Source: History of Elkhart County, Indiana: Together with Sketches...
Rev. Thomas Comstock, of the North Indiana Conference, was a native of Ohio, born March 2, 1829, but was brought with his father's family to Wabash county, Ind., in 1836. Judge Comstock, his father, settled on Eel river, at the place which is now called Liberty Mills, where he opened a large farm, erected mills and engaged in other business pursuits. Here the subject of this sketch spent the years of his youth and earlier manhood, and was well trained to habits of industry and business. He married Miss Elizabeth T. Horne, in September, 1852; she was a native of Belmont county, Ohio, born in 1828; their 4 children were Alma C., John D., Lura E., and Wilbur T. While Mr. Comstock was in his youth, he was converted at a comp-meeting. He was baptized and received into the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1843, by Rev. C.W. Miller. He entered the North Indiana Conference in 1854, and traveled the Harlan Circuit one year; but feeling the necessity of a more thorough education, he attended school at Genesee College and subsequently took the regular course at the Garrett Biblical Instituted. He served one year as professor in Fort Wayne College, and re-entered the Conference in 1859; he was Pastor at Decatur one year; at Goshen one year; at Elkhart two years; was again connected with the Fort Wayne College one year; Pastor of Warsaw Station three years, and of Wabash Station two years; though his return was unanimously desired by his charge, he was then appointed to Central charge at Richmond. He was just entering upon his third year's work in this charge, when he was taken with typhoid pneumonia. All that affectionate care and the skill of two physicians, his own choice friends, to prescribe was done for six weeks, when he was informed by his physicians that his closing hour was near. The information did not startle or alarm him--not at all, though until then he had thought it possible that he would recover. He asked to have the Sacrament administered, and that prayer should be offered that he might have victory, and while they prayed God gave him triumphant victory to his weeping wife and children. He said most tenderly, "I love you; I love you; gladly would I go with you through life, but Jesus loves you better." When ice-cold water was given him, he said "Jesus the water of life will give." He gave directions to make no display, "The Master is coming, and I wait patiently his arrival." Such are but few of the many words uttered by him in his last hours.
At about 11 o'clock, a.m., June 17, 1872, he calmly and sweetly fell asleep in Jesus. Thomas Comstock was a model as a pastor. He was also an able, clear, pointed and successful preacher, and the several charges served by him will long remember him as a most consistent and indefatigable worker. "Mark the perfect man and behold the upright, for the end of that man is peace."