H.R. Comly
History of Montana,by Joaquin Miller, 1894
USGENWEB Montana Archives
May be copied for non-profit purposes.

Hon. H.R. Comly, a Montana pioneer of 1865 and for almost a 
third of a century prominent in her affairs,
both as a lawyer and a statesman is a native of Pennsylvania, 
born in Philadelphia, March 12, 1841.

Henry Comly, the progenitor of the Comly family in America was 
an English Quaker who settled in Philadelphia 
in 1681 and in that city all the generations of the family were 
born and resided up to the subject of this sketch. 
His great-grandfather, Joseph Comly, fought on the Colonial side 
in the Revolution and because of this was turned
out of the Quaker meeting and later, while bearing dispatches 
from Philadelphia to Long Island was captured and 
shot by the Tories. James M. Comly, the father of our subject, 
was born in Philadelphia, March 22, 1805; married 
Sarah L. Retzer, also a native of Philadelphia and a descendant 
of a German family who settled therein 1750. 
They had five children, three of whom are still living. The 
mother died in her thirty-sixth year and the father 
in his seventy-second.

Harry R. Comly whose name heads this article, received his 
education in the schools of his native city, graduating 
in the Central High School with the degree of Master of Arts. 
Choosing the law for his profession, he entered 
upon its study and April 10, 1863 he was admitted to the bar. 
He began practice in Philadelphia and continued 
there until the spring of 1865 when he came to Montana, and here 
he has spent the prime of his life in the practice
of his profession and in holding various offices of importance 
in the state.

Mr. Comly was married in October 1882 to Mrs. Beatrice J. 
Hornbuckle, daughter of John B. Seykora, a native 
of Bohemia. Mrs. Comly came to America with her parents when 
she was two years old and was reared and educated 
in this country. She and Mr. Comly have two children, James R. 
and Harry S.

Mr. Comly has recently purchased a tract of land at San Diego 
California which he is having planted to fruit
and where in the future he expects to make his home.

USGenWeb Project NOTICE: 
In keeping with our policy of providing free information on 
the internet, data may be used by non-commercial entities, as
long as this message remains on all copied 
material. These electronic pages may not be reproduced in 
any format forprofit, nor for commercial presentation by any other organization. 

Persons or organizations desiring to use this material for 
purposes other than as stated above, must obtain express writtenpermission from the author, or the submitter and from 
the listed USGenWeb Project archivist.