F. P. HAMPTON. - F. P. Hampton, living on section 31, Lanesville township, is one of the active and progressive farmers of his locality. He owns one hundred and twenty acres of land, rich and arable, and his entire attention is devoted to its cultivation. He was born in this township, February 14, 1853. His father, William H. Hampton, was born in Kentucky in 1820 and was a son of James P. Hampton, a native of Virginia and a soldier of the war of 1812. The grandfather became one of the pioneer residents of the Blue Grass state and in 1829 brought his family to Illinois, settling in Sangamon county, where he entered land from the government and developed a farm, upon which he spent his remaining days. William H. Hampton was a lad of nine years at the time of his arrival here and was reared on the old farmstead. He wedded Mary A. Garvey, a sister of Samuel, William and John Garvey, who are represented elsewhere in this work. Mr. Hampton became a leading and influential farmer, owning over four hundred acres of valuable land. Throughout his entire life he devoted his energies to agricultural pursuits here and his honor in business transactions made his record an enviable one. He died in 1886 and is still survived by his wife, who now resides with a daughter in Mechanicsburg. In the family were eight children: James, a farmer of Mechanicsburg; F. P.; Anna, the wife of Edward Williams, of Christian county; Surrilda E.; Hattie; Lena, the wife of B. F. Darnell, of Christian county; Nannie; and Elba.

F. P. Hampton was reared to manhood in the usual manner of farmer lads of the period, attending the district schools and assisting his father in the cultivation of the home farm. he was married in Mechanicsburg in September, 1887, to Miss Annie M. Morgan, a daughter of Jacob Morgan, one of the early settlers of the county. Mrs. Hampton was born and reared in Sangamon county and completed her education in the Jacksonville Normal Academy. By this marriage there are six children: Harold, Edith, Roy, Luella, Ruth and Frances.

After his marriage Mr. Hampton located on a farm where he now resides and his time and attention have since been given to the work of cultivating the fields, and making his place a productive property. After some years he erected a large and attractive residence and he has also built a good barn and made other modern improvements. There is a neat and well trimmed hedge around his place and he has laid many rods of tiling, thus enhancing the value of his land. He has also engaged in the raising and feeding of stock and conducts his business affairs with such energy that his efforts have been attended by a very fair measure of prosperity. Politically he is an earnest Republican and his first ballot was cast for R. B. Hayes in 1876. He was elected and served as commissioner of highways for two years, has been a member of the school board, has also been a delegate to the county conventions of his party and as every true American citizen should do he keeps well informed on the political issues of the day. Religiously he is connected with the Christian church, while his wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and socially he is identified with the Woodman Camp. He has a wide acquaintance in the southeastern part of the county, and that he possesses many sterling traits of character is indicated by the fact that he enjoys the friendship of many of the best citizens of the county.