Branches and Twigs of the Johnson County Illinois Comers

On the morning of November 13, 1833, as the pre-dawn darkness still clung to the rural landscapes of Halifax County, Virginia, an event of unprecedented cosmic spectacle unfolded. What began as a normal night for families like the Comers, quickly transformed into a scene of widespread awe and terror known as "the night the stars fell."  This was no ordinary meteor shower; it was the Leonid meteor storm, a celestial bombardment so intense that it left an indelible mark on the collective memory of a nation. Imagine the scene: John Epps Comer (born 1782), his wife Martha, and their children, perhaps including sons John A. (22), Moses (19), and Nathaniel (17), were likely asleep in their farmhouse. Suddenly, the deep rural quiet would have been shattered, not by an earthly sound, but by an unnatural illumination pouring through windows and cracks in the walls. People across the Eastern United States, including those in Halifax, were jolted awake by a sky that seemed to be ripping...

Travel from Halifax, Virginia (located in the Piedmont region of Southern Virginia) to the Shenandoah Valley, Virginia in 1800 would have been a slow, difficult, and potentially arduous journey, likely taking five to ten days depending on the route, weather, and method of travel. This trip would have involved crossing the Blue Ridge Mountains, one of the main geographical obstacles. Methods of Travel The primary modes of transportation available in 1800 were:  * Horseback: This was the fastest and most reliable way for a single traveler, covering an average of 30-40 miles per day in good conditions. Wealthier individuals might use a two-wheeled chaise or a carriage, though these were less practical on poor roads.  * Wagon/Cart: Necessary for moving goods or an entire family, but much slower than riding a horse. The speed was generally similar to a fast walk.  * Walking: The original form of transportation, averaging around four miles per hour. Road Conditions The state of...

The decade of the 1870s swept away the dust of the Civil War for Lee Roy Comer, replacing the chaos of the battlefield with the essential, grounding labor of family life. This era was less about national strife and more about staking a permanent claim to the soil of Johnson County. Building the Foundation (1870-1871)  The new chapter began on a warm spring day, May 15, 1870. At 26, Lee Roy was a seasoned man, even after the five years of post-war civilian adjustment. He married Mary Melissa "Aunt Lissie" Shires, a young woman of 16 who would quickly prove to be a tenacious partner. They settled on a parcel of the Comer land in the 13th township, literally building their future just a couple of doors down from Lee Roy’s parents. The 1870 census recorded them there, a modest beginning with a combined property value of $450. Their quiet endeavor was tested immediately. The summer of 1871 began with joy: the birth of their first child, Eppy, in June. But as the season turned, a g...