Person Sheet
NameMahulda DAVIS 
[42]
[42]Death3 Feb 1900, Lincoln, Logan, Illinois [92] Age: 48
BurialLincoln, Logan, Illinois [92]
Burial MemoOld Union Cemetery
FatherJames Owen DAVIS (1804-1870)
MotherMary GENTRY (1818-1873)
Spouses
Birth22 Feb 1848, Maysville, Mason, Kentucky [3]
Death11 Jul 1934, Chicago, Cook, Illinois [3] Age: 86
Burial MemoOld Union Cemetery
Cause of deathProstate Cancer (18 Months) And Senility [90]
FatherSolomon COMSTOCK (~1805-1858)
MotherAmelia Patsy RIDENOUR/REDDENHOUR (~1805-1861)
Misc. Notes
1. Paraphrased from newspaper clippings of the Chicago Daily Tribune, 1934: John Wesley came to Illinois from Kentucky with his parents in a covered wagon when he was 9 yrs. old. A lean and expert jockey at the Lincoln, Illinois race track in 1859, he had just turned 11 yrs. old when he was brought to the attention of Abraham Lincoln, then in need of a carriage driver and groom. Lincoln went to the boy’s house and persuaded his parents to let John live with the Lincolns in their Springfield, Illinois home. He shared a bed with Mr. Lincoln’s son, Robert who was two yrs. older. John drove Lincoln’s carriage for 9 months and earned 25 cents/day, up until Lincoln’s election in 1860 as President of the United States. When the Civil War began, John enlisted as a drummer in April of 1862, at age 14. He joined the 7th Illinois Infantry, Company E. This was the first regiment formed in Illinois. He never saw Lincoln again after the election.
2. From a taped interview with Bea Wakenshaw Nov 2001: “ Grandpa Comstock is buried in Lincoln Cemetery (Lincoln, Illinois). Aunt Eva had a bronze plate made and put on his casket with all his dates, etc... on it. It was buried with his casket, and there was no (?) marker. The grave was by a big tree, but this tree might have been moved or cut down when the road was changed in the cemetery. And his grave might have been moved as well.” [UPDATE - May 2005]: John’s grave has been found and was not moved. He is buried next to his first wife, Mahulda in the Old Union Cemetery in Lincoln. Their graves were unmarked. A new stone now resides on their graves with their names and dates, and John’s Civil War service dates. A brick with John’s name also resides at the new Veteran’s Memorial in downtown Lincoln, along with the other veterans from Logan County, Ill.
3. Illinois Civil War Veterans Database, Index Compiled by Fred Delap in cooperation with the Illinois State Archives:
Name: COMSTOCK, JOHN W; Rank: REC; Company: E; Unit: 7 IL US INF; Residence: SPRINGFIELD
4. Illinois Statewide Death Index, 1916–1950, Illinois State Archives:
John W. Comstock; White; Male; age - unknown; Certificate #6019258; Death Date 07-11-1934; County - Cook; City - Chicago; Date Filed 07-12-1934.
5. From the 1860 US Census, Illinois, Logan, Sugar Creek Precinct, Post Office: Lawndale, Page 80, Enumerated 26 June 1860:
Amelia Comstock; Head; Age 55; Female; Occupation - Farming; Value of Personal Estate - $400, POB Virginia.
Elijah Comstock; Age 22; Male; Occupation - Farmer; POB Kentucky.
Andrew Comstock; Age 21; Male; POB Kentucky.
John W. Comstock; Age 12; Male; POB Kentucky; Attends School.
6. From the 1930 US Census, Kentucky, Taylor, Magisterial District 3 (part of), ED 109-5, Sheet 8B, Enumerated 22 April 1930:
Deal P. Sanders; Head; Owns Home; Age 62; Age at first marriage 19; POB Kentucky; Father POB Kentucky; Mother POB Kentucky; Occupation - Farmer
Martha Sanders; Wife; Age 60; Age at first marriage17; POB Kentucky; Father POB Kentucky; Mother POB Kentucky
Leora Sanders; Daughter; Age 17; Single; POB Kentucky; Father POB Kentucky; Mother POB Kentucky
John W. Comstock; Father-in-law; Age 82; Widower; Age at first marriage 20; POB Kentucky; Father POB Kentucky; Mother POB Kentucky; Occupation is listed as “Old Age”
7. Information on John W. Comstock’s military service during the Civil War, sent to me by Claire Sloop and received from the Logan County Genelogy & Historical Society, June 2004:
“In finding that John W. Comstock had a military marker on his grave at Union Cemetery, I looked at this rather close to see if I had the right John W. Comstock. Here are my findings: He is buried near Mahulda in Union Cemetery, and has a military marker with this military information. I looked up Company E, 7th IL Vol. Inf., and it shows that he enlisted for a three year term, on August 7, 1862, giving his address as Springfield. The fact that he would have been only 14 years old could have been why he gave Springfield as his address, as he would have lied about his age. Anyhow, on August 1, 1864, he deserted. If this is fact your John, he saw a number of battles, and the write up below shows that on July 29, 1864, all non-veterans were released. A week later, he deserted.”
Company E, 7th Illinois Voluntary Infantry
3 Year Regiment.
Regiment organized at Cairo, Ill., July 25, 1861. Attached to District of Cairo to October, 1861. Cook's 4th Brigade, District of Cairo, to February, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, District of West Tennessee, and Army of the Tennessee, to July, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, District of Corinth, Dept. of the Tennessee, to November, 1862. 3rd Brigade, District of Corinth, Left Wing 13th Army Corps (Old), Dept. of the Tennessee, to December, 1862. 3rd Brigade, District of Corinth, 17th Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee, to January, 1863. 3rd Brigade, District of Corinth, 16th Army Corps, to March, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 16th Army Corps, to September, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 4th Division, 15th Army Corps, to July, 1865.
SERVICE - Moved to Ironton, Mo., thence to Cape Girardeau, Mo., August 23, 1861. Duty there and at Fort Holt, Ky., till February, 1862. Expedition toward Columbus, Ky., September 21-22, 1861. Skirmish at Mansfield's Creek September 22. Expedition to Elliott's Mills during Belmont November 6-7. Reconnoissance of Columbus, Ky., January 13-20, 1862. Movements against Fort Henry, Tenn., February 2-6. Investment and capture of Fort Donelson, Tenn., February 12-16. Expedition to Clarksville and Nashville, Tenn., February 19-21. Moved to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., arriving there March 22. Battle of Shiloh, Tenn., April 6-7. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Pursuit to Booneville May 31-June 11. Duty at Corinth, Miss., till October. Battle of Corinth October 3-4. Pursuit to Hatchie River October 5-12. Duty at Corinth till April, 1863. Dodge's Expedition to Intercept Forest, and operations in West Tennessee, December 18, 1862, to January 3, 1863. Dodge's Expedition to Northern Alabama April 15-May 8. Iuka, Miss., April 16. Great Bear Creek, Cherokee Station and Lundy's Lane April 17. Rock Cut, near Tuscumbia, April 22. Tuscumbia April 23. Town Creek April 28. Guard Railroad from Bethel to Jackson, Tenn., May 12 to June 8. Regiment mounted June 18 and engaged in scout and patrol duty through West Tennessee till October, participating in numerous expeditions and skirmishes. Expedition from Corinth to Henderson, Tenn., September 11-16. Skirmish at Clark's Creek Church September 13. Henderson's Station September 14. Expedition into West Tennessee September 27-October 1. Swallow's Bluff September 30. At Chewalla October 4-26. Moved to Iuka October 26, thence marched to Pulaski, Tenn., November 1-12. Scout to Lawrenceburg November 17-19. Scout duty around Pulaski till December 22. Skirmishes near Florence December 1. Near Eastport December 2. Scout to Florence December 11-17. Shoal Creek, near Wayland Springs, December 12. Regiment Veteranize December 22 and mustered in as Veterans January 5, 1864. Veterans on furlough January and February, 1864. Return to Pulaski February 23-27. Duty at Florence, Ala., patrolling Tennessee River till June. At Florence, Sweetwater and Centre Store till June 14. Repulse of Roddy's attack on Florence May 7. Decatur May 8. Pulaski May 13. Regiment dismounted and moved to Chattanooga, Tenn., June 14-17, thence to Tilton, Ga., and patrol Railroad from Dalton to Resaca, Ga., till July 7. Moved to Rome, Ga., July 7, and duty there till October. (Non-Veterans mustered out July 29, 1864.) Action at Etowah River September 15. Operations against Hood September 29-November 3. Defence of Allatoona Pass October 4-5. Reconnoissance from Rome on Cave Springs Road and skirmishes October 12-13. March to the sea November 15-December 10. Regiment remounted November 21. Ogeechee Canal December 9. Siege of Savannah December 10-21. Hinesville December 16. Campaign of the Carolinas January to April, 1865. Hickory Hill, S.C., February 1. Salkehatchie Swamps February 2-5. Fishburn's Plantation, near Lane's Bridge, Salkehatchie, February 6. South Edisto River February 9. North Edisto River February 11-12. Columbia February 15-17. Lynch's Creek February 26. Cheraw March 2-3. Expedition from Cheraw to Florence and skirmishes March 4-6. Battle of Bentonville, N. C., March 19-21. Occupation of Goldsboro March 24, and of Raleigh April 14. Bennett's House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. March to Washington, D.C., via Richmond, Va., April 29-May 19. Grand Review May 24. Moved to Louisville, Ky., June, and duty there till July.
Mustered out July 9, 1865.
2. From a taped interview with Bea Wakenshaw Nov 2001: “ Grandpa Comstock is buried in Lincoln Cemetery (Lincoln, Illinois). Aunt Eva had a bronze plate made and put on his casket with all his dates, etc... on it. It was buried with his casket, and there was no (?) marker. The grave was by a big tree, but this tree might have been moved or cut down when the road was changed in the cemetery. And his grave might have been moved as well.” [UPDATE - May 2005]: John’s grave has been found and was not moved. He is buried next to his first wife, Mahulda in the Old Union Cemetery in Lincoln. Their graves were unmarked. A new stone now resides on their graves with their names and dates, and John’s Civil War service dates. A brick with John’s name also resides at the new Veteran’s Memorial in downtown Lincoln, along with the other veterans from Logan County, Ill.
3. Illinois Civil War Veterans Database, Index Compiled by Fred Delap in cooperation with the Illinois State Archives:
Name: COMSTOCK, JOHN W; Rank: REC; Company: E; Unit: 7 IL US INF; Residence: SPRINGFIELD
4. Illinois Statewide Death Index, 1916–1950, Illinois State Archives:
John W. Comstock; White; Male; age - unknown; Certificate #6019258; Death Date 07-11-1934; County - Cook; City - Chicago; Date Filed 07-12-1934.
5. From the 1860 US Census, Illinois, Logan, Sugar Creek Precinct, Post Office: Lawndale, Page 80, Enumerated 26 June 1860:
Amelia Comstock; Head; Age 55; Female; Occupation - Farming; Value of Personal Estate - $400, POB Virginia.
Elijah Comstock; Age 22; Male; Occupation - Farmer; POB Kentucky.
Andrew Comstock; Age 21; Male; POB Kentucky.
John W. Comstock; Age 12; Male; POB Kentucky; Attends School.
6. From the 1930 US Census, Kentucky, Taylor, Magisterial District 3 (part of), ED 109-5, Sheet 8B, Enumerated 22 April 1930:
Deal P. Sanders; Head; Owns Home; Age 62; Age at first marriage 19; POB Kentucky; Father POB Kentucky; Mother POB Kentucky; Occupation - Farmer
Martha Sanders; Wife; Age 60; Age at first marriage17; POB Kentucky; Father POB Kentucky; Mother POB Kentucky
Leora Sanders; Daughter; Age 17; Single; POB Kentucky; Father POB Kentucky; Mother POB Kentucky
John W. Comstock; Father-in-law; Age 82; Widower; Age at first marriage 20; POB Kentucky; Father POB Kentucky; Mother POB Kentucky; Occupation is listed as “Old Age”
7. Information on John W. Comstock’s military service during the Civil War, sent to me by Claire Sloop and received from the Logan County Genelogy & Historical Society, June 2004:
“In finding that John W. Comstock had a military marker on his grave at Union Cemetery, I looked at this rather close to see if I had the right John W. Comstock. Here are my findings: He is buried near Mahulda in Union Cemetery, and has a military marker with this military information. I looked up Company E, 7th IL Vol. Inf., and it shows that he enlisted for a three year term, on August 7, 1862, giving his address as Springfield. The fact that he would have been only 14 years old could have been why he gave Springfield as his address, as he would have lied about his age. Anyhow, on August 1, 1864, he deserted. If this is fact your John, he saw a number of battles, and the write up below shows that on July 29, 1864, all non-veterans were released. A week later, he deserted.”
Company E, 7th Illinois Voluntary Infantry
3 Year Regiment.
Regiment organized at Cairo, Ill., July 25, 1861. Attached to District of Cairo to October, 1861. Cook's 4th Brigade, District of Cairo, to February, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, District of West Tennessee, and Army of the Tennessee, to July, 1862. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, District of Corinth, Dept. of the Tennessee, to November, 1862. 3rd Brigade, District of Corinth, Left Wing 13th Army Corps (Old), Dept. of the Tennessee, to December, 1862. 3rd Brigade, District of Corinth, 17th Army Corps, Army of the Tennessee, to January, 1863. 3rd Brigade, District of Corinth, 16th Army Corps, to March, 1863. 3rd Brigade, 2nd Division, 16th Army Corps, to September, 1864. 3rd Brigade, 4th Division, 15th Army Corps, to July, 1865.
SERVICE - Moved to Ironton, Mo., thence to Cape Girardeau, Mo., August 23, 1861. Duty there and at Fort Holt, Ky., till February, 1862. Expedition toward Columbus, Ky., September 21-22, 1861. Skirmish at Mansfield's Creek September 22. Expedition to Elliott's Mills during Belmont November 6-7. Reconnoissance of Columbus, Ky., January 13-20, 1862. Movements against Fort Henry, Tenn., February 2-6. Investment and capture of Fort Donelson, Tenn., February 12-16. Expedition to Clarksville and Nashville, Tenn., February 19-21. Moved to Pittsburg Landing, Tenn., arriving there March 22. Battle of Shiloh, Tenn., April 6-7. Advance on and siege of Corinth, Miss., April 29-May 30. Pursuit to Booneville May 31-June 11. Duty at Corinth, Miss., till October. Battle of Corinth October 3-4. Pursuit to Hatchie River October 5-12. Duty at Corinth till April, 1863. Dodge's Expedition to Intercept Forest, and operations in West Tennessee, December 18, 1862, to January 3, 1863. Dodge's Expedition to Northern Alabama April 15-May 8. Iuka, Miss., April 16. Great Bear Creek, Cherokee Station and Lundy's Lane April 17. Rock Cut, near Tuscumbia, April 22. Tuscumbia April 23. Town Creek April 28. Guard Railroad from Bethel to Jackson, Tenn., May 12 to June 8. Regiment mounted June 18 and engaged in scout and patrol duty through West Tennessee till October, participating in numerous expeditions and skirmishes. Expedition from Corinth to Henderson, Tenn., September 11-16. Skirmish at Clark's Creek Church September 13. Henderson's Station September 14. Expedition into West Tennessee September 27-October 1. Swallow's Bluff September 30. At Chewalla October 4-26. Moved to Iuka October 26, thence marched to Pulaski, Tenn., November 1-12. Scout to Lawrenceburg November 17-19. Scout duty around Pulaski till December 22. Skirmishes near Florence December 1. Near Eastport December 2. Scout to Florence December 11-17. Shoal Creek, near Wayland Springs, December 12. Regiment Veteranize December 22 and mustered in as Veterans January 5, 1864. Veterans on furlough January and February, 1864. Return to Pulaski February 23-27. Duty at Florence, Ala., patrolling Tennessee River till June. At Florence, Sweetwater and Centre Store till June 14. Repulse of Roddy's attack on Florence May 7. Decatur May 8. Pulaski May 13. Regiment dismounted and moved to Chattanooga, Tenn., June 14-17, thence to Tilton, Ga., and patrol Railroad from Dalton to Resaca, Ga., till July 7. Moved to Rome, Ga., July 7, and duty there till October. (Non-Veterans mustered out July 29, 1864.) Action at Etowah River September 15. Operations against Hood September 29-November 3. Defence of Allatoona Pass October 4-5. Reconnoissance from Rome on Cave Springs Road and skirmishes October 12-13. March to the sea November 15-December 10. Regiment remounted November 21. Ogeechee Canal December 9. Siege of Savannah December 10-21. Hinesville December 16. Campaign of the Carolinas January to April, 1865. Hickory Hill, S.C., February 1. Salkehatchie Swamps February 2-5. Fishburn's Plantation, near Lane's Bridge, Salkehatchie, February 6. South Edisto River February 9. North Edisto River February 11-12. Columbia February 15-17. Lynch's Creek February 26. Cheraw March 2-3. Expedition from Cheraw to Florence and skirmishes March 4-6. Battle of Bentonville, N. C., March 19-21. Occupation of Goldsboro March 24, and of Raleigh April 14. Bennett's House April 26. Surrender of Johnston and his army. March to Washington, D.C., via Richmond, Va., April 29-May 19. Grand Review May 24. Moved to Louisville, Ky., June, and duty there till July.
Mustered out July 9, 1865.
Marriage4 Feb 1867, , Logan, Illinois [32]
Misc. Notes
1. Illinois Statewide Marriage Index 1763-1900:
Groom: COMSTOCK, JOHN W; Bride: DAVIS, HULDAH; County: LOGAN; Date: 02/04/1867; Vol/Page: 002/0026; License#: 00001676
2. From the 1880 US Census; Atlanta, Logan County, Illinois. FHL Film 1254227; National Archives Film T9-0227; Page 47D
John W. Comstock, Head, Age 32, POB- Kentucky, Occupation - Laborer, Father POB - NY, Mother POB - NY
Mahilda Comstock, Wife, Age 28, POB - Illinois, Father POB - Kentucky, Mother POB - Indiana
Martha Comstock, Daughter, Age 10, POB - Illinois
Centenial Comstock, Daughter, Age 4, POB - Illinois
Albert Comstock, Son, Age 9mo, POB - Illinois
Orval Comstock, Nephew, Age 13, POB - Illinois, Father POB - Kentucky, Mother POB - Illinois
3. From the 1900 US Census, Illinois, Logan, West Lincoln - 4th Ward, ED 43, 1403 4th Street, Enumerated 13 Jun 1900, Sheet 22B, Lines 84 - 87:
Sarah Smith; Head; Born Mar 1861; Age 39; Single; POB Illinois; Father POB Illinois; Mother POB Illinois; Occupation - Housekeeper; Owns Home.
John Comstock; Boarder; Born Feb 1848; Age 52; Widowed; POB Kentucky; Father POB Virginia; Mother POB Virginia; Occupation - Ditcher; [Owns Home is marked, but crossed out].
Elmer Comstock; Boarder; Born Mar 1885; Age 15; Single; POB Illinois; Father POB Kentucky; Mother POB Illinois; Attends School.
Eva Comstock; Boarder; Born Apr 1889; Age 11; Single; POB Illinois; Father POB Kentucky; Mother POB Illinois; Attends School.
Groom: COMSTOCK, JOHN W; Bride: DAVIS, HULDAH; County: LOGAN; Date: 02/04/1867; Vol/Page: 002/0026; License#: 00001676
2. From the 1880 US Census; Atlanta, Logan County, Illinois. FHL Film 1254227; National Archives Film T9-0227; Page 47D
John W. Comstock, Head, Age 32, POB- Kentucky, Occupation - Laborer, Father POB - NY, Mother POB - NY
Mahilda Comstock, Wife, Age 28, POB - Illinois, Father POB - Kentucky, Mother POB - Indiana
Martha Comstock, Daughter, Age 10, POB - Illinois
Centenial Comstock, Daughter, Age 4, POB - Illinois
Albert Comstock, Son, Age 9mo, POB - Illinois
Orval Comstock, Nephew, Age 13, POB - Illinois, Father POB - Kentucky, Mother POB - Illinois
3. From the 1900 US Census, Illinois, Logan, West Lincoln - 4th Ward, ED 43, 1403 4th Street, Enumerated 13 Jun 1900, Sheet 22B, Lines 84 - 87:
Sarah Smith; Head; Born Mar 1861; Age 39; Single; POB Illinois; Father POB Illinois; Mother POB Illinois; Occupation - Housekeeper; Owns Home.
John Comstock; Boarder; Born Feb 1848; Age 52; Widowed; POB Kentucky; Father POB Virginia; Mother POB Virginia; Occupation - Ditcher; [Owns Home is marked, but crossed out].
Elmer Comstock; Boarder; Born Mar 1885; Age 15; Single; POB Illinois; Father POB Kentucky; Mother POB Illinois; Attends School.
Eva Comstock; Boarder; Born Apr 1889; Age 11; Single; POB Illinois; Father POB Kentucky; Mother POB Illinois; Attends School.
ChildrenMartha Ann (1869-1934)
Centenial (~1876-)
Albert Ross (1878-1946)
Clarence Elmer (1885-1960)
Evelyn (1889-1968)