George Comstock, Ann Eliza Farrar Vaughan, and the C. & P.H. R.R.
East Feliciana Parish, Louisiana

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by: Claude B. Slaton
8032 Misty Oaks Ave.
Baker, LA 70714
August 7, 1992

     George Christopher Comstock, born in Connecticut 3 March 1807,
is located in East Feliciana Parish as early as 26 May 1836, when,
at age 29, he married Miriam P. Whitaker. There were at least two
children of this marriage, Isadore A. Comstock, born ca. 1838, and
John H. Comstock, born ca. 1840. In 1850, Miriam P. Comstock and
her two children were living in the household of a local lawyer in
Clinton, John M. Roberts. George C. Comstock is not listed. It is
possible that at this time George was pursuing a career in the U. S.
Navy, and was not home when the census was taken. It is known, however,
that he owned at least a part interest in a general store on the town
square, south of the courthouse, and it is likely that if he was at
sea, his wife would earn their family's support. This writer has not
found any evidence that George Comstock had a naval career, but his
son, John H. Comstock, apparently attended the U. S. Naval Academy,
since his occupation on the 1860 census is "midshipman".

     In 1860, George Comstock is at home in Clinton, and his occupation
is "railroad agent" so even at this early date he had a financial
interest in, or worked for, the Clinton  & Port Hudson Railroad Company.
The railroad's offices were located in Milbank house in Jackson,
La., so it is likely that Comstock was the representative of the
company in Clinton, and this would fit nicely with his financial
interest in a mercantile establishment. Comstock's name also
appears as Constable in Clinton, since the legal records mention him
as conducting property auctions at the Sheriff's sales, either for
delinquent taxes or at probate sales.

     Just when Miriam Comstock died, or when George met and
married Eliza Ann Farrar Vaughan is uncertain due to a lack
of legal records pertaining to these events in Clinton.
Possibly the courthouse in Adams Co., Miss., may have record of
the marriage, since it is possible that they were married in the
home area of the bride. In addition, Comstock may not have thought
it necessary to open formal probate proceedings for his deceased
first wife, and so no legal records were created. Since George and
Ann's son, George Comstock, was born in 1869, an estimated date
of marriage of ca. 1867 would not be unreasonable. This is, in
fact, the date given in several genealogies of this family.

     The Clinton & Port Hudson Railroad had had a turbulent and
controversial history. At the opening of the war in 1861, however,
the railroad was a prosperous and important commercial establishment
in the parish. It assumed an even greater importance after the Battle
of Baton Rouge and the fortification of Port Hudson by the Confederates.
Strategy dictated that the South keep a section of the Mississippi
River open and uncontrolled by the Federals, and to this end two
strongholds were created--Vicksburg on the north and Port Hudson
on the south.

     Between these nearly invincible points the Union Navy could
not prevent men and supplies from passing between Louisiana and Texas
and the Confederate states to the east. Vital supplies such as beef
and cotton could cross the river and prolong the war, so Union strategy
demanded the reduction of one or both of the fortifications, and
the great sieges that took place at these two points were the result
of these two river towns being the wrong thing, in the wrong
place, at the wrong time. Vicksburg eventually recovered in the
post-war years, but Port Hudson never regained even a fraction
of its former size and importance.

     One of the things that helped make Port Hudson the object
of two contending armies was the railroad. It ran in an almost
straight line from Clinton, where the depot stood west of the
business district, to Port Hudson on the Mississippi River, with
a spur to the town of Jackson, La. When the Confederates decided
to create a fortress at the river town, the railroad was used to
move men and supplies. It so became at the same time important
to the Confederates to keep the railroad open, and just as important
to the Federals to shut it down. The original rails were wrought
iron and flat, unlike the more modern I-beam rails familiar to us
today. By the time of the war, the railroad had switched to I-beams,
mostly spiked to original cedar ties.

     Both armies did their share of tearing up the railroad,
although in the early days of the fortification it served a very
important purpose to the Southerners. All sick and wounded soldiers
who could not be taken care of in the Port Hudson Field Hospital
were loaded on rail cars and sent either to Jackson, La., where a
hospital had been set up in Centenary College, or to Clinton,
where hospitals were set up in the Military Academy across the
street from the Gayle property (later the home of the Comstocks)
and in the center building of Silliman School on Bank Street.
(The third building, on the north end, wasn't built until 1892.
This partially accounts for the Confederate cemeteries located
near both places--I say "partially" because soldiers killed in the
skirmishes near each town were also buried there. As usual, more
soldiers died of disease than battle. It would be accurate to say
that the majority of burials in both cemeteries were soldiers
who died of disease contracted at Port Hudson.

     It is interesting to note that the engine of the railroad
and most of its cars were pulled into Port Hudson before the Federals
surrounded the town. The engine was cleverly rigged up to
a gristmill to grind corn for the Confederate soldiers, and many
of the Federal accounts of the siege record the Yankee cannoneers
trying to hit it when they heard it start up. After the surrender
of Port Hudson, photos were taken of the wreckage and they show that
the Yankees were occasionally successful in hitting the building
housing the locomotive/mill, but they never stopped its grinding.
That only ended when the Confederates had nothing left to grind.

     On June 3, 1863, a battle between Union forces under Col.
Edward Prince (including Grierson's famous Raiders) and Confederate
cavalry took place at the Pretty Creek and Comite River bridges
west of Clinton. The area's inhabitants, already unhappy and nervous
because of the war and the close proximity of the Federals, were
panic-stricken at this first close-up view of battle.

An account from the book "The Guns of Port Hudson" by David C.
Edmonds is of great interest to us:

"The town of Clinton was also feeling the heat. Nims' shells
traversed the entire city from the home of Micajah Harris
[near the Rosehill cemetery in north central Clinton...CBS] in the
north to the Raney's [Probably William Gainey's place...CBS] in the
south, and all the way over to Silliman Institute on the southeast
side. One shell exploded in the graveyard of St. Andrew's
Episcopal Church, shattering tombstones and wreaking havoc among
the dead [since the present-day St. Andrew's Episcopal Church was
built post-war and has never had cemetery, this must refer to the
Clinton Town Cemetery, where the Confederate soldiers were buried.
See below...CBS] and another entered the upper story of Franklin
Hardesty's house, exploding on his daughter's clothing trunk and
setting the clothes and room on fire; and still another damaged
the majestic columns of the Marston House Bank [no longer a bank
at this time, but the home of Henry Marston...CBS]. At one point
during the battle 'a storm of rifle balls invaded the town like
a hailstorm'. Several citizens were wounded, but the only fatality
was a Mr. E. Coleman, who was struck by a Minie ball in the breast
as he stood near the store of Dr. Lewis Bell. G. C. Comstock, the
fifty-three-year-old railroad agent, was more fortunate. As soon
as the firing commenced, his wife and daughter [apparently Miriam
P. Comstock...CBS] became so hysterical that he hitched up his
buggy and drove them to a place of safety out in C. D.
Bowman's old field in the vicinity of W. D. Winters' place."

     What I find most interesting about this is that the C. D.
Bowman mentioned above is my great-great-grandfather! He had a
piece of land with a sawmill on it about 3 miles northeast of
Clinton. Although my family research indicates that he had recently
moved to Amite, La., apparently the property was still known by his
name, as his "old field". Incidentally, the St. Andrews Episcopal
Church was not built until 1872, after the Mrs. Hardesty donation
of land.  The Episcopalians had been meeting in private homes in
the town since the earliest days, and apparently had started a
small cemetery in the town. Since there is no cemetery near the
church built in 1872, and the only cemetery within cannon-shot
of the battlefield is what is now known as the Clinton Town
Cemetery, it is likely that the Clinton Cemetery was begun as
a burial place for Episcopalians. This would also account for
the nonexistence of some tombstones for persons known to have
been buried in the cemetery, but whose graves are unmarked.

      Meanwhile, while all this was going on back home, George
C. Comstock's son, John H. Comstock, was a 1st Lieutenant in the
Confederate Navy during the war. He had enlisted in the 1st La.
Heavy Artillery on 29 March 1861 in New Orleans. Because of his
previous experience at the Naval Academy, he went in as a 2nd Lt.,
but was quickly promoted (28 April 1861) due to his talent and
abilities. He served on different vessels, until on August 5, 1864,
he was serving on the Confederate gunboat Selma stationed under
the guns of Fort Morgan in Mobile Bay. On that day, Admiral
Farragut's fleet succeeded in fighting its way past the defenses
of Mobile and with the assistance of a joint land attack, took
that city for the Federals. The Captain of the Selma, Lieutenant
Commander Patrick U. Murphy, wrote a report of the battle from the
Pensacola Hospital, where he was recovering from his wounds,
in which he stated,

"...The fight was then with the Metacomet (Union), carrying ten
guns, eight 9-inch and two 100-pounder Parrotts, one of the
fastest vessels of their squadron. She tried hard to rake me,
but was prevented by [our] good steering. The Metacomet being
so much faster, came quite near, and one of her 9-inch shells
killed and wounded seven at the same gun and disabled the gun.
I had only been able to use two guns for some time, and the crew
of No. 1 gun had just been sent off to assist in working those
two. My first lieutenant, Mr. Comstock, and Master's Mate Murray,
were both killed by the same shell, and myself wounded in the
arm. ...I gave the order to haul down the colors, as I did not
believe I was justified in sacrificing more of my crew in such an
unequal contest....My deck was a perfect slaughter-pen when I
surrendered."

     No doubt Lt. Comstock was either buried at sea in the
waters of Mobile Bay, or in one of the cemeteries on shore. So
ended the life of another of the South's fine young men, the son of
George C. Comstock and Miriam P. Whitaker.

     The war totally destroyed the railroad. The engine, the
D. C. Hardee (named for the secretary of the railroad company,
David C. Hardee), was a post-war purchase, and I think the
photo of it in the first volume of "Jersey Settlers" was on
the occasion of its delivery. I had it fixed in my mind that
Comstock bought the railroad from David W. Pipes in 1870,
but I cannot now find my notes. I am almost sure this was
the case. Other records indicate that Annie Comstock's son
by her first marriage (to Charles N. Vaughn), Henry B. Vaughn,
helped Comstock operate the railroad after the war, until Comstock
retired and sold it to David Washington Pipes.

     George C. Comstock bought what later became known as
"The Irwin House" in Clinton in 1876 (see attached document).
In 1989, the house on the southwest corner of Plank Road and
Highway 10 was dismantled and the materials used to build the
home of a doctor on Highland Road in Baton Rouge. John Thomas,
Parish Supervisor, and I surveyed and photographed the
home before its destruction. Our first contact with Mrs. Henry
Mills occurred in connection with our attempt to save the home,
which failed. 

      After her husband's death, she rented the home to Mrs.
Adler, a German lady who ran the home as a hotel. In 1872, Annie
herself was renting rooms in the home. When the home was sold at
Ann's succession sale in 1890 (she died in Slaughter, La.) her son,
Henry Briggs Vaughan, was the purchaser. After the war Comstock
owned the railroad, and during that time considerable effort was put
in to restore it. In the process, cedar ties from the original railroad
of 1832-33 were removed and replaced, and Comstock, not wishing to see
this fine wood go to waste, had a chest built from the ties. On the
death of George C. Comstock in 1884 and his wife, Ann Farrar Comstock,
in 1889, the chest passed to Ann's son by her first marriage (Charles
Nicholas Vaughan, Jr.), to Henry B. Vaughan, who was the grandfather
of Mrs. Frances Preston Mills, the eventual owner of the "Railroad
Chest". Through the generosity of Mrs. Mills' children, Dr. Henry
P. Mills, Jr., of Jackson, Miss., and Mrs. Bessie Mae Sturdivand
of Raleigh, N. C., this unique piece of East Feliciana Parish history
has been put on indefinite loan to the West Florida Museum in
Jackson, La.

From Conveyance Book D2, East Feliciana Parish, La., p. 387-8:

State of Louisiana, Parish of East Feliciana, 16th Dist. Court
Succession of Mrs. A. E. Comstock, No. 1421
The following is a process verbal of a succession sale made
by me the undersigned sheriff on the 22nd day of October 1890,
of property belonging to said succession. Description of property
as follows: Lots (No. 7) seven and (8) eight in square No. (13)
thirteen according to the figurative plan of the Town of Clinton,
having a front of seventy-five feet; running back three hundred feet
and known as the Comstock residence (the Irwin House), and being
the same property purchased of one A. Levy on the 8th day of August,
1876, together with all the buildings and improvements thereon;
also Lots No. four, five and one and Eight, in Square No. thirteen,
according to the figurative plan of said Town of Clinton, said
above described lots being known as the Gayle property, with
all the buildings and improvements thereon, all of said property,
lying and being and situated in the Town of Clinton, Parish of
East Feliciana, Louisiana.

Terms of sale, cash provided the property brings its appraised
value. If there be no bid for said amount for cash, said
property to be re advertised for not less than fifteen days and
sold on a credit of twelve months for what the bids bring. Purchaser
to give twelve months bond with vendor's privilege, with Eight
per cent interest from day of sale until paid. The Gayle property
will be sold subject to the lease, My authority for making this
sale is evidenced by a commission from the Hon. 16th Dist. Court,
and the advertisement of sale which are annexed, and made part
hereof. And after having read said commission and said authorizement
and proclaimed in a loud and audible voice, the nature and terms
of sale, I first offered the place known as the Gayle Property
and after repeatedly crying the same, Henry B. Vaughan became
the purchaser thereof for the sum of One Thousand Dollars, he
being the last and highest bidder. The appraised value
of said property there being no lease on the property.

I next offered the place known as the Comstock residence and
announced to all present that Mrs. Adler had a lease on the
place which would expire on the first day of May 1892; lessee
paying twenty five dollars per month, and that said lease to
be sold with the property. And after repeatedly crying said
property and explaining the conditions and terms of sale, Henry
B. Vaughan became the purchaser for the sum of Fourteen Hundred
Dollars he being the last and highest bidder, and his bid being
more than the appraised value of said property. I therefore
adjudicate said two pieces of property to Henry B. Vaughan,
his heirs and assigns, he being present and accepting said
sale and complying with the terms thereof. In witness of which
this sale is signed by me, Sheriff, and the purchaser by his
Attorney, D. J. Wedge and [blank] competent subscribing witnesses.

Recapitulation:
Purchase price of Comstock place         $1400.00
W. E. Woodward, Sheriff

      "          "     "  Gayle         "
1000.00                                 Henry B. Vaughan,

$2400.00
By D. J. Wedge, Atty.
State and Parish taxes, 1890                 $   35.20
Corporation          "                           40.00
Sheriff's Costs                                  16.50
Clerk's Costs                                    17.25
Printer's Bill                                   18.00
Registered and recorded, Nov. 3, 1890, J. R. Cravens, Dpy. Clerk

This letter was written by Ann Eliza Farrar Vaughn Comstock,
the widow of (1) Henry Vaughn, and (2) George Cristopher Comstock,
who resided in the Irwin House in Clinton, La. at the time
of writing the letter. She sent it to her nephew, Henry Farrar.
Transcribed from the original housed at the McHugh House Museum,
Zachary, La.

                                   Clinton, January 6th, 1886

My dear Hal,

If I could Stretch my arms out to you my dear boy I would
give you one glad hug & a hearty kiss for your Kind remembrance
of me in shape of a little letter written Jan. 1st. For Months
I have been constantly thinking of you and yours and during
Christmas I requested a friend who intended spending the week
with Miss Loni Lane to ask her if she ever heard from Hettie
and if so to send me her address as I had lost sight of you
and wanted to write you. Christmas was the Saddest I ever
spent. My thoughts would turn backward to thirty years ago
when we were a happy family and none knew, or had ever
experienced want or Care. How changed the picture now. We are
scattered, and divided property gone, with it friends. Never
until now have I known what it was to be denied anything.
Sence the death of your good, Noble & generous Uncle I have
nothing to live on except the rent (fifteen dollars) of the house
adjoining our place. I tried taking boarders at ten dollars a
month but found I could make nothing at it and gave it up. George
has gone out to make his support. He learned Telegraphy under Mr.
Mansker and is now night Operator at Cheneyville, La. He get a
salary of Fifty dollars and sends me a part of it. He is a
Noble good boy. Has no bad traits and very much like his father
in disposition. Annie is nere grown. Quite pretty so all say. She
looks & has the manners of a young lady of eighteen. Is a
great reader performs well on Piano. Henry sends her to School.
She will teach when she leaves School. She prefers being a Music
Teacher. I should love dearly to see you and yours. I still have
Henry's baby Hat & never see it that I do not think of him. Can't
you send me the pictures of your children. With this I will send
you Annie's. I have none of George. Henry and family are well. He
has but three children Bessie, Mary & Ann Eliza, twins. I think
they were born before you left here. Henry lives at Kingston.
Owns Commencement and is farming, but thus far has made
nothing, owing to Short Crops. I made him a visit in July. The
neighborhood is sadly changed.  So much bickering and so much
strife and pain of friends and families. I was sad and Miserable
all the time, while there. I did not get to see Tone but heard
from him. He lives in Wilkinson Co.  and getting along very well.
Takes his wife and children to church regularly and his children
behave beautifully so I was told. He has out-grown Asthma. Has
grown Stout and can endure any kind of hardship. Makes a good
husband, father, neighbor, & Citizen. He had to give old Doctor
Lord (his father-in-law) a Whipping before he could Make him
respect him. Since then the old man behaves beautifully toward
Tone. I laughed heartily when I was told of it. I suppose your
Uncle Kep keeps you posted with neighborhood news so I won't
go in to detail. Will come back to our town and write of friends
here. Cousin Ris well but sadly broken. She looks all of sixty
five. Mr. Green is in bad health. We fear he has Consumption.
Tom is doing very well. Has three children, two girls and a
boy (baby). Rhoda has two children. Belle married a fine young
man, Henry Lea, a year ago. He is a farmer living near Jackson,
La. Jennie is not married, She has no beau. Ed Currie married
a young lady of Morgan City (a Mississippi Greenwood) on the
26th of Dec. She is quite pretty and is of a wealthy family
so I hear. He took us all by Surprise. William is also married.
He is an earnest worker in the M. E. church. He is a Carpenter
and does very well. George is not married. Cousin Jane is the
same talkative lady as in days of yore. Mr. Fuqua is not
married, neither are either of his step daughter. I was
told he received a letter from Hettie which he did not like
and would not answer. Tell her to write him again maybe she
can write him into a good humor. John Taylor is still living
where you left him. Has built him a new house. His son Arthur
"goes Sparkin'" the girls. Can you realize it? If the young
folks with you are as fast as ours I should not be Surprised
to hear that Henry is playing the beau. We are a fast people
over here. Mr. Lambert has gone to Baton Rouge to live. Mr.
C. R. Collins, Henry Hartner, Tom Moore & Tom Kernan have
also gone there to live. Tom K. is Attorney for the M.
V. Read and the Co. have induced him to go to Baton Rouge. He
thinks he will soon Amass a fortune. Tom Lyons is in Birmingham
and worth a Million dollars. He has coined money since
he went there. He has the finest Residence in the place and
moves in grand Style, I hear from Kate. She has only two children.
I saw a large Cabinet picture he had taken of himself & family
for Mrs. Harper. He looks so much as your father did in young
life. Well, dear Hal, I fear I have wearied you So will say
please excuse me if I have, But before closing I will beg you
to write me all that Concerns you & yours. Love to dear Hettie
and the children. Do they know they have an Aunt Eliza, Or
are you raising your children as some of the rest of the family
not to know me. I met brother Dan's boys in the Summer and
they did not seem to know I was their Aunt. I could see they had
not been taught to love me. How it hurt me, for I felt I did
not deserve to be treated so. Your Aunt Jane lives near Natchez,
on the place owned by Mr. J. B. Dicks. Etta is not married.
Georjie has only one child a boy seven years old. Your Uncle
George is very feeble. He is truly a worn out old man. Willie
is a wayward Son. Gives his old parents a great deal of heart
sorrow. Duncan was to see your Aunt last Spring. She told me
that he is a very handsome man. Dresses handsomely. Ella dresses
well. Wears a great deal of jewelry and has handsome well
behaved children. Well Dear Hal I know you are tired of this
rambling letter, but you must bear with me a little longer,
for the half I have not told. Dr. Langworthy died of Paralysis
in November (28th). He was taken suddenly in the night. His
strange breathing awoke Mrs. L. She saw his condition and Screamed
for me (They were boarders with me). I happened to be awake
and ran to their room and found him in a dying condition. I
sent for our nearest neighbor (Andrew Holmes) and Dr. Wall.
Everything that could be done was done but all human skill
failed. Mrs. L. is still with me. He had a life policy of
five thousand dollars which is all she will have for her
support. Write me soon, dear Hal, Tell me of each and all
your family. Where is George? Has he and Sue separated? I
heard they had and Sue living with her daughter Carrie.
Annie joins me in love to you and yours. God bless you,
my boy. I kiss you good-bye.

Devotedly your Aunt,
Annie