Combs &c. Families of Rooks County, Kansas

	Combs &c. Families of Rooks Co, KS

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Note: Except where otherwise noted, this report was prepared by, and all records provided by, Combs Researcher William G. Stewart.

Background: All Combs individuals in Rooks County, Kansas descend from Civil War Veteran Joseph A. Combs, b 29 Oct 1832, (Boyle Co?), KY, son of Rodney W. Combs of Mt. Sterling, Montgomery Co, KY (s/o Joseph & Susanna CLARK Combs). Joseph A. apparently grew up in Montgomery County, Kentucky where he m 2 Feb 1854, Sarah Elizabeth KIRK. Shortly before the Civil War, he moved with his family to Cass Co, MO where he served in the Civil War, following which he settled in first in Johnson Co, KS and then around 1878, moved to Rooks County, settling in Alcona Township and so was one of the earlier settlers there. Around 1888, Joseph moved to Manhattan, Riley Co, KS and lived there until his death in 1911. Joseph A. Combs and his wife, Sarah Elizabeth (KIRK) Combs had four children:

James Rodney Combs, b. 22 May 1855, Mt. Sterling, Montgomery Co, KY, d. 24 Oct 1922, Rooks Co., KS

John Burton Combs, b. 5 Feb 1857, Mt. Sterling, Montgomery Co, KY, d. ~~1948~~ 12-11-1947 Del Norte, Rio Grande Co, CO; m. 12 Aug 1885 Amanda Melvina ARNOLD (b. 3-31-1868; d. 4-7-1956 Del Norte, CO) in Maple Hill, Wabaunsee Co, KS. He lived in Colorado by about 1890.

Note: Corrected dates by Lynn L. Combs based on tombstones, Del Norte Cemetery, Rio Grande Co, CO.

Charles Albert Combs, b. 3 Apr 1866, Johnson Co., KS; m. Mary Elizabeth CROSBY, 14 June 1891 in Vallejo, Solano Co, CA. He lived in California

Mary A. Combs, b. 22 Nov 1880, Alcona Twp, Rooks Co, KS; m. Charles W. MANLOVE, probably in Riley Co, KS. She lived in Oklahoma in later life.

WGS Notes: Other than birth information, the above data on John Burton Combs and Charles Albert Combs provided by Combs Researcher Lynn Combs.

1885 Rooks Co, KS State Census

Alcona Township

Page 36 J. A. Combs 53 b. Kentucky
S. E. Combs 47 b. Kentucky
J. B. Combs 28 b. Kentucky
Charles A. Combs 19 b. [blank]
Mary A. Combs 4 b. [blank]

Page 37 J. R. Combs 30 b. Kentucky
M. E. Combs 26 b. Missouri
J. E. Combs 5 b. Missouri

3 Feb 1889. Rooks Co, KS Marriage Book A. Alice Ann SAMMONS, 18, born Missouri, d/o Joseph and Sarah SAMMONS, and James Rodney Combs, 33, born Kentucky, blacksmith, s/o Joseph and Sarah Combs. Married by B. M. SAMPLES, J. P., at the home of her father, Joseph SAMMONS.

WGS Notes: James Rodney Combs, s/o Joseph A. & Sarah KIRK Combs m (1) 20 Aug 1879, Johnson Co, KS, Mary E. (Molly) CAMPBELL.

1900 Rooks Co, KS Census

Vol., 47, E. D. 171, Sheet 4, Line 9

Combs, James R. H b. May 1855, Kentucky 45 Blacksmith
Alice A. W b. January 1871, Missouri 29
Lola D b. November 1889 10
Charles A. S b. September 1890 9
Mary D b. December 1892 7
Opal M. D b. April 1895 5
Joseph L. S b. May 1898 2
Iva G. D b. May 1900 NR

1910 Rooks Co, KS Census

p. 056

016?/0135 Combs, James R. H 55 b. Kentucky
Alice A. W 38 b. Missouri
Charles A. S 18 b. Kansas
Mary E. D 17 b. Kansas
Opal M. D 14 b. Kansas
Joseph L. S 11 b. Kansas
Iva G. D 09 b. Kansas
Lee S 07 b. Kansas
Hazel D 05 b. Kansas
Myrtle D 03 b. Kansas
Alice M. D NR b. Kansas

1920 Rooks Co, KS Census

Vol. 47, E. D. 171, Sheet 4, Line 32

Combs, James R. H 64 b. Kentucky
Alice A. W 41 b. Missouri
Iva G. D. 19 b. Kansas
A. Lee S 17 b. Kansas
Hazel D 15 b. Kansas
Myrtle D 13 b. Kansas
Alice M. D 10 b. Kansas

Vol. 47, E. D. 171, Sheet 4, Line 9

Combs, Charles A. H 28 b. Kansas
Goldie Rice W 25 b. Kansas
Ivan R. S 6 b. Kansas
Pauline D [Omitted - Private]
Alonzo J. S 1 7/12 b. Kansas

Obituary of James Rodney Combs: From the Rooks County Record, Volume XLIII, No. 42, Thursday, 26 October 1922: An Old Settler Dies.

"J. R. Combs, one of the early settlers of Alcona Township died Tuesday morning of heart failure as the result of a long affliction from tuberculosis of the bone. Some two years ago a sore appeared on his toe which caused such infection that his leg had to be amputated below the knee. Recently the trouble started on the other foot. Nothing could be done for him.

"The funeral will be held Thursday afternoon at the Alcona Schoolhouse. Mr. Combs homesteaded in 1878 and has lived on the place 43 years. He was very highly regarded by all his neighbors as a man of integrity and all that makes for good citizenship. His first wife died many years ago; he is survived by his wife and several grown children. We do not have the material for an obituary as we go to press."

"James Rodney Combs was born in Mount Sterling [Montgomery Co], Kentucky, May 22, 1855 and passed away at his home near Webster, Kansas, Tuesday morning, October 24, 1922. In August 1880 [sic], he was united in marriage to Mary E. CAMPBELL who passed away February 4, 1887. To this union was born three children, one dying in infancy. February 8, 1888, he was united in marriage to Alice A. SAMMONS. To this union 13 children were born, three dying in infancy.

"Funeral services were conducted by Rev. Floyd R. HEARNE of the Webster ME Church at the Alcona Schoolhouse.

"Interment was made at the Alcona Cemetery."

Children of James Rodney Combs and Mary CAMPBELL (b. 6 Mar 1860, Blue Springs, Jackson Co, MO, d. 20 Aug 1879, Rooks Co., KS; m. 20 Aug 1879, Johnson Co., KS):

Children of James Rodney Combs and Alice Ann SAMMONS (b. 18 Jan 1872 Schuyler Co., Missouri; m. 3 Feb 1889; d. 14 Dec 1946, Goodland, Sherman Co, KS

Rooks County, Kansas Marriage Records Book A, 1891-1903

Combs, J E BRYANT, Bertha Belle 2 Apr 1903 413
Combs, Wm ORDWAY, Viola 15 Dec 1896 183
LONG, A L McComb, Dora 30 May 1900 301
LOWRY, Dennis P McCombs, Bertha 6 Dec 1903 446
McComb, J C HALL, Mary H 2 Oct 1898 247

Rooks County, Kansas Birth Records 1888-1901

Name of Child Sex Rank in Date of Name of Mother Name of Father Page
Combs, ----- M 1 13 Sep 1897 ORDWAY, Viola Combs, Wm 159
Combs, ----- F 5 8 Dec 1896 SAMMONS, Alice Combs, James 155
CONGER, Harvey M 5 9 Jun 1888 Combs, Elen CONGER, David 124
McColm, ----- F 1 20 Jun 1891 ------, Carrie McColm, Shelby 134
McComb, ----- M 8 20 Sep 1895 ------, Minerva A McComb, James Jacob 145
McComb, ------ F 7 15 Feb 1897 EVANS, Mary E McCombs, Wm D 156

Junior “Hoot” GIBSON, 82, of Junction City, Kan., died Friday, Feb. 13, in Junction City. Mr. GIBSON was born March 3, 1921, in Marceline, Mo., to Rube and Cora GIBSON. Mr. GIBSON moved to eastern Kansas when he was young. He was a U.S. Army veteran. He served with the 9th Armored division in Germany. On July 17, 1943, he married Leona Combs in Naponee, Neb. Mr. GIBSON was a heavy equipment operator for Rooks County Highway Department for many years. He loved to rodeo with McCOMB and Sons, breaking horses, bulldogging, working with cattle and horses, spending time in the great outdoors and was a rodeo pickup man. He worked as a cowboy on the LOX ranch, 39 miles northwest of Greeley, and was a foreman of Ehrlich Feedlot north of Windsor. After he became disabled, they moved back to Stockton.

Survivors are his wife, Leona; three daughters, Betty SPIEKA and husband Bob of San Diego, Peggy WILLIAMS and husband Jim of Loveland, and Roberta FARSON and husband Larry of Riverton; a sister, Loreane STUDER of Aurora; a sister-in-law, Pauline SOUTHARD of Stockton, Kan.; eight grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.

A son, Doug GIBSON, is deceased.

OBERLIN -- Sylvia L. MARTIN, 87, died Saturday (July 19, 2003) at Decatur County Hospital in Oberlin. She was born Dec. 31, 1915, to Irl and Mary (Combs) GILLILAND in Rooks County, Kan. She was raised in Webster, Kan., and graduated from Webster High School in 1933. On Oct. 5, 1938, she married Joseph M. MARTIN in Damar, Kan. The couple made their home in Oberlin where she was a beauty operator. She was a member of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Oberlin.

She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Joseph; and two brothers, Ward and Herold GILLILAND.

Survivors include one son, Steve MARTIN of McCook; one daughter, Joelene JOHNSON and husband, Bruce of Cañon City, Colo.; one sister, Berniece ZERGER of Arvada, Colo.; and six grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Combs was born in Syracuse, Neb. and died Friday at her residence.

She was born to Charles and Alwine ADELMAN. She moved to Plainville, Kan. in 1900 and then in 1902 moved to Thomas County, Kan. In 1906, the family moved to Yoder, Colo. She was married to Joe Combs on Dec. 16, 1918 in Colorado Springs, Colo. This union had five children. The family moved to Hughson in 1937 and had lived there ever since. She joined Gratton Grange, Rebecca Lodge, First Baptist Church of Hughson, Hughson Senior Citizens, (where she was past president) and the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 7762, where she was a past president of the Ladies Auxiliary. She was honored with “This is your life, Della Combs” for the church, Citizens of the Year by the Stanislaus County Supervisors and at 103 by the Hughson Historical Society. She had three sons in WW II and volunteered as an airplane spotter. She took first-aid training and rolled bandages. In her later years she made lots of quilts and gave them away.

She is survived by her sons Frank Combs of Hughson, Bernard Combs of Los Altos, Homer Combs of Hughson and Hayden Combs of Hawthorn, Nev.; daughter Delpha COCKE of Hughson; 17 grandchildren and 31 great-grandchildren; 25 great-great-grandchildren and one great-great-great-grandchild.