LeRoy L. Comer was born in October 1843 in Dickson, Montgomery County, Tennessee, to Mary Foster, age 27, and Moses Epps Comer, age 29.
Leroy's mother, Mary had been born in Tennessee ... his father, Moses was born in Halifax, Virginia.
Perhaps the earliest record of Leroy is as a six year old child in Johnson County, Illinois in the 1850 Census. The family lives and farms there after having migrated from Tennessee.
Their likely path was by way of the Great Wagon Road through Virginia’s Shenandoah Valley. (needs more research)
In 1850 Leroy has three older brothers, Willis N (possibly Nathaniel) (13), John F (10) and William A (8). There are two younger children, both girls; Mary A (5) and Nancy Panthea (3).
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Johnson County, Il was created 14 Sep 1812. Johnson county was named in honor of Richard Mentor Johnson who served in the Indian Wars and the war of 1812. He also served as Vice-President of the United States from 1837 to 1841 in the administration of Martin Van Buren. *(Wiki)
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In 1860 Leroy continues to live on the farm with his family. He is 16. His oldest brother John is 20 and older brother William is 18. We can imagine that these three are a big help on the farm. Three younger sisters follow Leroy in birth order; Mary - 15, Nancy Panthea - 14, Sarah - 2 and Moses A - eight months.
The personal estate value in the census is $500. The real estate value is $100.
When Leroy entered the service on 21 Dec 1863 he was 19. His service entry place was New Columbia, IL. He was joined by CPT NORRIS.
Leroy mustered in on 12 Feb 1864 at Camp Butler, IL. He was a Private in Company M of the 13th Illinois Cavalry Consolidated Unit.
The unit he joined was first organized at Camp Douglas in 1861.
In the spring of 1864, the unit accompanied Gen. Steele in the expedition to Camden, taking prominent parts in the actions at Arkadelphia, Okolona, Little Missouri river, Prairie d'Ane, Camden and Jenkins' ferry.
Fought on 10 Jul 1864 at Pine Bluff, AR
Fought on 30 Jul 1864 at Pine Bluff, AR.
Fought on 4 Sep 1864 at Pine Bluff, AR.
Fought on 3 Nov 1864 at Pine Bluff, AR.
Fought on 24 Dec 1864 at Pine Bluff, AR.
Fought on 11 Feb 1865 at Pine Bluff, AR.
After returning to Little Rock it was engaged in many raids and scouts and in skirmishing with the forces of Shelby and Marmaduke, defeating them at Clarendon and Pine Bluff.
Fought on 12 Feb 1865 at Pine Bluff, AR
Fought on 22 Feb 1865 at Pine Bluff, AR.
The remainder of its term of service was devoted to scouting and picketing. His group was mustered out on Aug. 31, 1865, in Pine Bluff, AR by LTC SCHAUSTE receiving its final pay and discharge at Springfield, Ill., Sept. 13.
Leroy was 21 upon his exit from the military and I assume at this point that he came home to Johnson County, Il. Interestingly enough he would not marry Lissie for another five years... so I'm currently working on researching that gap. As of this writing we don't know how long they knew one another before they married, how they met or any other pertinent details about their relationship. (I need to check 1860 and 1870 census to see how close the families lived)
Lissie was a Shires and was born in 1848 in Maury County, Tennessee and her family came to Johnson County sometime before 1854. We know this because her father passed away in Johnson County in 1854. Sometime thereafter Lissie's mother married George Leach. By 1860, Lissie's mother too had passed away and she remained living with her stepfather.
They live two doors down from Leroy's father. Their real estate is valued at 300 and their personal real estate is valued at $150.
In 1880 it appears that Leroy and Lissie have moved "a piece" to Grantsburg. (Double Double Check?) there are three children born to the family. Eppy (9), William Barney (7 - father of Lee Comer 1908-1975) and Mary Elizabeth Comer(4)
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Grantsburg corners with Massac and Pope Counties on the south east. Some of the first settlers here were: Walkers, Pors, Cummins, Marberys, Helms, J. B. Smith, Green B. Veach, Pleasant Rose, Sr., Grissoms, Modglins, Bowmans, Bains, Pearces, Fishers and Allen Jones. Wartrace, New Grantsburg and Ganntown are the principal centers and some present farmers are ; E. E. Farquahar, F. M. Simmons, J. D. Wormack, W. J. Miller, E. E. Morgan, Otis Nelson, W. F. Hight, Charles Shelton, Delaskey Walker, E. E. Trovillion, L. P. Morris, C. H. Gray, Pleasant Rose, W. P. Walker and John Hand. *(Full text of "A history of Johnson County, Illinois")
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The 1900 census advises that the couple has given birth to 11 children and that 8 are living. The four youngest children still live at home (Jacob - 13, Arie B - 12, Charley - 5 and Ophia - 2. . A lodger by the name of Orlean Morgan (17) also lives with the family.
Leroy and Lissie have been married 27 years and they own their farm free and clear (farm schedule 30). ((*more work needs to be done of figuring out how property was distributed. Leroy's dad Moses came to Johnson County 50 plus years prior and purchased land on a few occasions (?) as did his brother Nathaniel.))
In 1910 Leroy and Lissie are in their sixties and have been married for 35 years. The 1910 census records them as having had 10 children with 7 living. Leroy farms with the help of sons Jake (21) and Charley (16) who live at home. Leroy and Lissie's daughters Belle (18) and Ophia (7) live in the home as well. Ophia is the only child who attends school. (Which school? New Columbia?) Sons Jake and Charley are both listed as working on the family farm.
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(excerpt from The History of Johnson County, IL)
The winter of 1917-18 will long be remembered as the one of the deep snow. The snow began to fall about December 8, 1917 and continued to fall at intervals for three or four weeks. The ground was not visible for almost two months and the drifts were so deep in many places as to make the roads impassable. While our poor boys were digging trenches before the Germans, many people in the county were digging roadway trenches in the snow to get from house to barn, to the neighbors or to the nearby market.
The winter of 1918-19 is more indelibly fixed on our minds than the deep snow through the terrible ravages of the Spanish Influenza. This peculiar and unfamiliar disease began its drive on the United States about October, 1918.
At first it was thought it only thrived in the cities and towns where people came together in crowds. It was a little late reaching Johnson County and we thought, from our isolation we might be exempt, but in November it fell upon us in all its fury and seemed to grow more fatal in its progress. The situation in this county was desperate, in many places a whole family was all in bed at the same time.
The fact that many thought it contagious kept those who were well from giving their attention to their neighbors. In some cases there were none able to care for the dead. In one known case the sick and the dead were in the same 'bed, and there were many cases in which nurses could not be had. In some families as many as four would die in a day or two of each other. It seemed to be particularly fatal to those appearing to be the most healthful and strong looking. It took many of our best, physically speaking, and many old people. This terrible scourge has returned each winter for three years but has not proved so fatal.
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1920 finds Leroy and Lissie continuing to farm. Jacob (33) has remained at the homestead to help with the farm. Also in the home are Jacob's wife, Maggie (28) and children Ruby (6) and Clyde (3).
Leroy passed away on June 9 of 1922 in Grantsburg, Johnson County, Illinois.
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| Leroy Comer's Headstone at Clymore Cemetary - Found by De'anna Comer Varnum |
