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Elmer L. Comer

Male 1926 - 1943  (16 years)

Personal Information    |    Notes    |    Sources    |    Event Map    |    All    |    PDF

  • Name Elmer L. Comer
    Birth 1 Sep 1926  Conneaut, Ashtabula, Ohio, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Gender Male
    Census 14 Apr 1930  Conneaut, Ashtabula, Ohio, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [2] 
    Death 12 Jul 1943  Conneaut, Ashtabula, Ohio, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Cause: drowning 
    Burial 15 Jul 1943  East Conneaut Cemetery, Conneaut, Ashtabula, Ohio, USA Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Person ID I17399  Bisbee
    Last Modified 28 Jun 2009

    Father Clark Lovern Comer,   b. 4 Jun 1896, Conneaut, Ashtabula, Ohio, USA Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 1944, Conneaut, Ashtabula, Ohio, USA Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 47 years)
    Marriage Y  [3]
    Family ID F8780  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 1 Sep 1926 - Conneaut, Ashtabula, Ohio, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 14 Apr 1930 - Conneaut, Ashtabula, Ohio, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - Cause: drowning - 12 Jul 1943 - Conneaut, Ashtabula, Ohio, USA Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - 15 Jul 1943 - East Conneaut Cemetery, Conneaut, Ashtabula, Ohio, USA Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Notes 
    • (Research):Newspaper article, probably from Conneaut, Ohio, July 1943. Handwritten notation, "July 12, 1943."
      "Elmer Comer Victim; Companion Saved After Futile Rescue Attempt."
      "Learning to swim in Conneaut Creek just below the dam at Farnham bridge, Elmer L. Comer, 16, 103 Underridge-rd, drowned after being carried underwater at 9 p.m. Monday.
      "His left side had been partially crippled since birth.
      "East Conneaut Fire Department was called to recover the body after rescue attempts were made by Rawland Rudler, 23, and Robert Fuller, 40. Rudler, who was swimming with the boy, was pulled to safety by Fuller after narrowly escaping drowning himself in the struggle with the victim
      "Firemen swam about in the water in an attempt to find the body until a boat was brought from the J. C. Soet farm nearby making possible use of grappling hooks. After approximately two hours' seach the body was recovered 20 feet below the dam on the north side of the creek. It was found in about four feet of water.
      'Ruled Accidental. Verdict of accidental death was fiben by Coroner C. C. Roller.
      "The boy was born September 1, 1926 in Conneaut Township and attended the township schools. He leaves his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Clark Comer; one sister, Elinor, at home; and a half-sister, Mrs. Naomi Irene Kangas, Chardon.
      "Funeral services will be at 3 p.m. Thursday at Gordon Thompson Funeral Home. Rev. A. H. O'Brien, pastor of South Ridge Baptist Church will officiate. Burial will be in the East Conneaut cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home Wednesday afternoon."

      Newspaper article, probably from Conneaut, Ohio, July 1943. Handwritten notation, "July 12, 1943."
      "Conduct Rites for Drowning Victim."
      "Funeral services for Elmer L. Comer, 16, of 103 Underridge-rd, were held at 3 p.m. Thursday at the Gordon Thompson Funeral Home. He was drowned after being carried underwater while learning to swim in Conneaut Creek late Monday.
      "Rev. A. H. O'Brien, pastor of South Ridge Baptist Church officiated. Burial was in East Conneaut Cemetery.
      "Pallbearers were Charles Sippola, Richard Olson, Arnold Mackey, Rawland Rudler, Robert Hayford and Stanley Hayford.
      "There was a profusion of floral tributes and many relatives and friends attended from Muskegon, Mich., Erie, Pa., Cleveland, Akron, Amherst, Williamsfield, Ashtabula, Jefferson, Chardon and Conneaut."
    • (Medical):His left side had been partially crippled since birth. [1]

  • Sources 
    1. [S1860] Newspaper clipping, probably from Conneaut, Ohio, provided by Karen Ann Woods Euritt, Comer, Elmer: Drowning (Conneaut), (Conneaut, Ohio, 12 July, 1943).

    2. [S162] Comer, Clark Lovern (I17354): 1930 US Census, (www.ancestry.com (2002): National Archives and Records Administration micropublication T626, roll 1747; enumeration district (ED) 29, sheet 26, page 319B, line 93, dwelling 235, family 235; image downloaded 11/9/2008.), 1930-Conneaut.29.52.jpg.

    3. [S1736] Note.
      In 1943, Elmer L. Comer died in a drowning accident. A newspaper article identifies Elinor as his sister, and Naomi as his half sister. According to the 1930 census, Clark and Jennie K. had only been married a couple of years; thus, Jennie could not be the mother of Elinor and Elmer. If Noami is Elmer's half sister, Jessie could not be his mother, either. Therefore, Clark must have married the unknown mother of Elinor and Elmer in the mid 1920's, after Jessie and before Jennie.