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CHARLES COMSTOCK
Vol. 3, p. 1193-1194

Holding prestige as having the distinction of being the first public
school teacher in what is now the State of Oklahoma, Charles Comstock
has been prominently identified with educational work in Wagoner
County since 1896, and at the present time is serving in the capacity
of county superintendent of schools, having been the incumbent of
this position since 1910. Mr. Comstock's career, from early boyhood,
has been one in which he has made his own opportunities and gained
success through his own efforts, and the high position which he holds
in his profession and in the confidence of the people of his
community, is but the justly-merited reward of conscientious industry
and close fidelity to elevating ideals.

Mr. Comstock is a native of Missouri, born at Cape Girardeau, Cape
Girardeau County, January 15, 1875. Paternally, he is of French
extraction. His father, James Comstock, was born in Kentucky, but
went to Missouri when a young man, was married there, and became an
early farmer of Cape Girardeau County. Professor Comstock's mother
bore the maiden name of Jane SHELTON, was a native of Tennessee, and
was brought to Missouri when she was only two years of age.

On his father's farm in Southeastern Missouri, Charles Comstock was
reared to manhood. He there learned the lessons of toil and
perseverance that have greatly entered into his life as elements
which have made for success, and hard work in youth and early manhood
fell to his lot. In the meantime, he had ordinary educational
advantages in the country schools and next entered Wooster Academy,
which was a branch of Drury College. Subsequently he took up the
profession of educator in the country schools of Missouri, making
teaching a steppingstone to a higher and better education. In 1895
Mr. Comstock was graduated from Willie Halsell College, at Vinita,
Indian Territory, and in January, 1896, located at Wagoner, where he
first was engaged in teaching a private school. In May of the same
year he was one of the principal figures in the organizing at Wagoner
of the first public school in Indian Territory, of which he became
the first teacher, and thus belongs to him the distinction of being
the pioneer public school teacher of what is now the great
commonwealth of Oklahoma. As Mr. Comstock's talents and learning
became know, his reputation grew and he was called to high places in
his profession. He spent eighteen months as superintendent of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows School, at Checotah, Oklahoma, after
which he was made principal of the public schools of that place and
served as such two years, and still later taught two terms at Fort
Gibson, Oklahoma, for a time being also located at Coweta, Wagoner
County. He was located at the latter place in 1910, when he was
elected superintendent of schools of Wagoner County, a position to
which he has been twice re-elected to succeed himself, and in which
he is now serving to the entire satisfaction of the people of the
county. In addition to being a man of broad and through learning in
his profession, Professor Comstock is a student of men and events, an
able executive and the possessor of more than ordinary business
ability, which has been exerted in his official capacity in
protecting the interest of the people. While a strict disciplinarian,
he is possessed of a warm heart and a keen sense of justice, and is a
general favorite among his teachers, as well as with the students.

Professor Comstock was married in 1901, at Wagoner, to Miss Sallie
MCGUIRE. They are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South. While he finds his greatest pleasure among his beloved
books and at his home, Professor Comstock also believes in the
pleasures of companionship among his fellow men, and is popular with
his associates in the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. His political
views make him a democrat, but he is not a politician.

Typed for OKGenWeb by Earline Sparks Barger, October 26, 1998.