Madison County ID Archives Biographies.....Comstock, Ross J. 1864 - 1906 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/id/idfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 October 12, 2010, 4:43 am Source: See Below Author: S. J. Clarke (Publisher, 1920) Ross J. Comstock ROSS J. COMSTOCK is the president of the First National Bank of Rexburg, which is the oldest banking institution in Madison county. He was born in Green City, Sullivan county, Missouri, July 22, 1875, his parents being Charles B. and Flora (Ross) Comstock, who were natives of Indiana and in 1857 removed to Missouri, where the father engaged in the banking business until 1900. He then retired from active business life and established his home in California, where he is still living at the age of seventy-four years, but his wife passed away in January, 1915, at the age of sixty-three. Ross J. Comstock was reared and educated in his native city and since the age of thirteen years has been providing for his own support. He is truly a self-made man. Having started out when a youth barely in his teens, he has always depended upon his own resources and by dint of untiring perseverance and undaunted energy has worked his way steadily upward. Each step in his career has been a forward one. He worked in a creamery for two years and then turned his attention to the banking business, with which he has now been connected for twenty-seven years. He has thoroughly learned the business and step by step has progressed in banking circles. In 1900 he came to Rexburg and organized the Rexburg Banking Company in connection with others. He was chosen cashier and has since been an active factor in the development and conduct of the bank, which in 1904 was nationalized, becoming the First National Bank of Rexburg. Mr. Comstock continued to act as cashier until 1909, when he was made president and has since served in that capacity. The Rexburg Banking Company was capitalized for twelve thousand one hundred dollars; in 1902 this was increased to twenty-five thousand dollars. When the bank was nationalized the capital stock was increased to fifty thousand dollars and today the bank has a surplus of sixty thousand dollars and deposits amounting to six hundred thousand dollars—facts which indicate the steady and substantial growth of the business. In 1904 a modern bank building was erected, which was rebuilt in 1918. The present officers are: Ross J. Comstock, president; H. J. Flamm, vice president; and R. J. Comstock, Jr., cashier. In addition to his financial interests at Rexburg, Mr. Comstock is the president of the First National Bank of Ririe and is a director of the Fremont County Bank, and has farming interests in Madison county. He is likewise president of the Crystal Lake Irrigated Lands Company, which irrigates ten thousand acres of land in Jefferson county. On the 12th of April, 1893, Mr. Comstock was married to Miss Jennie M. Davis, a daughter of John E. and Fannie M. (Pfeiffer) Davis, who were natives of Ohio and Missouri respectively, the father becoming a pioneer of the latter state. He served all through the period of the Civil war and throughout his remaining days gave his attention to agricultural pursuits in Missouri. He died in that state in April, 1917, and his widow yet makes her home in Missouri. To Mr. and Mrs. Comstock have been born five children. Ross J., Jr., cashier of the First National Bank of Rexburg, was born in Green City, Missouri, July 19, 1894, and for a year was a pupil in the schools of that state, after which he attended the graded schools of Rexburg and spent three years in All Hallows College of Salt Lake City. He entered the bank with his father on completing his education, starting in a humble capacity and mastering each phase of the business, and he thus worked his way steadily upward until in June, 1916, when he was made cashier. He was married June 17, 1917, to Gladys M. Bassett and they have one son, R. J. (III). The other children of the family are Marguerite, Ada, Elma, Jennie and Claire. Mr. Comstock is a member of the Masonic fraternity, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Benevolent Protective Order of Elks. His political allegiance is given to the republican party, and his religious faith is that of the Presbyterian church. He has led a busy, useful and upright life, and his career has at all times been such as would bear the closest investigation and scrutiny. He has been actuated by a laudable ambition that has prompted close application and indefatigable energy, and today he occupies an enviable place in the financial circles of Madison county. Additional Comments: Extracted from: IDAHO DELUXE SUPPLEMENT CHICAGO THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1920 Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/id/madison/photos/bios/comstock78nbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/id/madison/bios/comstock78nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/idfiles/ File size: 5.2 Kb