Oliver Cromwell COMSTOCK, Congress, NY (1780-1860)

COMSTOCK, Oliver Cromwell, a Representative from New York; born in Warwick, R.I., March 1, 1780; moved with his parents to Schenectady, N.Y., when a child; received a liberal schooling; studied medicine and practiced in Trumansburg, N.Y.; member of the State assembly 1810-1812; first judge of common pleas for Seneca County, N.Y., 1812-1815; elected as a Republican to the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Congresses (March 4, 1813-March 3, 1819); was not a candidate for renomination in 1818; first judge of court of common pleas for Tompkins County in 1817 and 1818; abandoned the practice of medicine and studied theology; was licensed to preach and ordained to the Baptist ministry; installed as pastor of the First Baptist Church, Rochester, N.Y., and served in that capacity from 1825 to 1834; elected Chaplain of the House of Representatives on December 20, 1836, and served until March 3, 1837; moved to Michigan and resumed ministerial duties at Detroit in 1839; was a regent of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor 1841-1843; State superintendent of public instruction 1843-1845; died in Marshall, Calhoun County, Mich., January 11, 1860; interment in Oakridge Cemetery.

Source: Biographical Directory of the United States Congress, 1771-Present