“Robert C. COMBS, a substantial business man of Fort Worth [Tarrant Co], Texas is descended from one of the honored pioneer families of Maryland. For generations his forebears were distinguished for their patriotism, their high intellectual gifts and their splendid moral and religious qualities--traits, which he has inherited in a marked degree. He was born in St. Mary's county, Maryland January 28, 1863, a son of Lewis Cornelius and Mary Elizabeth (COAD) COMBS and a grandson of William and Elizabeth RODMAN (SMITH) COAD, who lived in Cherryfield, St. Mary's county. Richard SMITH, the great-grandfather in the maternal line, was born in Burlington, New Jersey, March 22, 1735, of a Quaker family, distinguished in the annuals of the colony, and passed away in 1803, when he was sixty-eight years of age. He was an able representative of the legal profession and was called to public office, serving as recorder of the city of Burlington and as deputy from New Jersey to the first continental congress. He was reelected February 14, 1776 and in the historical painting entitled “The First Prayer in Congress”, he is portrayed as the typical Quaker, standing with his hat on.

The paternal great-grandfather, Ignatius COMBS, was a member of the Committee of Safety and the original commission is one of the tresured possessions of Mrs. I.P. GOUGH of Baltimore, a sister of the subject of this sketch. Ignatius COMBS was also a member of the commission appointed to settle the disputed boundaries of crown lands in St. Mary's county, the original copies of which are in possession of Mr. COMBS' brother Arthur C. COMBS of Drayden, Maryland. Ignatius COMBS served as a lieutenant in the Revolutionary War and his commission was issued August 26, 1777, as recorded in the Journal and Correspondence of the Council of Maryland. The family tree is preserved in an old Bible in possession of Arthur C. COMBS. This book was brought from England and proves that Robert COMBS is a descendent of William COMBS, mentioned by Craegar, and whose will, recorded in Leonerdtown [Leonardtown, St. Mary's Co MD] in 1740, names the following children: Mary WAUGHOP, Ellen WOODLEY (sic), Enoch COMBS, Thomas Hatton COMBS, William COMBS Jr., James Philip and Susannah COMBS. The mother of these children was Mary (HATTON) COMBS. Through intermarriage the COMBS family is related to the MANNINGS, FENWICKS, HATTONS, FORDS, COADS, etc. Mary FENWICK was the wife of Ignatius COMBS, mentioned above, and a direct descendant of Cuthbert FENWICK, who came to America in 1634 as a passenger on the Ark and Dove, and was one of the original settlers of St. Mary's county.

Lewis Cornelius COMBS was born in Park Hall Manor, St. Marys county, a son of Lewis and Margaret (FORD) COMBS, and received a classical education at old St. Mary's College in Baltimore, from which he was graduated in 1838. During his infancy his father died and his uncle and foster-father was one of the incorporators of St. Mary's Female Seminary, acting as president of the board of trustees of that institution until his death. His place on the board was taken by Lewis C. COMBS, who also served until his death, when he was succeeded by his son, Arthur C. COMBS. Lewis C. COMBS was commissioned first lietenant of the Third Company, Twelfth Regiment of Maryland Militia, July 11, 1845, by Thomas G. PRATT, governor of the state, and the document is now in possession of his son, Arthur C. COMBS. He had a family of eight children, four sons and four daughters, namely: Arthur Cornelius, William Coad, Robert C., Philip Ford, Mary Margaret, Fanny (COMBS) Gough, Ellen Virginia (COMBS) Bond, and Emma Elizabeth COMBS. Lewis COMBS was a lifelong resident of Park Hall Manor and passed away on the 18th of June, 1899.

His son, Robert C. COMBS, attended the public schools of St. Mary's county until he reached the age of sixteen years, when he went to Texas [abt 1879] and has since been a resident of the Lone Star state. For many years he was a traveling salesman for a wholesale produce house and eventually established a business of his own in Fort Worth, organizing the firm of R.C. COMBS & Company, merchandise brokers, of which he is still the senior member. Years of experience have given him a detailed knowledge of the trade and his administrative power is demonstrated by the success of the business, which is one of the largest of the kind in Fort Worth.

In that city, on the 16th of October, 1889, Mr. COMBS was married to Miss Katherine LESLIE, a daughter of J.E. and Martha Jane (SUTTON) LESLIE. The children of Mr. and Mrs. COMBS are: Cecilia, the wife of W. D. BELL of Fort Worth; and Kathleen LESLIE, who became the wife of Douglas LAIRD of New York City. Mr. COMBS enjoys outdoor life and is also a member of the Fort Worth Club. Through the organization and development of an important mercantile enterprise he has contributed his quota toward civic growth and progress, and among those with whom business or social relations have broughr him into contact he is held in the highest regard.”

IRVING - Hazel HARDING Combs, a homemaker, died Saturday at a Grand Prairie hospital. She was 93.

Funeral will be at 1 p.m. Tuesday at Arlington Funeral Home in Arlington. Entombment will be in Laurel Land Mausoleum in Dallas.

Mrs. COMBS was born in Kentucky and had lived in Irving for three months. She had previously lived in Grand Prairie. She was the widow of Mitchell COMBS.

Survivors: Daughter, Mary E. ANDREWS of Camden, Ohio; 21 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.