History of Detroit, a chronicle of its progress, its industries, its institutions, and the people of the fair City of the straits, / by Paul Leake ... [Vol. 3]

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HISTORY OF DETROIT

ious relations of life he has ever shown forth a deep and abiding human
sympathy, as well as a high sense of his stewardship, his course having
been guided and governed by inviolable integrity and honor. Broadminded and public-spirited, he has proved a loyal and valuable citizen
and has shown a lively interest in all that has tended to advance the
social and material prosperity of the city in which he has so long maintained his home, the while both he and his wife, a woman of most gracious personality, have given their support to those agencies that conserve the uplifting and benefiting of human kind. Their attractive
home, at 573 Cass avenue, has long been recognized as a center of refined and generous hospitality, and in the community their circle of
friends is coincident with that of their acquaintances.
At Oswego, New York, on the 30th of April, 1862, was solemnized the
marriage of Mr. Comstock to Miss Clara Miller, who was born in that
city in August, 1846, and who is a daughter of John D. and'Catherine
(Gettman) Miller. Her father was long an influential and honored citizen of Oswego, where he was engaged in contracting and building, and
both he and his wife passed the closing years of their lives in Oswego.
Mrs. Comstock is a woman of fine social qualities and is a popular factor
in connection with the representative social activities of Detroit. In
addition to many other accomplishments she is a talented artist, and
many fine works from her brush and palette adorn the walls of the family home and many other homes in Detroit. Mr. and Mrs. Comstock
became the parents of two children, both of whom died in infancy.
BERNARD O 'GRADY. More than half a century ago Bernard 0 'Grady
established his home in Detroit and he became a prominent and influential factor in connection with business enterprises of important order,
the while he exemplified the utmost civic loyalty and public spirit and
was held in unqualified esteem in the city that so long represented
his home. His sterling character and his worthy services as a citizen
of the Michigan metropolis render it most consistent to accord in this
history of the city a brief tribute to his memory.
Bernard O'Grady was born at Shelburne, Chittenden county, Vermont, on the 17th of April, 1828, and his death occurred at the home
of his brother, Judge James O'Grady, at Houghton, Michigan, on the
18th of August, 1871. He was the fifth son of Irish parents, both
of whom were born in Queen 's county, Ireland. The parents immigrated from the Emerald Isle to America in the latter part of the second
decade of the nineteenth century and landed at Prince Edward's Island, Canada. The father was not successful in securing profitable
employment and the family returned to Ireland, but a year later,
prompted by the restlessness that took possession of them, they made
another start for the new world and located in Vermont, where the
father, John O'Grady. secured employment in connection with the construction of the Vermont Central Railroad. After this line was completed he secured work by the day, in the employ of Ezra Meech, a
wealthy farmer who resided south of Shelburne. John O'Grady's five
sons began their education in the village school at Shelburne, and after
the father purchased a farm two miles nearer the city of Burlington,
where the University of Vermont is located, each of the sons became,
in turn, a student in that institution. For their position and means
all were generously educated.
Bernard O'Grady's initial experience in connection with practical
business affairs was gained as an employe in a hotel conducted by one
of his elder brothers in New York City. They kept the old Stevens