Oliver Comstock
Encyclopedia
Oliver Cromwell Comstock (March 1, 1780 – January 11, 1860) was a United States Representative from New York. Born in Warwick, Rhode Island
, he moved with his parents to Schenectady, New York
when he was a child. He received a liberal schooling and studied medicine, practicing in Trumansburg
. He was a member of the New York State Assembly
from 1810 to 1812 and was the first judge of New York Court of Common Pleas
for Seneca County
, holding that office from 1812 to 1815.
Comstock was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1813 to March 3, 1819. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1818, and was the first judge of court of common pleas for Tompkins County
in 1817 and 1818. He abandoned the practice of medicine and studied theology. He was licensed to preach and ordained to the Baptist
ministry; he was then installed as pastor of the First Baptist Church in Rochester
and served in that capacity from 1825 to 1834. He was elected Chaplain of the House of Representatives on December 20, 1836 and served until March 3, 1837. He moved to Michigan
and resumed ministerial duties at Detroit in 1839; from 1841 to 1843 he was a regent
of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and from 1843 to 1845 he was State superintendent of public instruction. Comstock died in Marshall
, Calhoun County, Michigan
in 1860; interment was in Oakridge Cemetery.
Warwick, Rhode Island
Warwick is a city in Kent County, Rhode Island, United States. It is the second largest city in the state, with a population of 82,672 at the 2010 census. Its mayor has been Scott Avedisian since 2000...
, he moved with his parents to Schenectady, New York
Schenectady, New York
Schenectady is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 66,135...
when he was a child. He received a liberal schooling and studied medicine, practicing in Trumansburg
Trumansburg, New York
Trumansburg is a village in Tompkins County, New York, United States. The population was 1,581 at the 2000 census. The name is a variant spelling of the surname of the founder, Abner Treman...
. He was a member of the New York State Assembly
New York State Assembly
The New York State Assembly is the lower house of the New York State Legislature. The Assembly is composed of 150 members representing an equal number of districts, with each district having an average population of 128,652...
from 1810 to 1812 and was the first judge of New York Court of Common Pleas
New York Court of Common Pleas
The New York Court of Common Pleas was a state court in New York. Established in New Netherland in 1686, the Court remained in existence in the Province of New York and, after the American Revolution, in the U.S...
for Seneca County
Seneca County, New York
As of the census of 2000, there were 33,342 people, 12,630 households, and 8,626 families residing in the county. The population density was 103 people per square mile . There were 14,794 housing units at an average density of 46 per square mile...
, holding that office from 1812 to 1815.
Comstock was elected as a Democratic-Republican to the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Congresses, holding office from March 4, 1813 to March 3, 1819. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1818, and was the first judge of court of common pleas for Tompkins County
Tompkins County, New York
Tompkins County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York, and comprises the whole of the Ithaca metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, the population was 101,564. The county seat is Ithaca, and the county is home to Cornell University, Ithaca College and Tompkins Cortland Community...
in 1817 and 1818. He abandoned the practice of medicine and studied theology. He was licensed to preach and ordained to the Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
ministry; he was then installed as pastor of the First Baptist Church in Rochester
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
and served in that capacity from 1825 to 1834. He was elected Chaplain of the House of Representatives on December 20, 1836 and served until March 3, 1837. He moved to Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
and resumed ministerial duties at Detroit in 1839; from 1841 to 1843 he was a regent
Regent
A regent, from the Latin regens "one who reigns", is a person selected to act as head of state because the ruler is a minor, not present, or debilitated. Currently there are only two ruling Regencies in the world, sovereign Liechtenstein and the Malaysian constitutive state of Terengganu...
of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and from 1843 to 1845 he was State superintendent of public instruction. Comstock died in Marshall
Marshall, Michigan
Marshall is a city located in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is part of the Battle Creek, Michigan Metropolitan Statistical Area. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 7,459. It is the county seat of Calhoun County...
, Calhoun County, Michigan
Calhoun County, Michigan
-Interstates:* I-69* I-94* I-194* I-94 Business Loop serves the city of Albion.* I-94 Business Loop serves the city of Battle Creek.* I-94 Business Loop serves the city of Marshall.-Michigan State Trunklines:* M-37* M-60* M-66* M-78* M-89* M-96* M-99...
in 1860; interment was in Oakridge Cemetery.