Individual Details

1860 Census. Hopkinsville, P.O., Christian Co KY
all b. Kentucky
J. W. Wallace, age 22
Manerva, age 23
L. Fan. K., female, age 3
Mary J. Kinshaw, age 6
E. B. Kinshaw, male, age 3

I've never been able to find the family in 1870.

1880 Census. Benton Twp, Cedar Co, MO
John W. Wallis, age 44, b. KY
Manerva A., wife, age 44, b. KY, parents b. SC
Jane E., dau. age 21, b. KY
James R., son, age 13, b. MO
John R., son, age 10, b. MO

Minerva was poisoned at the home of her sister Mag Comstock, on the evening of October 9th, 1893; she died early the next morning. She was just visiting and was probably an innocent victim. James E. Comstock, Mag's husband also died. Mag, Comstock's boy Willie, and the hired hand were all ill from the poison which was most likely arsenic.

Found in Death Notices from Cedar County, Missouri Newspapers, 1888-1900 with Cemetery Inscriptions. Abstracts from the Stockton Journal, Cedar County Republican, and Eldorado Sun. Compiled by Marsha Hoffman Rising, C.G., 1988
From The Cedar County Republican 1893
Mrs. Wallace, of Jerico, died of drinking from a poisoned well and members of the Comstock family are low. Mrs. Wallace was a sister to Mrs. Comstock and Thomas Petty, Jr. The Comstocks reside 1 1/2 miles NW of Jerico on the Thos. Brasher farm. Sterling Brasher, a son to Mrs. Comstock, is accused of the crime. [Oct 13] Wife of J. B. Wallace 1856-1893, Silas Clark Cemetery, Cedar Co.
Note: Minerva Petty Wallace, sister of Mrs. Comstock was born 1836, not 1856. Her marriage record to Wallace gave his initials as J. W. Wallace and he is in a census as John W.

Newspaper article posted on FindAGrave - unidentified
A Family Poisoned.
News reached Stockton on Tuesday night from Jerico, that the family of Mr. Comstock, and Mrs. Wallace, a sister to Mrs. Comstock, had been poisoned by drinking water from the family well, and that Mrs. Wallace was dead and other members of the family were lying very low. Word was received at midnight of Tuesday, that two members of the Comstock family could not possibly live. Reports are contradictory regarding the number sick - some placing the number at five, others at three. The Comstock family reside one and a hlaf miles northwest of Jerico on the Thos. Brasher farm, and are respected people. It is thought that the well had been poisoned by some one with paris green or strychnine.
Mrs. Comstock and Mrs. Wallace are sisters to Thomas Petty, Sr., Doctors, Brasher, Brownlee and Gates, are looking after the welfare of the afflicted family to, if possible, alleviate their suffering.
Later reports say that there were five poisoned and that Mrs. McCrary, a neighbor woman, and Mr. and Mrs. Comstock, were not expected to live. Also that seventeen head of cabbage had been vound with cuts in them, and it is supposed that poison had been placed in there. Sterling Brasher, a son to Mrs. Comstock, is accused of the crime.
Note: Mrs. Sarah McCrary had come to the house later in the evening, found everyone sick, stayed to help, and had eaten breakfast the next morning and became ill. Mrs. Comstock (Maggie Petty) was only slightly ill and recovered quickly as did Comstock's young son, Willie. Only Minerva and James Comstock died.

Birth	1836	Kentucky
Marriage	10 Jan 1856	Christian County, Kentucky - John W. Wallace
Death	10 Oct 1893	Cedar County, Missouri

Spouse

John W. Wallace (1837 - 1912)

Father	Drewry Petty (1790 - )
Mother	Jane [Petty] (1800 - )
Sibling	Rosey E. Petty (1820 - 1887)
Sibling	James Thomas Petty (1822 - )
Sibling	Elizabeth C. Petty (1826 - )
Sibling	Samuel P. Petty (1827 - 1864)
Sibling	Jane C. Petty (1829 - )
Sibling	John Carlen Petty (1833 - )
Sibling	Lucinda Petty (1839 - )
Sibling	Margaret E. "Mag" Petty (1841 - )