Individual Details

I have never been able to determine the exact location of my grandmother's birth. There was a settlement in Crawford County known as Cove City. Sec 36 Twp 12, R32. In one place she stated she was born in Cove, Polk Co, AR, but I thought her parents were already living in Crawford Co when she was born. However, the little sister who died as a baby is buried in Cove, Polk Co in 1890 - perhaps the family did not move until later.
In 1900, Nora's birth is given as Jan 1886. Is this a mistake or was she really a year older? She always stated she was six months older than Kenney, so I believe the census is in error. The other children's dob is correct.
Her social security application wasn't made until 8 Jun 1972 - she was already age 85. She had been drawing her social security on my grandfather's account since his death. I wonder what made her apply for her own number at this late date? [What I did discover was that in 1972 there were sweeping changes to social security including increases in benefits. This had been under discussion for some three years and a minor amendment in late 1971 had changed some provisions of the payment at death.] She gave her date of birth as 26 Jan 1887 as she always had and stated she was born in Cove, Polk Co. The address on 700 S. Pleasant in Springdale and phone number as 756-3983 is what I remember. She stated her parents as Josephine Allen and John J. Hays - no surprise there.

VAN BUREN PRESS
April 27, 1907
The Uniontown High School closed last Friday after a most successful term, with a splendid entertainment for its many patrons and friends. Professor A. D. Smith, the principal, had arranged a choice program, which was rendered to the satifaction of a full house. The exercises proved a great success in every way, netting the school $462.65. Those who graduated from the the common course school and received diplomas were: Misses Rebecca Wright, Oma Morrow and NORA HAYS, and Mr. G. W. Frances. The post graduates were Misses MINNIE HAYS and Tessie Lemon and Mr. G. M. Comstock.

JoAnn has the school bell that Nora used when she taught school at Union Town. Nora taught on an 8th grade Certificate; she was 16.

Northwest Arkansas Times, Fayetteville, AR; Saturday, 27 Jul 1940
Comstocks Have House Party
Mr. & Mrs. K. M. Comstock, 504 N. Willow, are entertaining a house party this week-end.
Guests include a sister of Mrs. Comstock, Mrs. David King of Tahlequah, Okla.; two nieces, Miss Iva King and Mrs. Harry Peeler and Harry Peeler, New York City; Mr. & Mrs. Ira V. Comstock of Van Buren; John J. Hays of Van Buren, Mrs. Comstock's father [who will be 84 years old, August 5]; Mr. & Mrs. A. W. Hays of Muskogee, Okla.

My grandmother sang as she worked, usually hymns. I found the following note dated 4 Jan 1942 - it was accompanied by a poem, "I Heard a Woman Singing" by Grace Noll Crowell.
Dear Mrs. Comstock, This poem turns up in my loose recipes frequently and unless I give it to you will never know that Grace Noll Crowell said this for me about you. I have had the clipping for two years or more and failing to tell you how much I enjoyed my "singing Neighbor" is another of my sins of omission. Today I am obeying that urge of letting you know that when grass was green, flowers blooming, birds nesting, through the open windows, my neighbor's song as she worked brought joy to me. And, too, the singing children and the piano music of your home was a real inspiration to me. Lovingly, Nina (Wms Hill)

Northwest Arkansas Times, Fayetteville, AR
Wednesday, 6 Aug 1947
Van Buren Man Observes 91st Birthday Here
John J. Hays of Van Buren celebrated his 91st birthday Sunday at the home of his daughter, Mrs. K. M. Comstock, and Mr. Comstock, 428 North College Avenue.
All of Mr. Hay's children - four - were present, as well as seven grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.
Guests were Mr. & Mrs. Ira V. Comstock, Mr. & Mrs. Jim Kilgore and daughters, Betty & Donna Kay, of Van Buren; Mrs. David King, Mrs. Herb Bile and daughter Karien of Tahlequah, Okla.; Mr. & Mrs. John King and son Daivd of Fort Gibson, Okla.; Mr. & Mrs. Harry Peeler of New York City; Harrison Davis of Washington, D.C.; Mr. & Mrs. A. W. Hays and nephew Jim Harlan West of Muskogee, Okla.; Mr. & Mrs. Graydon Comstock and sons, Donny and David Allen; Ira A. Comstock; Mr. & Mrs. Joe McKim and daughter, Karen Kay, all of Fayetteville.


Nora's will was admitted to probate on 22 Jan 1974. She died 16 Jul 1972 and at that time owned her home in Washington Co AR. She was "over the age of 21 years and of sound mind." Graydon Earl Comstock, Kenney M. Comstock & JoEllen McKim were named as co-executors. She was survived by these three children, and two other sons, John J. Comstock and Ira Allen Comstock.

NORA LEE COMSTOCK
Mrs. Nora Lee Comstock, 86, resident of 700 S. Pleasant Street, died July 16 in Springdale Memorial Hospital. She was born January 26, 1887 in Polk County, Ark., the daughter of John and Josephine Hays, and was a member of the First Christian Church and a housewife. Her husband, Kenney M. Comstock, Sr., preceeded her in death, May 3, 1958.
Survivors include four sons, Graydon Comstock Sr., of Siloam Springs, Kenney Comstock of Springdale, John J. Comstock of San Francisco, Calif. and Ira A. Comstock of Virginia Beach, VA.; one daughter, Mrs. Joe (JoEllen) McKim of Springdale; one sister, Mrs. Minnie Comstock of Van Buren; nine grandchildren; four great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held Wednesday morning at 10 o'clock in the First Christian Church. A second service will be held Wednesday afternoon at 3 o'clock in the Wood Memorial Christian Church in Van Buren. Burial will be in the Grace Lawn Cemetery in Van Buren under the direction of Sisco Funeral Chapel.
Memorials may be made to the First Christian Church.
Probably from The Springdale News.
A very similar obituary also appeared in Northwest Arkansas Times, Fayetteville, AR, 17 Jul 1973, p.2

Birth	26 Jan 1887	Cove, Polk County, Arkansas
Marriage	12 Jan 1908	Crawford County, Arkansas - KENNEY MARCUS COMSTOCK
Death	16 Jul 1973	Springdale, Washington County, Arkansas

Spouse	KENNEY MARCUS COMSTOCK (1887 - 1958)
Child	Graydon Earl Comstock (1908 - 1983)
Child	Kenney Maurice Comstock (1914 - 2006)
Child	JOSIE ELLEN COMSTOCK (1916 - 2008)
Child	John James "Jay" Comstock (1919 - 2006)
Child	Ira Allen Comstock (1924 - 2021)

Father	JOHN JEFFERSON HAYS (1856 - 1950)
Mother	PHILENA JOSEPHINE "JOSIE" ALLEN (1856 - 1935)
Sibling	William Henry "Will" Hays (1878 - 1922)
Sibling	Mattie Rowena Hays (1882 - 1962)
Sibling	Bennie Augusta Hays (1885 - 1886)
Sibling	Minnie Frances Hays (1889 - 1985)
Sibling	Arthur Wallace Hays (1892 - 1961)