BIO: Reuben T. COMLEY, Centre County, PA

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including 
the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing 
Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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  REUBEN T. COMLY, a thorough and skillful farmer and business man of 
more than ordinary capacity, is a representative of the agricultural 
and commercial interests of Union township, Centre county, his home 
being on Dick's Run road. He was born in Centerville, Elk Co., Penn., 
March 26, 1850, but he has long made his home within the borders of 
Centre county, where he is both widely and favorably known.
  His father, John T. Comly, now a saddler, harness and shoemaker of 
Unionville, Centre county, was born in Adams county, Penn., November 
16, 1822, and is a son of Jesse and Naomi (Howell) Comly, who were born 
and married in Adams county, where they remained until 1836, when they 
came to Centre county. They located near Bellefonte, where the 
grandfather engaged in tanning and farming. He died in October, 1853, 
at the age of seventy-nine years, and his wife passed away December 24, 
1865, at the age of seventy-seven years and six months. In their family 
were the following children: Jacob, a retired tanner of Centre county; 
Joseph, deceased; Benjamin, who is also living retired in Centre 
county; Jesse, who died shortly after his return home from the war; 
Eleanor, widow of Jerry M. Hench, of Perry county, Penn.; and John T., 
father of our subject. The paternal great-grandfather was of English 
birth, while his wife was born in Scotland. On coming to America they 
located in Centre county, where they spent their remaining days. The 
maternal great-grandparents of our subject, who were natives of 
Scotland, located in Union county, Pennsylvania.
  On March 5, 1848, John T. Comly was married to Catherine Green, who 
was born in Elk county, Penn., February 13, 1830, and is a daughter of 
John and Mary (Thompson) Green, natives of Centre county, but who met 
and were married in Elk county, where they spent their remaining days 
on a farm. Her father was born October 12, 1799, and died October 24, 
1883; her mother was born August 9, 1809, and died September 1, 1889. 
In their family, Catherine T., the mother of our subject, is the 
eldest; the others are as follows: Rebecca, born July 8, 1831, married 
J. Nolf, and since his death has become the wife of W. Rudolph, of Elk 
county; Mary, born November 2, 1832, died July 14, 1833; James R., born 
July 12, 1835, is living in Elk county; Reuben T., born March 12, 1838, 
died March 26, 1840; Elizabeth, born August 18, 1841, married Louis 
Zimmerman, and after his death wedded J. L. Bonaham, of Olean, N.Y.; 
and John C., born August 6, 1847, is a farmer of Elk county.
  John Green, the maternal grandfather of our subject, was twice 
married, his first wife being Ann Kyler, who was born September 15, 
1802, and died July 31, 1827. To them were born two daughters: 
Elizabeth, born March 29, 1826, died August 8, 1826; and Eliza A., born 
July 10, 1827, died January 27, 1861. John Green was the son of James 
and Elizabeth (Fisher) Green, natives of Centre county, where her death 
occurred, but he died in Elk county. The maternal grandmother of our 
subject was a daughter of 

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.  342

Robert and Catherine (Wantz) Thompson, also natives of Centre county, 
but the former died in Clearfield county, and the latter in Elk county, 
Pennsylvania.
  John T. Comly continued to engage in the saddlery business in Elk 
county until September, 1864, when he came to Centre county, locating 
first at Nittany Valley, where he followed farming for three years, but 
since that time he has successfully carried on the saddlery business 
and shoemaking at Unionville. He is a valued and highly respected 
citizen of the community, and a Republican in politics. In his family 
are two children, our subject being the elder; William H., born May 25, 
1854, is a resident of Unionville. He was married July 3, 1879, to Mary 
A. McCune, and they have two children: Raymond and Boyd.
  Reuben T. Comly remained with his parents until he had attained his 
majority, during which time he attended school and served an 
apprenticeship to that saddlery business with his father. He then 
taught school on Dick's run, in Union township, Centre county, for one 
term, and for the same length of time had charge of a school at 
Unionville. The following Christmas (December 25, 1871), he was married 
to Miss Amanda Davidson, and they have four children, all at home, 
namely: John A., born September 5, 1872; Ella E., born September 20, 
1874; Olive B., born January 26, 1878; and T. Ellwood, born February 
28, 1887.
  Mrs. Comly was born in Half Moon, Centre county, March 30, 1848, and 
is a daughter of Alexander and Sarah (Hicks) Davidson, whose births 
occurred at the same place. There her parents were married and remained 
for fifteen years, when they removed to Union township, where the 
mother died in 1851, at the age of forty years, and the father in 
April, 1884, at the age of seventy-seven. He engaged in the manufacture 
of charcoal, was a Republican in politics, and with his wife held 
membership in the Messiah Church. In their family were seven children: 
Martha, born January 3, 1832, is the wife of W. Irwin, a farmer of 
Union township; Mary, born in 1834, died in 1836; Hannah, born in 
September, 1839, is the widow of Harris Way, of Union township; Eliza, 
born January 11, 18--, is the wife of William Taylor, of Centre county; 
Joseph H. and James are both prominent farmers of the same county; 
Amanda is next in order of birth; and one died in infancy. The father 
of this family was a second time married, Mrs. Mary (Walker) Watson 
becoming his wife. She was the widow of Green Watson, by whom she had 
four children: Lemuel; Roxanna; Miriam, wife of a Mr. Marshall, of 
Clearfield county, Penn.; and Green, who was killed by a falling log. 
By his second wife, Mr. Davidson had three children: Michael, a butcher 
of Philipsburg, Penn.; Grant, a farmer of Centre county; and Ida, wife 
of William Brower, a farmer of Union township.
  After his marriage, Mr. Comly purchased his present farm in Union 
township, and has made his home there since 1871. Besides general 
farming he is successfully engaged in dealing in agricultural 
implements, and he is a straightforward, reliable business man of 
unquestioned integrity. Fraternally he holds membership with Blooming 
Lodge No. 639, I. O. O. F., of Unionville, the Encampment of 
Bellefonte, No. 72, and with the Grange. He is a pronounced Republican 
in politics, and in 1893 was the candidate of that party for county 
treasurer, but was unable to overcome the strong Democratic majority. 
He is public-spirited and progressive, and no man takes a deeper 
interest in the prosperity of the county, whose interests he has 
largely promoted.