Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Comerford, George 1826 - 
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/il/ilfiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com February 25, 2006, 10:51 pm

Author: History Grundy County 1882

George Comerford, farmer and general business, P. O. Minooka. Among the 
representative men of Au Sable Township, George Comerford stands among the 
first. He was born August 3, 1826, in County Wexford, Ireland, eldest son of 
William and Honora (Nolan) Comerford, both natives of same county. His 
paternal grandsire was Pierce Comerford, whose wife was Mary Roche. Our 
subject was reared at home to agricultural pursuits, and received a collegiate 
education in the land of his birth, and, in the spring of 1850, emigrated to 
America, in the company with his parents and family of six children, George 
being the first; then in order came Pierce, Mary, Charles, Nicholas and 
William. The family arrived in April, 1850; the father purchased land soon 
after his arrival, in the northeast part of the township, his purchase 
amounting to 560 acres of land, which he subsequently divided up among his 
children. His death occurred October 11, 1866; his wife preceded him, November 
1, 1854. Of the Comerford family, George is the only one residing in this 
county; in fact, only one of the family is yet living aside from George, and 
that is his brother, Charles, who resides in Brule, Chamberlain Co., Dak. When 
our subject came to this county, he engaged in railroading and helped locate 
and survey the Rockford & Rock Island Railroad, which runs through this 
county, and helped lay the first rail that was laid in the State. After the 
survey of the road, he assisted in building the same, and remained in the 
employ of the railroad company until 1856. He was the first railroad agent and 
the first Postmaster in the town of Minooka. He served consecutively as 
Postmaster nine years, and was station agent several years. He built some of 
the first business houses in the place, and has, perhaps, contributed more 
toward advancing and building up the town than any other man. Soon after the 
establishment of the place, he engaged in commercial business, keeping 
station, post office and store in one small building. Afterward, he built what 
is now known as the Comerford block and engaged in running a general store, 
and subsequently to this and other buildings, and did what he could to 
encourage the prosperity and the success of the town. During this time, he has 
been carrying on his farm, consisting of 160 acres, which is situated adjacent 
to the town on the west; the farm is well improved, its owner being a 
thorough, practical farmer. In justice to Mr. Comerford it can be said that he 
has been more prominently identified with the interests of this portion of the 
county than any other man living in the township. He has filled every office 
of trust in the township within the gift of the people, and served repeatedly 
in several official stations. In church matters he has borne a conspicuous 
part, assisting in the formation of the Catholic Church, and giving liberally 
to the establishment of the M. E. society at this place, also. In school 
matters, he has been prominently identified, being aware of the advantages of 
education; he has done all in his power toward the advancement of the 
interests of the same in this township, and is now President of the Board of 
Education here. September 16, 1855, he was united in wedlock to Catharine 
Smith, who was also a native of the same county as himself, daughter of Thomas 
and Mary Smith, all of Wexford, Ireland. Four children have been born to them, 
three of whom are living - Thomas S., Nicholas J., and Mary C., all of whom 
are receiving the advantages of a liberal education at the University of Notre 
Dame. In politics, Mr. Comerford is Democratic, and has proven true to its 
principles. He has recently returned from a visit to the home of his birth, 
and was received by his friends and acquaintances with ovations of a 
flattering character.

Additional Comments:
Source: History of Grundy County, Illinois. (1882) Chicago: O.L. Baskin & Co. 
Historical Publishers.

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/il/grundy/bios/comerfor311nbs.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/ilfiles/

File size: 4.5 Kb