Comstock, Elizabeth Leslie (1815–1891)

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Comstock, Elizabeth Leslie (1815–1891)

American Quaker minister. Born Elizabeth Leslie Rous, Oct 30, 1815, at Maidenhead, Berkshire, England; died Aug 3, 1891, in Union Springs, NY; dau. of William Rous (shopkeeper) and Mary (Kekwick) Rous; sister of Lydia Rous (Quaker educator and principal of Mount School York in Yorkshire, England); attended Friends' schools in Islington and Croydon; m. Leslie Wright (druggist), April 6, 1848 (died c. 1851); m. John T. Comstock (Quaker humanitarian), 1858 (died 1884); children: (1st m.) Caroline Wright.

Among the most influential Quaker women of her day and credited with helping shape the modern form of Quakerism, immigrated to Belleville, Ontario, Canada (1854), then to US (c. 1858); lived with 2nd husband at Rollin, Lenawee Co., MI, an antislavery settlement, and worked with Underground Railroad; developed ministry and was in high demand throughout US; worked on behalf of such causes as abolition, peace, woman's rights, temperance, and prison welfare; met with lawmakers including President Abraham Lincoln (1864) and President James A. Garfield; worked on behalf of freedmen's relief efforts and served as secretary of Kansas Freedmen's Relief Association.

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Comstock, Elizabeth Leslie (1815–1891)

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