Notes from Darlene Cole.

We have just learned that Samuel Combs on the 1880 Lawrence Co, Marion Twp., AR., and his first-wife, Martha S. (RUSSELL) had a son, John Monroe COMBS. He was born 15 Jul 1880/1881. His tombstone reads 1881 and his death certificate shows 1880. The death certificate also shows his state of birth was MO. If so, then 1881 for his year of birth would more likely be correct. Because the census of Marion Twp in Lawrence Co AR, was enumerated in mid April of 1880.

Of course it's possible that they moved to Missouri after the census was taken and John M. was born there in July of 1880.

Samuel Combs, b. 28, Feb 1852 in KY (per 1880 census) and he married (2) Ina Elizabeth FREEMAN, b. Sep 1866 in IL and d. Sep 1916, in Hanna, McIntosh Co, OK. She was a daughter of Wm. M. Freeman and Elizabeth REDMAN, who both appear to have died since 1876 when the Butler Co, MO State census was enumerated, and Ina & 3 of her siblings were living with Samuel & Martha in 1880 in AR. Martha S. was a daughter of John and Nancy Ann RUSSELL, and they too were living in Butler Co, MO, same Twp. as Wm & Elizabeth FREEMAN were. Martha was b. c1850 in Coffee Co, AL, and died between the time her son was born and about 1886. Sam m. (2) about 1887 to “Innie” (not Innis) Freeman, and they had a son and 3 daughters. Jeremiah, b. c1888 in AR; Mary “Lurany”, b. 1890, I.T., near Ft Smith, AR; Fannie Elizabeth, b. 1893, I. T., and Maggie Mae, b. 1896 in Sequoyah Indian District. Sam must have died about Dec of 1897, because his wife, Ina re-married, the marriage license reads Caleb FAIRCHILDS to Mrs. Ina E. Combs, 08, May 1897 in Sequoyah Indian District.

Actually the license was printed for Crawford Co, AR, but in two places there is a line drawn through Crawford Co, AR and Sequoyah Indian District is written in it's place.

Sam's brother, “Ervin” (Jas. E.) and Leona Lurana “Oney” Ina's sister were living nearby in 1880 along with his mother and a sister, and another Freeman sibling, but Lynne already has all that listed. Ervin & Oney never had children. We can't find any of this Combs family before 1880. The mother, Sarah/Sallie, b. c1830 in VA (per 1880); Sam b. 1852 in KY; Jas. E., b. 1858 in KY and Mary (Combs) Richardson Freeman, b. c1861 in KY. Sam and Ina were my great-grandparents. Their daughter, Mary Lurany was my maternal grandmother. When I was about 13, I met William Freeman and Mrs Leona Combs, they were living in Merced, CA. My grandmother, Lurany died in 1948, in Modesto, CA. Both Uncle Willie and Aunt Oney attended my grandmother's funeral. Aunt Oney died in 1951 and Uncle Willie died in 1953. These are the names my mother called them.