as head of household in the 1850 Federal Census Index for Canton, Fulton County, Illinois. In 1855, the family moved by covered wagon to Avon, Fulton County, Illinois where Jonathan is again found as the head of household in the 1860 Federal Census Index for Avon, Fulton County, Illinois. Once again, Julia was incorrect when she stated in the same newspaper article that they moved to Avon in 1852.
On 21 September 1861 at the age of 43, Private Jonathan Jesse Compton joined the Union Army, for an enlistment of three years, and was mustered into Company G, of the 50th Regiment of the Illinois Volunteer Infantry on 1 October, 1861 in Quincy, Illinois. He was discharged on 27 September 1864 in Rome, Georgia, but reenlisted until the end of the war. He was placed under the command of Capt. Geo. W. Brown and Col. Moses W. Bain. The regiment was assigned to the 3rd brigade 2nd division 16th corps Army of the Tennessee, later to the division Army of the Cumberland and participated in the following engagements:

6 February, 1862 Ft. Henry
13-15 February, 1862 Ft. Donnellson, Tennessee
6-7 April, 1862 Shiloh, Tennessee
30 April - 30 May, 1862 Corinth, Mississippi
5 October, 1862 Bear Creek
17 April, 1863 Cherokee and Newcomers Farm, Alabama
8 May, 1864 Snake Creek Gap, Georgia
13 May, 1864 Wesaca
15 May, 1864 Lay’s Ferry
17 May, 1864 Contanaula River, Georgia
5 October, 1864 Allatoona, Georgia
21 December, 1864 Savannah, Georgia
7 February, 1865 Campaign of the Carolinas including Columbia, South Carolina
26 February, 1865 Lynch's Creek, South Carolina
13 March, 1865 Fayetteville, North Carolina
19-21 March, 1865 Bentonsville

The 50th was reviewed by General Sheridan at Raleigh, North Carolina and was present at the surrender of Gen. Johnston at Bennett House on 26 April 1865. They also took part in the Grand Review at Washington, D.C. on 24 May 1865.
The "History of Fulton County, Illinois" says this about The 50th Infantry: "organized in the month of August, 1861, by Col. Moses M. Bane. The 50th was engaged at Shiloh, April 6th and 7th; engaged in the siege of Corinth, May, 1862. June 4 it pursued the enemy as far as Booneville, Miss., returning to Corinth June 10. The regiment was engaged in a number of battles and skirmishes, during their service. About three-fourths of the regiment re-enlisted as veterans and were mustered Jan. 16, '64, when they left for Illinois for veteran furlough. The 50th was one of the best drilled regiments in the service. In the prize drill July 3, 1865, with the 63d Illinois, 7th Iowa and 50th Illinois competing; the latter won the prize banner. They were mustered out of service July 13, 1865."
While Jonathan was off to war, Julia purchased a lot in the town of Avon, Fulton County, Illinois in 1863 for $90.00 Lot 3 block 11 (file number 38320, filed 4 May 1863 in book 57, page 219).
In the 1870 Federal Illinois Census for Union Township, Fulton County, Jonathan and family are listed; Jonathan at age 53 as a carpenter, and Julia at age 45 as a tailoress.
In the 1870 Federal Illinois Census for Avon, Fulton County, Jonathan and family are again listed; Jonathan at age 63 as a baker, and Julia at age 55 as keeping house. On Jonathan’s death certificate (number 392), he is also listed as a baker. Apparently, he ran a hotel in Avon, Fulton County, Illinois called the "Soldier's Home" until his death.
It is interesting to note that Catherine Sorell had children with middle names of three of her ancestors maiden names, namely: Leonard Jelliffe Hodson, Alma Prindle Hodson, and Ethel Lamoureaux Hodson.