Solomon Comstock

Solomon Gilman Comstock (May 9, 1842 – June 3, 1933) was a U.S. Representative from Minnesota as a member of the 51st Congress of the United States of America.

Biography

Born in Argyle, Penobscot County, Maine, Comstock moved to Passadumkeag, Maine with his parents in 1845; attended the rural schools, East Corinth (Maine) Academy, Maine Wesleyan Seminary at Kents Hill, and Hampden (Maine) Academy. Comstock studied law in Bangor, Maine, and later, in 1868 and 1869, continued his studies at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor. He moved to Nebraska in 1869 and settled in Omaha, where he was admitted to the bar the same year and commenced practice. He moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, in 1870, and to Moorhead, Minnesota, Clay County, Minnesota, in 1871, where he continued the practice of his profession; prosecuting attorney for Clay County 1872 – 1878.

Politics

He was elected a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives in 1875, 1876, 1878, and 1881; served in the Minnesota Senate 1882 – 1888; unsuccessful candidate for election as State attorney general in 1882 and as Lieutenant Governor in 1884; retired from law practice in 1884 and engaged in the real estate business; elected as a Republican to the United States House of Representatives in the 51st United States Congress, (March 4, 1889 – March 3, 1891); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1890 to the 52nd Congress; delegate to the Republican National Convention in 1892;

Other activities and death

After resuming his real estate business in Moorhead, Comstock also engaged in manufacturing farm implements in 1893. He was a member of the State normal school board from 1897 to 1905, and retired from business pursuits and resided in Moorhead, Minnesota, until his death there June 3, 1933. He was buried at Prairie Home Cemetery.

He is the namesake of Comstock, Minnesota, as well as Comstock Township, Marshall County, Minnesota.^[1] His residence, the Comstock House in Moorhead, operates as a historic house museum.^[2]

References

1. Upham, Warren (1920). Minnesota Geographic Names: Their Origin and Historic Significance. Minnesota Historical Society. p. 115.
2. "Comstock House". Minnesota Historical Society. Retrieved 19 April 2015.

• Minnesota Legislators Past and Present

• United States Congress. "Solomon Comstock (id: C000665)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.