Source References including Miscellaneous Birograpies, Articles, Family Histories, Letters, Manuscripts, &c.
Continued from Index to Combs' Histories
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| Combs &c. Histories Source References including Miscellaneous Birograpies, Articles, Family Histories, Letters, Manuscripts, &c. Continued from Index to Combs' Histories |
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"WALTER SCOTT HOGG. There are some men who take possession of the public heart and hold it after they are gone, not by flashes of genius or brilliant service, but by unfailing good conduct in all situations and under all of the trials of life. Such a man was Walter Scott HOGG, a lawyer of high standing and a citizen whom Jackson could ill afford to lose. He was born December 19, 1881, in Booneville [Owsley Co], Kentucky, and was a son of Stephen P. and Sally Ann (Combs) Hogg. The father was one of the foremost men of eastern Kentucky and a member of the convention that drafted the present constitution of the state.
"After the completion of his high school course Walter S.HOGG entered the University of Michigan, from which he was graduated June 22, 1903, with the degree of LL. B., and on July 14 of the same year was admitted to the bar at Beattyville, Kentucky. Soon afterward he located in Jackson, where he followed his profession for twenty-three years, and his legal acumen and well known probity brought him a large and important practice. He was devoted to the interests of his clients but never forgot that he owed a still higher allegiance to the majesty of the law.
"Mr. HOGG was married January 4, 1920, to Miss Jessie STACY,a daughter of Adam STACY, and they became the parents of two children: Stephen P., who was born February 14, 1921; and Elizabeth, born July 11, 1922.
"Mr. HOGG had a high conception of the dignity and responsibility of his profession, in which his interest centered, and practiced until his demise on August 27, 1926, when he was in the full flush of his powers. His untimely death was deeply regretted by hismany friends and the following resolutions were adopted by his associates of the Breathitt County Bar:
"W. S. HOGG was a good lawyer, a wise counselor, sound in his judgment and reliable in his opinions on legal questions, and enjoyed the confidence and esteem of the entire bar and ofall with whom he came in contact. He was singularly free from animosity; he had no malice in his make-up, and while vigorous in the practice of his cases, was never known to make an enemy. As a citizen he was both public-spirited and progressive, liberal in his contribution to churches and schools and generous in his support of every movement for the material advancement of city and community. He was a devoted husband and a doting father who supplied every requirement almost to the extent of lavishness.
"RESOLVED, that in the death of W. S. HOGG the bar has lost one of its strongest and most useful members and that the entire community has sustained an untold loss. His presence we miss in our courts, and the influence that he exercised will live after him. Mr. HOGG was a useful and valuable citizen and his place in the family circle can never be filled.
"RESOLVED that the Breathitt County Bar Association extend to the bereaved widow and the relatives of the deceased its sincere and heartfelt sympathy.
"RESOLVED that a copy of these resolutions be spread at large on the order book and published in the Jackson Times and a certified copy thereof be delivered to the widow of the deceased." (Signed) O. H. POLLARD, A. H. PATTON, THOMAST. COPE, W. L. KASH, KASH C. WILLIAMS (Committee)" (Excerpted from "History of Kentucky" by Combs Researcher Debi Houser)
"HENRY MILLER, deceased, was the founder of the town of Miller, Hand county, South Dakota, and no citizen has ever taken a more active part in its upbuilding improvement and advancement. He belonged to that class of representative men to whom the west owes its development, and his life was so well and honorably spent that he received the high regard of allwith whom he came in contact.
"Mr. Miller was born in Guernsey county, Ohio, April 11, 1825. His father, William Miller, married a Miss Smith, and in 1836 emigrated with his family to Iowa. He was one of the honored pioneers of Cedar county, that state, locating in the county when it contained only about twenty-five families. There he carried on agricultural pursuits and also built a mill, which at his death became the property of his son, Henry. He was one of the first commissioners of Cedar county, and voted to locate the county seat at Tipton, where it has since remained. Henry Miller spent the first eleven years of his life in the Buckeye state and then accompanied his parents to Iowa. He was the third in a family of eight children, and in his youth he worked on the home farm and in his father's mill, following the latter trade for many years. He operated the mill from 1847 to 1854, later engaged in farming and stock-raising, and during the civil war purchased horses for the government. In 1862 he entered three hundred and twenty acres of land in Benton county, Iowa,and the following year removed his family to his purchase and began the development of what became one of the finest farms in that locality. In 1863 he also built and for a number of years operated the finest grain warehouse and lumber yard in Blairstown. Always greatly interested in educational matters, in 1868 he was one of the projectors of the Blairstown Academy, which has becomea noted institution. At one time he was its soleowner, assuming that relationship to the institution in order to keep it from passing out of the sphere for which it was intended. In 1870 Mr. Miller went to Texas, purchased five thousand acres of land, and upon his return endeavored for several years to organize a colony to form a settlement in the Lone Star state, but the colonization scheme was finally abandoned and the land was sold.
"On the 7th of July, 1881 Mr. Miller first visited Hand county.He was accompanied by his son Eudell J., and from Huron they drove across the country to the present site of Miller. They came with the intention of selecting a location, and being pleased with the country they staked out claims, and on the 8th of September the father laid out the town of Miller. The following spring he brought his family to this place, locating on groundad joining the town site. He went to Chicago and succeeding ininducing the Chicago & Northwestern Railroad Company to grant very low rates to "Henry Miller's Colony," and thus populated this locality, many families coming from the neighborhood of his old Iowa home. From that time until his death Mr. Miller gave his attention to farming and handling the town property. In 1885, he also established the Miller Roller Mills, which are operated by his sons, and which furnish an excellent market for the wheat raised in this locality. He was also instrumental in establishing the Hand County Press, in January, 1882, the first paper ever published between Huron and Pierre. It was edited by his sons W. H. and E. J. and to that journal more than to any other agency the county is indebted for immigration. Mr. Miller was also greatly interested in stock raising, and as he believed in the nutritious grasses of the prairies his advice to the new settlers was "stick to the native grasses and you will do well." Mr. Miller never for a moment abated his energies toward building up the town and county, and his name well deserves to be put first upon the roll of honored pioneers.
"On the 6th of September, 1849, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Miller and Miss Nancy Johnson, a native of Ohio and - a daughter of William and Cassandra (Combs) Johnson, who removed to Iowa during her early girlhood. Unto our subject and his wife were born eleven children: Hannibal B., now of Iowa; William H.; Eudell J., John D., Charles and Homer M., all residents of Miller; Carrie A., wife of P. H. Coquillette; Edwin L., of Miller, and three who died in infancy. In early life Mr. Miller gave his political supportto the Democracy, later was an advocate of Greenback principles and cast his last vote with the Populist party. The cause of education ever found in him an active and ardent friend, and in 1882 he succeeded in establishing a subscription school in the new town of Miller. In 1858 he became a member of the Methodist Episcopal church, and in 1870 joined the Evangelical church, in which he afterward served as class leader and Sunday school superintendent for a number of years. He was a most public-spirited and progressive citizen, and withheld his support from no measure calculated to advance the intellectual, moral, social or material welfare of the community. His business reputation was unassailable, and his name was a synonym of honor in all trade transactions. He commanded the respect and confidence of all with whom he came in contact, and when his life's labors were ended, February 15,1897, at the age of seventy-one, his death was deeply mourned by all who knew him. His widow, a most estimable lady, still survives, and the family is one of prominence in the county."
(Extracted from "Memorial and biographical record; an illustrated compendium of biography, containing a compendium of local biography, including biographical sketches of prominent old settlers and representative citizens of South Dakota..." Published by G. A. Ogle & Co., Chicago, 1899. Page 228 Scan, OCR and editing by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net, 1998, SD GenWeb Biographies. Reprinted by Special Permission from Maurice Krueger to Combs Research)
Robert GODSEY. "Robert GODSEY died in 1875 - Spring of the hard year age 65. Father of Robert Godsey - James Godsey lived on Big Moccasin Creek Scott Co Va. Mother of Robert Godsey Harriet Godsey was said to have been a fine old Lady according to a report of Col. Logan Salyer of Hazard and Whitesburg Ky. James Godsey as a child was a "boot boy" for Gen Woods a member Of George Washington Staff. When of age he enlisted and served as a soldier. After the war Gen. Woods brought James Godsey back with him to survey and take up land grants. The first grant taken up on Big Moccasin [a large and fertile tract] was granted to James Godsey because of his faitful and excellent service to Gen. Woods. James married and settled on this land and reared his family. Most of his family remained with him. Robert, a son moved to Ky. Harriet Godsey a daughter married Elhannan Combs and also lived in Ky. Jeremiah Combs, known as Jerry was Sythia Combs father. Father of Jeremiah Combs, Danger Combs was considered a wealthy man. Held many slaves. A relative of Danger Combswas a General in the Tory army. He was supposed to have been annihilated along with all his men somewhere in the woods of North Caroline. "Pages 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. Signed G.D. HOLLIDAY, 516 McAlpin- Cincinnati. Witness Margaret BOYD, Stubenville, Ohio. (Transcribed by Combs Researcher Brenda Daniels who adds that the date was abt Summer of 1943)
Notes: Robert H. GODSEY, b ca 1824, VA, m Sythia Combs,d/o Jeremiah & Synthia (Sythia? Seth?) SUMNER Combs, and gd/o Nicholas "Danger" and Nancy GRIGSBY Combs. Elhannon M. Combs was the s/o Nicholas and Elizabeth Combs Combs, Sr.,and gs/o Nicholas "Danger" as well as RW John Combs. See also Surry Co, NC in re Tory Combs.
"MARSHALL E. Combs, M. D. Studious,efficient and deeply engrossed in his profession, Dr. Marshall E. Combs has taken his place with the leading physicians and surgeons of Hazard [Perry Co, KY]and represents an old and prominent family of this community, in which he has always resided with the exception of the period spent in the service of his country. He was born January 8, 1876, on the lot now occupied by his office, and his parents, William W. and Elizabeth (JOHNSON) Combs, were also Kentuckians. His mother was born in Breathitt county [KY] and her father, George JOHNSON, followed the occupation of farming as a means of livelihood. Her brother, Scott JOHNSON, secured a position in the pension department at Washington, D. C., and her forbears were agriculturists. William W. Combs was born on the site of Hazard and later owned a portion of the land on which the town now stands. He offered his aid to the Union and was accepted, served with the Twenty-second Kentucky Volunteer Infantry and was wounded in a skirmish. He was a republican and a stanch adherent of the party. He engaged in farming and derived a substantial income from his land, on which coal was discovered. He was able to spend the remainder of his life in retirement, and his favorite sport was fishing. He was genial, courteous and kind-hearted, and a wide circle of sincere friends mourned his death in 1911, when he was seventy-two years of age. He was the father of thirteen children, and six are now living. All are residents of Perry county except John E., who is engaged in business in Cincinnati, Ohio. His brother, Willie R. Combs, spent several years in the United States army and his term of enlistment expired in 1923. He was sent to many parts of the world and served in the Spanish-American war. He was stationed in Porto Rico and was ordered to Mexico during the border uprising. He went to France with the American Expeditionary Forces and participated in the Meuse-Argonne offensive and other major operations, miraculously escaping injury. Dr. Marshall E. Combs attended the public schools of Hazard and next took a normal course. He taught school for a time on Grapevine creek and for twelve years devoted his attention to educational work. In 1898 he volunteered for service in the Spanish-American war, enlisting in Company C, Twenty-second United States Infantry, and after a month's training was sent to the Philippines. He foughtin many important battles while on the islands and gave first aid to Colonel EGBERT, who was fatally injured, but neither the subject of this review nor his brother were wounded in that campaign. Dr. Combs returned to Kentucky and in 1903 entered the medical department of the State University, which he attended for four years, graduating with the class of 1906. He opened an office in Hazard and in the intervening period has established a large practice. In order to increase his efficiency he has taken special courses and is considered one of the foremost surgeons of this part of the state. He is local surgeon for the Louisville & Nashville and the Louisville, Henderson & St. Louis Railroads and also a director of the Hazard Hospital Company, Inc. During the World war he was a member of the medical advisory boards of Knott, Letcher, Leslie and Perry counties and devoted much of his time to patriotic service. Dr. Combs was married August 25, 1900, to Miss Lizzie S. BAILEY, who was a daughter of M. C. and Matilda (TUTT) BAILEY, of Jackson, Breathitt county, Kentucky, and passed away November 11, 1911. She had become the mother of two children: Vernon B., who was born January 31, 1904; and Wallace M., born May 20, 1911. On December 7, 1912, Dr. Combs wedded Miss Ola B. COOKE, a daughter of J. H. and Dicy (ROSSER) COOKE, of Rochester, Butler county, Kentucky. The children of the second union are: Hendalee who was born May 16, 1915; and Thomas H., born September 14, 1917.
"Dr. Combs is an adherent of the republican party and has demonstrated his loyalty and devotion to country by both word and deed. He is a thirty-second degree Mason and a Noble of Kosair Temple of the Mystic Shrine at Louisville. He belongs to Hazard Lodge, No. 676, F. & A. M., and to the Scottish Rite Consistory at Louisville. He is also identified with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Elks Lodge of Hazard, the Loyal Order of Moose and the Knights of Pythias. He is a member of the Perry County and Kentucky State Medical Societies and the American Medical Association. Holding to a high standard of service, Dr. Combs has achieved the full measure of success in his profession and fills an important place in the life of his community. "(Extracted from the "History of Kentucky," Author: Publishing Company, Call Number: 9113, Year Published Unknown, FTM Library, by Combs Researcher Debi Houser)
Notes: The ancestry of William Wallace Combs* is not known, but (a) it is thought that he may have been a natural child; and (b) he was apparently "close kin" somehow to the family of Jesse and Polly BOLLING Combs. Not only is his birth record** included in their Family Records, but he appears to have been the William W. Combs, age 22, whowas in their 1860 Perry Co, KY household (not yet found in 1850). Adding further to possibility that he was a natural child is the fact that his 4 Feb 1911 Perry Co, KY Death Certificate is missing parents' names. It is possible, but not documented, that his mother was a daughter of Jesse & Polly. According to researcher Margaret Combs McConnell, her father, Wallace Mason Combs (s/o Marshall), referred to John D. Combs as his 'uncle,' and that John D. was apparently the same who was Jesse's son. See also 1870 and 1880 Perry Co, KY Census, including research notes.
*Middle name from Collin's History of Kentucky
**Birth record lists birthdate of William W. as 5 May 1838, which conflicts with above biography, and which may also be a 'year off' given the inclusion of a John B. Combs with birthdate of 10 May 1838 who is listed on same sheet with William W.
Undated Letter (partial) written by John Wesley Combs (1857-1919),s/o William L. and Margaret KELLY Combs of Perry Co, KY; transcribed by Researcher J.P. Downerd, from copy in Combs Hanging File, Kentucky Historical Society.
"... [Jerry Combs] was the father of William L. Combs. He lived on the John Stacy farm just above the mouth of Montgomery Creek in Perry County Ky. He died in 1843 and is buried on the hill or point about a mile below the mouth of Montgomery Creek of Troublesome Creek in Knott County, Kentucky. We do not know who his parents were, nor fromwhence they came nor do we know where Jerry Combs came from. He orhis parents probably came from Virginia or North Carolina.
"Wm. L. Combs is buried in the Combs Graveyard at the forks of Montgomery Creek in Perry County Ky. Jerry Combs married Nancy Combs. I later learned that the father of Jerry Combs was John Combs who died in Perry County and was buried on the Nat Crawford place below Hazard [Perry Co, KY]. Eight of his [John's] sons settled along the waters of Kentucky River in Perry County. Jerry settled at the mouth of Montgomery Creek of Carrs Fork. Henry at the mouth of Big Creek. Elijah where Hazard now is. (He was the father of Jesse Combs who was clerk of Perry County fifty-three (53) years. Jesse was the father of Josiah Combs.)Danger [Nicholas] Combs settled inthe bend of the river below Hazard.Wm. went to the Bluegrass and became wealthy. He is said to have no children.
"The father of Margaret Kelley Combs [w/o William L.] was Thomas Kelley. He came from Virginia or the Carolias, probably New River. He probably settled on Rock House Creek in Letcher County, Kentucky. He died in the year 1842 on Quicksand Creek in Breathitt County, and was buried about two miles up Quicksand Creek from the mouth at Roark Shoals. His wife was a Mullins.
"Margaret Kelley Combs is buried in the Old Combs Graveyard at the Forks of Montgomery Creek in Perry County.
"Thomas Kelley settled on Shelby Creek at the mouth of Dorton before he went to Rockhouse Creek. He married Nannie Mullins,and grandmother [sic], Margaret Kelley was born there. They then went to Rock House Creek on what was known as the Perin Bowen Farm where Nannie died and was buried on Rock House Creek on what is know as the John Breeding farm. Nannie Mullin was a sister to the grandmother of Ben. F. Johnson on Shelby Creek. s/ J. W. Combs"
Notes: Although the above letter is signed by John Wesley,the reference to Margaret KELLEY as "grandmother" (she was his mother) raises the questionas to whether this letter might have been written by John Wesley's son, Josiah, rather than by John Wesley himself. Josiah was the author of The Combes Genealogy…, and it may have been from him that John Wesley "learned later" that Jeremiah's father was a John Combs. Jeremiah is the same referred to in The Combes Genealogy… as "Long Jerry." Also in the Combs Hanging File was the following:
Please give if possible your grandfather's name in full: William L. Combs
The date and place of his birth: Sept. 10, 1809, Perry Co, Ky
And (if deceased) the date and place of his death: Jan.7, 1879
Your Grandmother's name in full: Margaret Kelly Coms[sic]
The date and place of marriage: Letcher County, Ky. bout year 1840
The full name and residential description of her father: Thomas Kelley. He came to Kentucky from Virginia or the Carolinas, probably New River. He settled on Rockhouse Creek in Letcher Co. Ky. Hedied in year 1842 on Quicksand Creek in Breathitt Co., Ky.
Your Father's name in full: John Wesley Combs
The date and place of his birth: Montgomery Creek, Perry County, Kentucky, Sept. 29, 1857
And (if deceased) the date and place of his death: Sept. 18, 1919.
Your Mother's name in full: Clementine Cody Combs
The date and place of marriage: married 1876, in Letcher, now Knott County, Kentucky.
And the full name and residential description of her father: Jehu Cody, resided in Perry, now Knott County,Ky.
Your name in full: Josiah Henry Combs
The date and place of your birth: Hazard, Perry County, Kentucky. Jan. 2, 1886.
And (if married) the date and place of marriage: July 12, 1920, Migennes, Yonne, France
And the full name of your wife. Charlotte Benard Combs.
Please give on this sheet anything you know of your English ancestry, and the name, if possible, of the first settler in America: "John Coombes (Coombs, Comes, also in Virginia historical records). He came to Virginia on the "Marigold" May 20, 1619. See Minutes of the Council and General Court of the London Company, page 215, for Jan. 20, 1625."
"ELIJAH C. WOOTON. Elijah C. WOOTEN,who enjoys an enviable reputation as a lawyer, has practiced in Hazard for more than a quarter of a century and has demonstrated that success is not a matter of fortunate circumstances or of genius, as is held by some, but is the outcome of clear judgment, practical experience and careful preparation for the work in hand. He was born March 25, 1876, on Troublesome creek, in Perry county, Kentucky, and his parents, Jesse and Elizabeth (Combs) WOOTON, were representatives of honored pioneer families of this section of the state. He attended the country schools near the homestead and the public schools of Hazard; read law under the direction of Bailey P. WOOTTON and Jesse MORGAN, prominent attorneys of Hazard, and in 1900 was admitted to the bar. He began the practice of law in the same year and was associated with the firm of WOOTTON & MORGAN, later succeeded by WOOTTON, SMITH & WOOTON. Denny P. SMITH withdrew from the partnership in 1925 and the style has since been WOOTTON & WOOTON. They are widely and favorably known as corporation lawyers, and no other legal firm in the county enjoys a larger or more important clientele. Mr. Wooton was married January 3, 1910, to Miss Alice NOE, a daughter of C. W. NOE, of Springfield, Kentucky. The children of this union are: Charles NOE, born April 12, 1912; and Elijah C. WOOTON, Jr., born April 19, 1917. Mr. WOOTON is a democrat and since 1918 has been a member of the Hazard board of education, rendering valuable public service in this connection; is a Mason and belongs to the Lions Club, an organization devoted to Americanism. He is a member of the Perry County and Kentucky State Bar Associations, and his career reflects credit upon the profession." (Extracted from the "History of Kentucky," Author: Publishing Company, Call Number: 9113, Year Published Unknown, FTM Library, by Combs Researcher Debi Houser)
Notes: Elizabeth "Betsey" Combs, b 22 Oct 1853,Perry Co, Ky, was the d/o Clinton and Elizabeth "Betsey" Combs Combs. According to The Combes Genealogy…, Elijah C.'s middle name was Combs.
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G. W. EVANS, M.D., was born February 5, 1843, in Clark County, Ky., and is a son of Dr. Peter and Lettie (QUISENBURY) Evans,to whom three sons and one daughter were born: James E., Peter E., Mary and G.W. Dr. Peter EVANS was born in Clark County in October 1808; his wife in September 1814, in the same county. The Doctor practiced his profession over fifty-five years, perhaps longer than any man ever practiced in the State and died in 1884. He was a son of Peter EVANS, who was born in Culpeper County, Va.; came to Kentucky about 1785, and became a wealthy farmer and owner of a large family of slaves. He married a Mrs. BAKER, whose maiden name was Combs. She had given birth to two children by her first husband, and had five sons and one daughter by her second. Mr. EVANS died in 1845, and was in turn a son of Peter EVANS, who was born in Scotland, and who came to America before the war for independence, in which he took part as captain. The family still have possession of his equipage. He settled in Culpeper County, Va., and became a prosperous planter. The EVANS family were all stanch Whigs up to 1860. They held to the Methodist Episcopal faith, but Dr. Peter EVANS became a Baptist. Mrs. Lettie (QUISENBURY) Evans was a daughter of Rev. James QUISENBURY, who was a Baptist minister, and who had married two women, each giving him birth to twelve children, making him the father of twenty-four children. He was of French descent and was an early settler in Clark County. Dr. G. W. EVANS was raised on a farm, and received but a common-school education. At nineteen he began the study of medicine with his father, and in 1865 graduated from Jefferson Medical College, Penn. He served in the United States service at Fortress Monroe for five months, and then came to Madison County [KY] and located at White Hall, where he established a large and lucrative practice. In 1881 he located in Richmond and continued his practice. The Doctor is a member of the State and county medical associations, and is also president of the board of examiners for the United States Pension Department. He was united in marriage, May 30, 1867, to Nannie CHENAULT, of Madison County, daughter of Waller and Talitha (HARRIS) Chenault. To this union nine children were born: Waller (deceased); George; Lettie (deceased); Peter (deceased); Miller (deceased); Leslie; Joseph; Overton and Mary. The Doctor and wife are members of the Baptist Church; and he is a memberof the F. & A. M. His first presidential vote was for SEYMOUR. (Provided by Researcher Mazeau to the Evans Surname Rootsweb List (1999) from "Kentucky: A History of the State," Madison County, Perrin, Battle, Kniffin, 4th ed., 1887)
Notes: Mary "Polly" Combs, d/o Cuthbert & Sarah EVANS Combs, Sr., m (1) 16 Aug 1797, Clark Co, KY, John BAKER; m (2) 12 Jun 1804, Clark Co, KY, Peter EVANS, Jr.