WILLIAM H. COMSTOCK

Sacramento County

Biographies

WILLIAM H. COMSTOCK

WILLIAM H. COMSTOCK.--An experienced, efficient and ever-accommodating public official who well deserves his popularity, is William H. Comstock, past nine years postmaster at Folsom City. He was born near Farmington, in Oakland County, Mich., on January 23, 1865, the son of G. Franklin and Emily (Grace) Comstock, worthy natives of Oakland County, Mich., of Scotch and Irish ancestry. All four of our subject’s great-grandfathers were soldiers in the Continental Army, and served under Washington.

William H. Comstock was reared as a farmer’s son in Michigan, and after attending the local grammar school, pursued the courses of the Pontiac high school. He then entered the Michigan State Normal School at Ypsilanti, although he had already taught school when he was eighteen years of age, at Farmington; and after pursuing courses of study there, for the next four years again engaged in teaching.

In September, 1888, he arrived at Denver, from Michigan, and for some time was head clerk in the Broadway Hotel and for one year was head clerk in the Brunswick Hotel, but in November, 1892, he came out to California and Sacramento on a pleasure trip. He decided, however, to stay, and having entered the Pullman car service of the Southern Pacific, on the run between San Francisco and having entered the Pullman car service of the Southern Pacific, on the run between San Francisco and Los Angeles, worked for two years. Returning to Sacramento, he located at Folsom, where his family had already resided for two years, having bought a home there in 1892, and after a while he bought a ranch at Ashland, on the American River across from Folsom City. In 1894 he sold out and reinvested in 100 acres known as Willow Spring ranch, at that time located on the edge of Folsom City, east on the Placerville Road, and for the next fifteen years he followed dairying and the stock-business, and later sold off the greater part of this ranch to the Natomas Company of California. Ten years ago he built a fine residence on the remaining part of the ranch close to Folsom, and there he resides today.

While at Denver, he was married to Miss Nati Bradner, who was born in Wayne County, Mich., and was a life-long acquaintance; and she journeyed all the way to Colorado to become his bride. One child, a daughter, Grace Fairman, blessed their union, and is now the wife of C. E. Morton, who is instructor in music in the public schools of Berkeley. They have three children, Dorothy, Jack and Carl. Mr. Comstock is a member of Natoma Lodge of Masons, and of the Eastern Star, in which latter organization Mrs. Comstock is also active. He owns desirable real estate in North Sacramento and also in Denver, and has made several trips back to Colorado and Michigan. A stanch Democrat, he formerly served on the county central committee of his party; but he is less partisan in matters of local import, and is always ready to put his shoulder to the wheel and assist in any movement for community uplift. For many years, he has served as trustee of the Methodist Episcopal Church at Folsom.

Mr. Comstock was appointed postmaster at Folsom City by Postmaster-General Burleson, with the endorsement of President Wilson, and entered upon his official duties on May 1, 1914. He discharged his responsibility most conscientiously, managing both this third-class office and two rural deliveries. No. 1 serves the Orangevale section, and is routed a stretch of twenty-two miles; the Star route serves all the territory out of Folsom to Rescue, returning to Folsom by way of Salmon Falls along a route of thirty-two miles. Folsom City postoffice has grown steadily and has had to enlarge its quarters, and two years ago it was extended to twice its former capacity, the best of evidence, if any were needed, of the gradual development of the surrounding country. During the World War, Postmaster Comstock handled the registration of all aliens, recording their finger-prints for this section of the county, and sending them on to San Francisco. The entire district was served with war saving certificates and thrift stamps, and record sales of each were recorded, largely due to the untiring work of the subject, and his staff of able assistants. He terminated his term, February 1, 1923. Mr. Comstock is an enthusiastic advocate of the civil service, especially as it is exemplified by the United States post office, and he has long enjoyed the confidence, esteem and good will of the public on account of his faithful efforts in the public’s behalf.

Transcribed by Priscilla Delventhal.

Source: Reed, G. Walter, History of Sacramento County, California With Biographical Sketches, Pages 924-925. Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, CA. 1923.