John Comish

John Comish was born Dec 1, 1838 in Onchan, Isle of Man to William and Elizabeth Keig Comish. John is a veteran of the Indian Wars. John is a Pioneer of Cove.

History

When John was young, John's father was converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in 1841 by John Taylor. John was baptized on Dec 1, 1846, but it wasn't until 1848 that John's mother would be baptized. Soon after, the Comish family made preparations to move near the Saints. In 1849, John's father and sister moved to St. Louis, Missouri, and found employment to help pay for their family's arrival. The Comish family was finally able to set sail on Jan 10, 1852 on the Kennebec and arrived in New Orleans, Louisiana, on March 19.1 The Comish family lived in St. Louis until they could make the means to move to Utah.2

The Comish family joined the John Hindley Company on June 7, 1855 and arrived in the Salt Lake Valley on Sep 3. Just a year later, John helped the saints from the Martin/Willie handcart companies get to Utah. The Comish family was asked to move to Kaysville, Utah. During his time in the Salt Lake Valley, John became acquainted with Porter Rockwell. In 1860, the Comish family was asked to help settle Cache Valley and moved to Franklin.2

In 1862, John was asked to help with the Henry W. Miller Company traveling across the plains. In the company was Esther Elizabeth Stanford. Soon after the company arrived in Utah, John and Esther were married in Salt Lake City on Nov 22, 1862. The couple moved to Logan, Utah, before moving to Franklin, Idaho with his brother-in-law Mark Preece.2

In Jan, 1863, Porter Rockwell sent Colonel P. Edward Conner to Franklin to stay near John, as Conner was looking to work with the Native Americans in the area. This would later snowball into the Bear River Massacre.2

In 1875, John and his brother Robert were asked to settle one last time in Cove.2

After Esther's death in 1916, John moved in with his daughter, Fay Stanford Comish, and son-in-law Robert Lowe Allen.2

Indian Wars Service

"On February 25, 1858, Bannock Chief Le Grand Coquin led 250 Bannock and Shoshone warriors in a surprise attack on Fort Lemhi[, Idaho], possibly with John Powell. They killed two Mormon settlers, wounded five, and forced the remaining 69 colonists to retreat to the log fort. They also captured over 200 cattle and 30 horses."3

In response to the attack, President Brigham Young called 150 men to march to Fort Lemhi to rescue the settlers. On March 11, 1858, John was enrolled under the command of Captain Christian Layton. He was released from active duty on April 11, 1858.4

Epilogue