The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1889-09-21
DEATH OF A. W. COlGsTocR

| - We n. ". CV06xVCk.
IL becomes our painful duty t
record the death of A. w. Comstocl
one OF our most prominent an
publlc-spirited business men. Hi
loss will be felt not only by hi
family and large circle of persona
trends but by the whole commu
nifty. He possessed the entire con
hdence and respect of every on
with whom he had any dealings
and a nearer acquaintance ripenet
these feelings into those of warn
friendship. It is seldom that tn,
death of so young a mamie wa!
only twenty-eight-is felt to be suct
an irreparable loss, as every ONT
feels the death of Mr.. Comstock to
be. Every member of the commu
nifty experiences sense of personal
bereavement in the untimely death
of our promising townsman.
Mr.. Com stock died at his resi-.
dence, Tuesday, September 18th. at
half-past one o'clock P. NJ, of ty-
phoid fever, after an illness OF
twenty-six days. His friends did
not consider him dangerously sick
until little over a week before he
died, when, after seeming to be
much better and able to sit up two
or three times for a little while, he
suddenly suffered relapse from
which he never rallied. For several
days before death came, he was de-
ferrous, and although at times he
seemed to recognize his family, he
never became fully conscious. His
end was quiet and peaceful, as one
falling asleep. About a year ago
Mr.. Comstock had an attack of
fever similar to the one that ended
his life, and his life then was almost
despaired of, but he recovered and
seemed as well as before the illness.
And so it was hoped that the result
of this attack would be the same,
and though many of his friends
knew he was very sick, yet the news
of his death came to them with the
shock of surprise.
The funeral took place at the
house, Wednesday afternoon at 3
o'clock. The attendance was very
large, not quarter of those present
being able to find room in the house.
The porch and yard were filled with
those standing.
Alturas Lodge, No. Is, of the
|. 0. 0. F., of which Mr.. Comstock
was a member, and a number of
visiting members from the HALEY
and Bellevue lodges, were present
IN their regalias. Rev. l. T. Osborn
read the burial service of the Epis-
,opal Church at the house. The
remains were then taken to the
cemetery, followed by the largest
1umber of people ever seen in a
funeral procession in Ketchum.
After reaching the grave the cere-
monies were taken in charge by the
Odd Fellows and the interment was
according to the burial
'ites of that order.
Mr.. Comstock was born at James
own, Chautauqua county, New
York, May 6, 1861. He came to
Ketchum in the spring of 1888,
md being sawyer by trade, soon
obtained employment with Lavell
Brothers, who at that time were in
he lumber business here. Recog-
lizing his excellent business abili-
les, it was not long before the La
'ell Brothers gave him the entire
'harge of their extensive Office bust
less. He remained in that posi-
ion till the fall of 1885 when he
'ecame the successor to I. l. Lewis
u the mercantile firm of Pinkham
Lewis. In 1886, after the firm
f which he was a member sold out
0 the Idaho Forwarding Company,
lr. Comstock opened a dry goods
nd gentlemen's furnishing store,
nd conducted that business alone
Or several months, when he formed
partnership with Walter Clark and
'homas Tague and they removed
heir stock to a larger building and
realty increased their business. In
S37 the firm built the handsome
rick store building on the corner
t Main and Third streets, in which
aeir business is now conducted,
[r. Comstock being the Junior part
er in the well-known firm of
omstock, Clark & Co. Mr.. Com
,ock was one of the directors of
Re First National Bank of Ketchum
the time of his death.
Such history of rapid growth &
position and in the confidence of
le business community is remark 6
Die even in these days of rapid {
ranges. Only a few short years I
20, he came here a stranger and
,gan at the foot Of the ladder, and ]
= his untiring energy and perse-
which qualities ably sup &
emented his natural abilities, he I
I'd gained the prominence he held.
is loss will long be felt, and his
Al | =