Myrl Laurene (at times spelled Laurine) Putman was born in Rogers, Arkansas on March 9, 1916, the only child of William H. (Bill) Putman and Edna Swift Putman. She grew up in Pea Ridge where her father was the owner and operator of Putman's, a general merchandise business. She attended high school in Rogers, graduating in 1933. For two years she attended the University of Arkansas. Her parents moved their residence and their business to Bentonville and in 1935 Laurene married a Bentonville resident and medical student, Neil Compton. Following Neil's graduation from medical school and a brief period in Warren, the couple continued to live in Bentonville for the rest of their 55 years of married life. Active in numerous community endeavors, Laurene was a skilled gardener and was instrumental in the formation and early activities of the Ozark Society. The Comptons had three children, Ellen, Edra, and Bill. Laurene Putman Compton died in 1990.

The Putmans represented in these papers were the descendants of John Jehue Putman (1794-1880) and Rachiel (or Rachel) Bond Putman (1797-1876). In 1868 the couple moved from Tennessee to Benton County, Arkansas, near Bentonville. Accompanying them was their youngest child, Sarah, and their second child, William L. Also in the party was William's wife, Charlotte, and their four children, Margaret L., John Jehue (always referred to as J.J.), William Henry (Henry), and Joseph M. (Joe). This family settled in Benton County in the small town of Pea Ridge.

Already living in Benton County since before the Civil War, was a grandson of John Jehue and Rachiel, James Carr Lee, son of their daughter, Mary Ann Putman and James Bond Lee. James Carr Lee had established Leetown, a village that later figured in the Battle of Pea Ridge. He was also the father of thirteen children by two wives. With his first wife, Littie Hickman, he had William C., Mary Ann, and Lottie Bell. With his second wife, Millie Jane Carroll, he had: Sarah, Lettie, Carna, Charles, James, Seth, Alice, George, John, and Cleva.

Mary Ann, the second of James Carr Lee's children, married her cousin, J.J. Putman. They made their home in Pea Ridge and had five children: Kate, Charlotte (Lottie), William H. (Bill), and twins John Calvin (Cal) and Carl. J.J. opened a general merchandise store in Pea Ridge that was later taken over by his son Bill.

Bill Putman married a fellow student at the Pea Ridge Masonic Academy, Edna Swift of Elkins. They had one child, Laurene. Bill and Edna operated the store in Pea Ridge but from 1923 until 1933 they made their home in Rogers allowing Laurene to attend Rogers schools. In ca. 1933 they moved the business to Bentonville. In 1937 Bill Putman died unexpectedly and Edna took over the management of Putman's until her retirement in 1974.