MARTIN S. COMBS.

Although not a long-time resident of Belvue Township, Mr. Combs has fully established himself as one of its worthy citizens, and one of the most intelligent members of the farming community. He owns and occupies 190 acres of good land on section 5, where he makes a specialty of thoroughbred cattle and swine. He usually keeps from seventy-five to 100 head of each. His operations are conducted in that systematic and business-like manner which seldom fails of success. Mr. Combs has never sought notoriety, being content to pursue the even tenor of his way, and without seeking office gives his unqualified support to the Republican party. He has been for some years a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

The native place of Mr. Combs was in Butler County, Ohio, and the date of his birth June 12, 1840. His father, Andrew B. Combs, was born in New Jersey about 1817, and is of Scotch extraction. When a young man he emigrated to Ohio, where he engaged in farming, and died at the age of sixty-five years. He was a man of decided views and opinions, and a stanch supporter of the Democratic party. He was married in early life to Miss Martha PRYOR, who was born in Richmond, Ind. Her father, William PRYOR, was a prominent lawyer of that State and one of the leading lights in the Republican party. To Andrew and Martha Combs there was born a family of five children, all of whom are living, and who bear the names respectively, of Elizabeth, Joseph, Jonathan, Martin and Wilson.

The subject of this sketch was the fourth child of his parents, and was reared and educated in his native township, living on the farm with his parents and attending the district school. He sojourned in the Buckeye State until the spring of 1870, then coming to Wabaunsee County, Kan., purchased a farm and lived there until 1881; then selling out he established himself as a grocer at Wamego, where he operated until 1887. That year he sold out his store and purchased his present farm. Before leaving his native State he was married, April 11, 1861, to Miss Johanna SKELMAN. This lady was born in Ohio, and departed this life at her home in Wabaunsee County, May 5, 1878. There have been born to them eight children, viz: Albert, Annie, Andrew, George, Thomas, Nettie, James and Alvina, all of whom are living. Mr. Combs on the 57th [sic] of October, 1886, contracted a second marriage with Mrs. Mary REGNIER. This lady was born in Cooper County, Mo., May 10, 1853, and is the daughter of Northeast and Mary (JOHNSON) DAVIS, who were likewise natives of that State. Of this union there are four children, viz: Charles, Lewis, Laura and Richard.