JOHN JACKSON COMER. Samuel COMER was a native of England and came to the United States with his wife (formerly a Miss RANDOLPH), a short time before the Revolutionary War and settled in Virginia. He served in the war against the mother country, and was subsequently killed by the Tories. Reuben D. COMER, son of Samuel COMER, was raised by a man named Abner LEA, of Johnson County, N. C. He married a daughter of Thomas WRIGHT, who came from England to South Carolina. Her parents died when she was an infant, and she was raised by Col. Elliott LEE. After her marriage with Mr. COMER they came to Wilson County, Tenn., and became the parents of five sons and two daughters.
John Jackson COMER, the subject of this sketch, was the fourth of their children and was reared on a farm and had charge of his father’s mill and cotton gin. His early education was limited, never having attended school after attaining his fifteenth year. About this time he professed religion. A short time after he began learning the blacksmith business of the Rev. D. B. MOORE, with whom he lived three years. His father at this time moved to Warren County, Tenn., and there our subject worked at his trade. He was happily married to Miss Martha P. PARKER.
In 1845 he was licensed to preach, and in 1853 was received in to the Tennessee Annual Conference, and he has followed his calling in Hickory Creek, Bedford, Smith Fork, Mill Creek, Harpeth, Wesley and Carthage. He was appointed presiding elder of the following districts: Carthage, McMinnville, Savannah and Centerville. At the last conference he was appointed to the Unionville Circuit. In 1880 Mrs. COMER died, and after living a lonely life two years, Rev. COMER married Miss Ella LACRE. His first marriage resulted in four children: Sophronia A. (Mrs. J. P. WALTON), Nannie J. (Mrs. Prof. S. V. WALL), John B., Moltie P. (died in 1880, wife of J. S. KETON). Rev. COMER is now past sixty years of age, but hopes to continue his good work many years. He is much loved and respected by all who know him and is an influential man where he resides.
Transcribed by Kathryn Hopkins
Goodspeed Publishing Co. History of Tennessee from the Earliest Time to the Present: Together with an Historical and a Biographical Sketch of Maury, Williamson, Rutherford, Wilson, Bedford & Marshall Counties, Besides a Valuable Fund of Notes, Reminescences [Sic], Observations, Etc., Etc. Easley, S.C.: Southern Historical Press, 1988.