Comer, Samuel R.

COMER

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 9/16/2019 at 16:07:10

Samuel R. Comer

(From the 1891 Biographical History of Pottawattamie County, Iowa, p.628_
SAMUEL R. COMER of Walnut is one of the best known citizens of this thriving town and a member of the firm of COMER & GRIFFITH, the only furniture establishment in the town, carrying an excellent, well-selected stock of $4,000 worth. Mr. COMER was born near Trenton, Grundy County, Missouri, on a farm, May 27, 1850, and received a common-school education. His father, Thomas COMER, was from Highland County, Ohio, and from an old American family. He went to Indiana when a young man and married Rachel J. APPLEGATE, daughter of Thomas APPLEGATE, of Jasper County, Indiana, an old settler and pioneer. In 1842, Mr. COMER moved to Missouri and settled in Grundy County.

He was a soldier in Company A, 72nd Regiment, Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was in service in Kentucky and Tennessee, being in several battles. He returned home and died in 1866, his days being shortened by exposure. Mr. COMER was an industrious man and respected by all who knew him. He left Missouri on account of the war troubles and died at Delphi, Indiana. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church and a Democrat in politics.

Samuel R. COMER, the subject of this sketch, was left an orphan, being but sixteen years of age at his father's death, and the care of his mother devolved upon him. He had gone to Indiana in 1861 with his parents, and engaged on a farm by the month and thus supported his mother. This he continued until his marriage at the early age of nineteen years, in 1869, to Miss Amanda E. CAPPESS, daughter of Adam and Elizabeth CAPPESS, from Ohio and of American ancestry. They have two children: Henry A. and Hattie E. After marriage, Mr. COMER went to Cedar County, Iowa, and farmed until 1879 and then came to Walnut and engaged in the teaming and dray business, in which he succeeded well. In 1888, he engaged in his present business in which he has prospered and in which he still continues.

In society, Mr. COMER is an Odd Fellow. He is a self-made man, having by his own unaided efforts made his way from the condition of a poor boy to that of a representative American citizen, respected by his fellow townsmen and having a highly respectable family.