Individual Details

He was a freighter in his early years, operating as many as twenty wagons between Springfield, MO and Arkansas. Finished college in 1877 and then taught school.

1880 Census. Benton Twp, Christian Co MO, Hh 312
John Comstock, age 23, farmer, b. MO, parents b. TN
Tiddie, age 18, wife, has bilious fever, b. MO, father b. TN, mother b. KY

1900 Census. Jackson Twp, Greene Co MO, Hh 51
John P. Comstock, b. Feb 1857, age 43, married 21 yrs., b. MO, parents b. TN
S. G., wife, b. Apr 1862, age 38, has had 4 children, b. MO as were her parents
Ola, dau, b. Jun 1883, age 16
Clara, dau, b. Oct 1885, age 14
Claud, son, b. Oct 1887, age 12
[John's brother Thomas lived next door]

1910 Census. Springfield, Ward 8, North Campbell Twp, Greene Co, MO, Hh 56
1233 Blaine/Blame St.
John P. Comstock, 53, married once for 30 years, Merchant, Grocery
Sophronia E., wife, 48
Joseph C., son, 22, Salesman, Grocery store
Dohnaldine L., son, 2
Ola L. Heald, 26, widow
Everett M. Heald, grandson, 6
Elna L. Heald, granddau, 9 months
John W. PYner, boarder, 28, Carpenter, House

Found in Missouri Death Certificate #27796. John Phelps Comstock died 8 Sept 1952, Greene Co MO of Heart Diseae. He was married. Born 14 Feb 1857 in Missouri. Retired Farmer. Parents were L. B. & Sophronia Comstock.

John and Sophronia are buried Danforth Cemetery, Strafford, Greene Co, MO

An unknown author of a questionnaire sent John A Comstock, John P's address, circa 1945. John P. was at that time living in Strafford, MO, Rt. #2. Someone had also contacted John P. and sent a questionnaire for the proposed history and genealogy, a copy of which was in the file - but this doesn't seem to be John A. Comstock's usual query - it may have come from an even earlier time as it is not dated. John A. wrote a note that he had sent a copy on to S. W. Comstoack. At the time John P. was living in Strafford, Mo, farming. He stated he was born in McDonald Co MO, but gave no date. His father was Leeander Brown, born Tennessee, died Greene Co Mo, 31 Aug 1877. His mother was Nancy, born in Tennessee. He did not know the name of his Comstock grandfather or her wife. John P.'s wife was Tiddy Simpson, born in Christian Co MO. Her parents John & Lizzie Simpson. They married Green Co on 15 Jun 1879.

John P.'s children were listed - he did give their birth dates but some do not agree with what appears in the book.
Vernon, Feb 8th, 1881
Ola, June 1, 1883
Clara, Jul 4, 1885 [book says 23 Aug 1885]
Claude, Sep 5, 1887 [book says 27 Oct 1887]
Dohn, Jan 7, 1907 [book has Jul 12 1907]
Stated that none of his children were married. [He must not have understood the question, or the letter was written prior to any of their marriages.]

As other living relatives he listed Dolphus Comstock of Ft. Smith, Ark [a date here of 21 Mch, 1934, might be when someone attempted to contact Dolph Comstock. However this would be Randolph Comstock, John P.'s cousin who was living in Crawford Co Arkansas across the river from Ft. Smith, but Dolph died 1924. That would also indicate this correspondence had taken place some years earlier.]

When asked to list his father's children, births & deaths, he simply listed:
Kendrick, Mary, Sophronia, Amanda, George, John, Thomas.

On the back, written in pencil, is:
P.S.
There were three Brothers (Comstock)
came to the United States at an early date
one of which was my grandfather
One of them settled in New York
One in Ioway, & the other in Ky
The one that settled in Ky was my Grandfather
They came from Switzerland to this country
Any information that I can give you
will be glad to do so.
Any questions that you want to ask me
I will gladly answer.
Yours Truly
John P. Comstock
Strafford, MO
RFD #2

It's truly amazing how many errors are in the above information. The only remotely accurate statement other than his name & address, is that his grandfather was in Kentucky for a time.

Birth	14 Feb 1857	McDonald County, Missouri
Marriage	18 Jun 1879	Strafford, Greene County, Missouri - Sophronia Geraldine "Tiddie" Simpson
Death	8 Sep 1952	Greene County, Missouri

Spouse	Sophronia Geraldine "Tiddie" Simpson (1862 - 1953)
Child	Vernon Phelps Comstock (1881 - 1953)
Child	Lula Viola "Ola" Comstock (1883 - 1931)
Child	Minnie Clara Comstock (1885 - )
Child	Joseph Claude Comstock (1887 - 1953)
Child	Dohnaldine Lester Comstock (1907 - 1953)

Father	Leander Brown Comstock (1828 - 1877)
Mother	Nancy Forgason (1830 - 1878)
Sibling	William Kendrick Comstock (1850 - 1897)
Sibling	Mary Comstock (1852 - 1889)
Sibling	George Oliver Comstock (1855 - 1930)
Sibling	Sophronia Comstock (1859 - 1942)
Sibling	Amanda L. Comstock (1861 - 1956)
Sibling	Thomas Henry Comstock (1864 - 1905)