Individual Details

Age given as 4/12 in the 1860 McDonald Co MO Census.

Obituaries, Death Notices & News Items Extracted from the Van Buren Press 1883
Fran Alverson Warren
Mar 17. p.13 on Petit Jury: Monroe Comstock

Marriage license was taken out on 22 Oct 1884. Mr. J. M. Comstock [indexed in FamilySearch Records as "Dell"] of Uniontown in Crawford Co AR, aged 24 years and Miss L. Ellen Wood of Uniontown, Crawford Co AR, aged 17 years. They were married on 26 Oct 1884 by A. E. Poague, JP Recorded on page 5 of Book C on 29 Oct 1884.

Mon and "Dolph" started Comstock Bros. - mercantile in Van Buren, AR. Mon's sons, Kenney, Ira, and Paul later ran the store and eventually only Ira was proprietor. Was sold in 1964. Mon died on Thanksgiving Day in 1928, probably stroke - he had gone down to the store to work on accounts and when he did not come home, the sons found him there.

Obits Death Notices & News Items Extracted from the Van Buren Press 1888; Fran Alverson Warren
Jul 28 1888
Judges of Elections: Union Twp Andrew Howell, John Burchfield, J. M. Comstock

OBITUARIES, DEATH NOTICES AND NEWS ITEMS EXTRACTED FROM THE VAN BUREN ARGUS, Vol. 2, Fran Alverson Warren, 2001; p.5
6 Feb 1889 UNIONTOWN
Our town is on a boom. Mr. J. C. Wood and L. L. Bragg have formed a copartnership in the mercantile business, and J. C. Wood has renovated his store-house and got it up in style, with an orin roof, and has a complete stock of goods....... Mr. Wheeler bought out Mr. Thomas Howell. Mr. J. M. Comstock, or Comstock Bros., have a good storehouse and a good stock of merchandise.

Obituaries, Death Notices & News Items Extracted from the Van Buren Press 1890; Fran Alverson Warren
Aug 16, 1890
Judges of Elections Union Twp – Henry Howell, J. M Comstock, John Palmer

In 1890 Reconstructed Census is J. M. Comstock living in the Uniontown School District at Section 6, Township 10, Range 33. In 1892 he is on record as having paid his Poll Tax in Crawford County AR

OBITUARIES, DEATH NOTICES AND NEWS ITEMS EXTRACTED FROM THE VAN BUREN ARGUS, Vol. 3, Fran Alverson Warren, 2001;
p.21 18 May 1892 We had a pleasant call last Thursday from J. M. Comstock, of the popular firm of Comstock Brothers, Uniontown.
p.28 29 Jun 1892 Found - By J. M. Epperson on 1 Dec 1891, at Comstsock Brothers store in Uniontown, Ark., one-half of a $10 bill, No. 438469. Bank of issue is not known. For further information address B. Brewer, Post Master, Hanson, Indian Territory.

Northwestern Counties History, Arkansas, 1899. Crawford County, Biographical Appendix, p. 1135
James M. Comstock was born February 23, 1860 in McDonald County, MO., and is a son of Thomas and Miranda J. (Brown) Comstock...
James M. worked upon his father's farm during his youth, as his father needed his services, and thus received a very limited education. When twenty-three he began life for himself and went to Kansas as agent for a washing machine. In a short time he went on to McDonald County, and six months later returned to Crawford County. He then engaged in the mercantile business in Uniiontown, with Mr. Wood, for four years, and then, selling his interest, went into partnership with his brother. They now have an extensive stock of goods and enjoy a good patronage. Mr. Comstock married Lucretia E. Wood, daughter of Joseph and Letitia Wood, by wheom he has had two children, Kennie M., and an infant, who died unnamed. Mr. Comstock has always voted the Democratic ticket, and is a school director.

1900 Crawford Co Census. Children down through Edna listed including Lelia at age 9. Mon's brother Hardy is living with him. Union Twp, Hh 86
James M. Comstock, b. Feb 1860, age 40, married 15 years, b. MO, Father b. TN, mother b. AR, general merchant
Lucretia E., wife, b. Apr 1867, age 33. 7 children, 6 living, Born Kansas, father b. MO, mother b. W. Va.
Kennie, M., son, b. Jul 1887, age 12. Nora H., dau, b. Jun 1889, age 11. Lelia E., dau, b. Nov. 1890, age 9. Ira V., son, b. Sep 1892, age 7. Fannie M., dau, b. Jun 1894, age 5. Edna E., dau, b. Oct 1899, age 8 months.
Hardy Comstock, brother, b. Sep 1877, age 22, Divorced, b. AR, father b. TN, mother b. AR, Salesman, dry goods.

Obituaries, Death Notices & News Items Extracted from the Van Buren Press 1906 Fran Alverson Warren, p.45
1 Sep 1906 J. M. Comstock of Uniontown, accompanied by his daughter, left Saturday for St. Louis to puchase a fall and winter stock for Comstock Brothers' Store at Uniontown.
[Which daughter? Nora was eldest and was not yet married - about age 17 in 1906.]

1910 Crawford Co Census. Only Kenney and Nora married. Union Twp., Hh 69
James M. Comstock, age 50, married 24 years, b. MO, father b. TN, mother b. AR, Merchant
Lucretia E., wife, age 43, 10 children - 8 are living, b. KS, father b. TN, mother b. MO
Children all born in AR:
Ira, son 17. Maude, dau, 15. Edna, dau 10. Lettie, dau, 8. Pauline, dau, 4. Paul, son, 3.

1920 Sebastian Co Census. Living at 901 N. 15th St in Ft. Smith. J. M. Comstock age 59 b MO, Merchant. Wife Ellen age 52, born Kansas. Daughter Edna age 20, Teacher in the public schools. Daughter Pauline age 14, student. Son Paul age 13, student.

5 May 1925 Notice in the bulletin of the Wood Memorial Church, twelve days before the dedication of the church to Miss Margaret & Norma Wood [no relation to my family]. A letter of appreciation for their family and signed by the Board of the Church, J. M. Comstock, Chairman, and my grandfather, D. M. Comstock, Secretary.

Arkansas Death Certificate #230
J. M. Comstock died 29 Nov 1920, Van Buren, Crawford Co, AR of acute dilitation of the heart, sudden. He was married. Birth given as 1860, Missouri. He was married, a Merchant. Father - Thomas Comstock; mother - Miranda Comstock, birthplaces unknown. Informant was Mrs. J. M. Comstock. Buried Gracelawn Memorial Park, Van Buren on Dec 1sth.

Obituary
Father Found Dead by Son in Van Buren.
Heart Disease Attributed as Cause of Death of Monroe Comstock in His Store On Main Street Thursday.
J. Monroe Comstock, 69 years old, proprietor of the Comstock Dry Goods company of Van Buren, was found dead at his store on Main Street Thursday afternoon at 3 o'clock, when his son, Ira M. Comstock went to the store in search of his father.
Mr. Comstock had not been in good health, but apparently was feeling well Thursday morning, though he had complained of a pain in the shoulder. Heart disease was attributed as the cause of his death.
The store was closed Thursday for the Thanksgiving holiday. Mr. Comstock left home at 11 o'clock to go to town. When he did not return, his family became alarmed and his son went in search of him. The father's body was found lying on the floor in his office. He apparently had been dead for some time.
No funeral arrangements had been made Thursday night.
Mr. Comstock had been a resident of Crawford county for more than 60 years. He was born in McDonald county, Missouri. He came with his parents to Crawford county, when only a few years old. He was for 25 years a merchant at Uniontown before he came to Van Buren nince years ago, and established the Comstock Dry Goods company. He was a member of Wood Memorial Church and a Mason. The funeral will be in charge of Mrs. W. W. Ocker, funeral director.
Surviving relatives are the widow, Mrs. Ellen Comstock, three sons, Ira Comstock of Van Buren; K. M. Comstock, a traveling salesman for the Berry Dry Goods company of Fort Smith; Paul Comstock of Little Rock; five daughters, Mrs. A. C. Clark of Van Buren; Mrs. Cy Carney, Rudy, Ark.; Mrs. T. L. Delzell, Charleston, Ark.; Mrs. C. L. Redmond, Sallisawy, Okla.; and Mrs. J. L. Rainwater, Bristow, Okla; and a number of grandchildren. Mr. Comstock also leaves a brother and sister, H. Comstock of Uniontown and Mrs. Hugh Walker of Uniontown.
K. M. Comstock, who was covering his trade territory had not been located Thursday night.

Another obituary gives his home address as 520 North Thirteenth Street.

Still another lists the pallbearers:
Honorary: Oscar Norris, Ft. Smith; E. F. Mayfield, G. C. Yoes, Ed Deffenbaugh, C. I. Clark, John J. Hays, Edgar Covey, S. T. Matlock, M. V. Wallace, Clay Ward, Van Buren, and David Shapard, Fort Smith.
Active, Hugh Oliver, Dell Miller, O. D. Thompson, Charles E. Riddle, W. H. Wallace, Van Buren; Orien Horn, Fort Smith; Olin Pitts, Fort Smith; Othniel Miller, Van Buren.

The Arkansas Gazette, Little Rock, Arkansas, Friday, November 30, 1928
J. M. Comstock of Van Buren dies suddenly
Van Buren, Nov 29. J. Monroe Comstock, aged 69, widely know Van Burn merchant and member of a well known Crawford county family, died suddenly today at his store here. Mr. Comstock, who had been at the store for a few hours this morning, had closed for the Thanksgiving holiday, but on returning home, remembered that he had forgotten to lock the safe. He rode to town with John Hays and it is presumed he fell dead after he had locked the safe. The body was found an hour later, lying near the safe by members of the family, who became alarmed when he failed to return home for Thanksgiving dinner.
Although Mr. Comstock had been in failing health the last few months, he appeared to be in excellent spirit when he left home. Heart disease was the cause of his death.
Mr.Comstock was born in McDowell (sic-McDonald) county, Missouri and had resided in Crawford County nearly 65 years. For 33 years he was the leading merchant at Uniontown, 15 miles northwest of Van Buren and for the last nine years had operated a large dry goods store in Van Buren. Mr. Comstock is survived by his wife, his five daughters, Mrs. J. S. Rainwater of Bristow, Okla., Mrs. Bert Redman of Salisaw, Okla. Mrs. Cy Carney of Rudy, Mrs. Lester Delzell of Charleston, and Mrs. Aura Clark of Van Buren; three sons, Ira V. Comstock and Kenney M. Comstock of Van Buren and Paul Comstock, who is with the Little Rock store of Montgomery Ward, a sister, Mrs. Hugh Walker of Uniontown, and one brother, Hardy Comstock of Uniontown. The late Randolph Comstock of Uniontown, former state senator and chairman of the Crawford-Sebastian County Bridge Commission was a brother.

COURT WILL ADJOURN AS COMSTOCK TRIBUTE. Tribunal Attaches to Attend Funeral of Widely Known Merchant Found Dead Thursday.
Judge J. O. Kincannon announced Friday afternoon that circuit court would be adjourned at noon Saturday out of respect to the memory of J. Monroe Comstock, widely known Van Buren merchant, who died suddenly Thursday. Court attaches will attend the funeral.
Funeral service will be held at 2 o'clock Saturday afternoon at Wood Memorial Christian Church. William A. Sessions, supply pastor of the church, and Harney McGehee will conduct the service a the church. The ritual of the Masonic order, of which Mr. Comstock was a member, will be used.
Surviving relatives are his wife, Mrs. Ellen Comstock, three sons, Ira Comstock of Van Buren; K. M. Comstock, a traveling salesman for the Berry Dry Goos company of Fort Smith; Paul Comstock of Little Rock; five daughters, Mrs. A. C. Clark of Van Buren; Mrs. Cy Carney, Rudy, Ark; Mrs. T. L. Delzell, Charleston, Ark.; Mrs. B. L. Redmond, Sallisaw, Okla.; and Mrs. J. S. Rainwater, Bristow, Okla; and a number of grandchildren. Mr. Comstock also leaves a brother and sister, H. Comstock of Huniontown and Mrs. Hugh Walker of Uniontown.
All the relatives are in Van Buren for the funeral.

Buried GraceLawn Cemetery, Van Buren, AR

I found the following note by his granddaughter, Josie Ellen Comstock, written probably soon after he died as the handwriting was that of a child:
"Grandpa Comstock died on Thanksgiving Day on November 29th, 1928. His funeral was held on the following Saturday. He had many, many friends. Nearly every seat in the church was full. He had many flowers. There were so many they had to be put way out at the side of the grave. Some Negroes who knew Grandpa sat outside of the church during the funeral. I was eleven years old when Grandpa died."

Birth	23 Feb 1860	McDonald County, Missouri
Marriage	26 Oct 1884	Van Buren, Crawford County, Arkansas - LUCRETIA ELLEN WOOD
Death	29 Nov 1928	Van Buren, Crawford County, Arkansas

Spouse	LUCRETIA ELLEN WOOD (1867 - 1963)
Child	Dora Comstock (1886 - 1886)
Child	KENNEY MARCUS COMSTOCK (1887 - 1958)
Child	Nora Hessa Comstock (1889 - 1973)
Child	Lelia Ethel Comstock (1890 - 1904)
Child	Ira Vard Comstock (1892 - 1968)
Child	Fannie Maude Comstock (1894 - 1988)
Child	Edna Eugenia Comstock (1899 - 1956)
Child	Letisha Miranda "Lettie" Comstock (1901 - 1980)
Child	Rebecca Pauline Comstock (1905 - 1984)
Child	Ruel Paul Comstock (1906 - 1991)

Father	ELIJAH THOMAS "Tom" COMSTOCK (1838 - 1917)
Mother	MIRANDA JANE BROWN (1842 - 1912)
Sibling	Theodore Comstock (1861 - 1862)
Sibling	Randolph "Dolph" Comstock (1865 - 1924)
Sibling	Green Comstock (1868 - 1868)
Sibling	Minnie Comstock (1870 - 1944)
Sibling	Clinden "Den" Comstock (1873 - 1912)
Sibling	Cornelia Comstock (1875 - 1893)
Sibling	Hardy "Tack" Comstock (1877 - 1936)
Sibling	Piney Comstock (1882 - 1886)