William Henry Harrison Comstock
5 Dec 1840 - 5 Jun 1930
Vitals

William H. H. Comstock was born in New York 5 Dec 1840. He was the son of Israel and Betsey (Fuller) Comstock. They came to Jackson, Michigan when William was about 5 years old. By 1850 they are found in Ionia County.

At enlistment in 1863, he is listed as married. Was there another wife or is the marriage date wrong for Catherine Dodson? He married 5 Sep 1866 Catherine Dodson. She was born 9 Mar 1844 in Blair County, PA, to James and Jennie (Cribbs) Dodson.

They had three daughters and one son: Cecil (1868-1943); Ida Geraldine (1870-1958) wife of Virgil Curtis Allchin; Emma E. (1878-) and Cassius Calvin (1878-1935) husband of Marie M.

Catherine died 23 Oct 1901 and is buried with William in Palo Cemetery.
Service William enlisted from Ionia 23 December 1863. He was 22 years of age when he became a private in Company F, 1st MI Engineers and Mechanics. In April of 1864 he was confined in the hospital near Nashville, TN for two weeks with quinsy. He fought at Bentonville, and was honorably discharged in Jackson, MI, 6 Oct 1865. He was pensioned.
GAR James Covel Post #354
Siblings Three brothers were in the service: Elijah in the same command; Roland and Benjamin in the 16th MI Volunteer infantry. An older brother, Edwin, was a soldier in the Mexican War.
Records 1850 Census Ronald Township, Ionia County, MI with parents and siblings, listed as Henry
  1860 Census Bushnell Township, Montcalm County, MI with parents and siblings, listed as Henry
  1870 Census Bushnell Township, Montcalm County, MI with Catherine, 2 children, mother, listed as Henry
  1880 Census Bushnell Township, Montcalm County, MI also on farm schedule
  1884 MI Census    
  1890 Veteran Census Bushnell Township, Montcalm County, MI  
  1894 MI Census    
  1900 Census Bushnell Township, Montcalm County, MI listed as Henry W.
  1910 Census Bushnell Township, Montcalm County, MI boarder
  1920 Census Belding, Ionia County, MI ward 1
  1930 Census Belding, Ionia County, MI with Cecil
Obit Belding Banner News, June 12, 1930
Services for Civil War Veteran Held at Home Here Sunday Afternoon
The number of men who, during the Civil war, marched with Sherman on his historically famous trip to the sea, was cut again when on Thursday evening of last week, William H. Comstock, aged 89 years, answered the last summons and passed into eternity, following a long period of poor health, which was brought on by old age. William H. Comstock, born in the state of New York, December 5, 1840, departed this life June 5, 1930. The last one of a family of twelve, of Israel and Betsy Fuller Comstock. At the age of 5 he came to Michigan with his parents and located in Jackson. After being there for four years they moved to Montcalm county where he later cleared land and made his home until ten years ago when he moved to Belding. He was a Civil war veteran and was with Sherman on his march to the sea. September 5, 1866, he was united in marriage to Catherine Dodson who departed this life October 23, 1901. He leaves to mourn his departure two daughters and one sone, Cecil, at home; Ida Allchin of Fenwick; Cassin C. of Spokane, Washington; three grandchildren; Dewey, Beth and Cecil Allchin and two great grandchildren, Joan and Peggy Allchin.
Death
Burial Palo Cemetery
Palo, Ionia County, MI
Find A Grave #32365958
  Some biographical information from Presidents, Soldiers, Statesmen Vol II, 1892.
contributed by Paula Johnson