Elizabeth Comstock, a Wisconsin physician, was born September 2, 1875, to Ellen and Noah
Durham Comstock of Arcadia, Wisconsin. Miss Comstock graduated from Arcadia Free High School
in 1893 and received a bachelor of science degree four years later from the University of
Wisconsin. In the fall of 1897, she entered the Johns Hopkins University Medical School but
transferred six months later to the Women's Medical College of Pennsylvania, where she
received her medical degree in 1901.
After graduating, Comstock interned one year at the Maternity Hospital of the Women's
Medical College of Pennsylvania and then spent one year as a resident at the New York
Infirmary. She remained with the New York Infirmary for the next twenty years, doing
clinical work under the direction of Dr. Augusta Vedin from 1903 to 1907 and serving as an
assistant to Dr. Marie Chard in the surgery clinic from 1907 to 1911. Dr. Comstock was chief
of the Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday gynecology clinic of the New York Infirmary from 1907
until 1923, when she returned to Arcadia, Wisconsin, to enter private practice. She worked
as a general practitioner in Arcadia until her retirement in 1965.
Dr. Comstock played a leading role in the community of Arcadia. She was an active member of
the Republican Party, the American Association for the United Nations, the Free China Fund,
and other charitable and political organizations. On January 15, 1972, seven years after
retiring, Dr. Comstock died at 96 in a memorial home at Neillsville, Wisconsin. She had
never married.
Users of this collection need to know some basic genealogical information on Dr. Comstock's
family. Her siblings included Henry, Catherine, Adam (1871-1898), Nathan (1873- ), and
William (1878-1886). Her parents were Noah Durham Comstock (1832-1890) who was married in
1868 to Ellen (1837- ); Ellen's maiden name also was Comstock. Noah had one brother, William
(1835- ). Their parents were Adam Comstock (1792-1867) and Electa Durrin, the daughter of
Noah Durrin; they were married in 1831. Ellen had eight siblings-Cyrus Ballou (1831-1910;
married to Elizabeth Blair, 1841-1872), Charles, Asa Leland (1833-1876) Sarah (married to J.
Grant), Edwin (1838-1867), Catherine, Walter (1843-1867), and Agnes. Their parents were
Nathan Comstock (1806-1858) and Betsey Cook.
