John S Combs

Male 1819 -


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  • Name John S Combs 
    Born 25 Aug 1819  Kentucky Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    • Born in Clay or Floyd County in a part which became Perry County. In his interview with John Jay Dickey, he stated Perry County, Kentucky as his place of birth. Perry County was formed from parts of Clay and Floyd Counties November 26, 1821, after John S Combs' stated date of birth.
    Gender Male 
    Miscellaneous 26 Apr 1898  Hazard, Perry County, Kentucky Find all individuals with events at this location  [1
    • An interview of John S. Combs
      by the Reverend John Jay Dickey
      Transcription by David James Schimka
      March 17, 2012
      (Original spelling and an extra word or two left unchanged)

      John S. Combs - Hazzard, Ky, April 26, 1898. I was born in Perry Co., Ky. August 25, 1819. My father was Jeremiah Combs. He was born in North Carolina or Virginia. My grandfather was Nicholas Combs. He was born in Virginia or New River, N.C. He lived and died near where L.D. Combs now lives in Perry County. He came came to Kentucky early in the settlement of Kentucky. There was a large company came together. Mason, George, Nicholas, William, Jeremiah, Byrom, Elijah Combs. There was one other whose name I cannot recall, yes, Henry was his name. Mason was the oldest. I have seen all of these uncles. Byrom moved to Indiana; Wm moved to the Blue Grass. I do not know wether or not General Leslie Combs was kin to us but, I suppose he was a son of my uncle Wm Combs, as they both lived in that section of the state. Uncle Wm moved to the Blue Grass before I was born. My father died in January 1853 aged 73, this would place his birth at 1780. He was
      not grown when he came here. I have often heard my father and mother and uncles say that the Combses came from Jamestown, Va. to North Carolina. My father had two brothers, Samuel, how lived at Booneville, the father of Wiley Combs, and Nicholas, the father of Lorenzo, one sister who married John Williams who died on Troublesome.
      My mother was Sytha Sumner. Her father was Samuel Sumner who was killed by the Sheriff for resisting arrest either in N.C. or Ky. My mother came with the company to Ky. her
      brother, John, came also. He moved to Indiana but some of his children returned and live in Letcher and Perry. My grandmother Sumner married a Hicks and went to Indiana and
      raised a family. Two of my uncles, Hickses lived on the Ozark Mts. in the edge of Arkansas, when I was there.
      Nicholas Combs, my grandfather, was a soldier in the Revolutionary War. Several of his brothers were in the same war. I can't tell which ones were in the war, they may all have been in it.
      Old Wm Cornett came with my uncles to Ky.; also Richard Smith, greatgrandfather of "Bad" Tom Smith. He settled on Troublesome.
      I have heard my mother tell often of the killing of Benge, the renegade. She saw the Indians and told of one fellow hiding in the loft and and falling through while the Indians were cooking below and scaring them away.
      Mason Combs, my uncle, had children as follows:- Martin, lived on Carr's Fork; Preston, lived in Breathitt on the Middle Fork, Cyry Combs is son; Washington lived below mouth of Carr on North Fork; Talton Combs, at the mouth of Carr; Clinton still lives at mouth of Carr, very old; Bonaparte, lived at Booneville.
      George Combs had children as follows:- Claiborne lived in Owsley, Byrom dead. Elijah lived in Perry. He was General
      of the malitia. He had sons: Jesse, Elijah, and Jackson. Josiah Combs who was killed by Joe Adkins was the son of Jesse. Jesse was Clerk (of Perry) first and as long as he lived, and his grandson, Ira Davidson, succeeded him. I have seen him (Gen. Elijah) in his regimentals, commanding at the musters.
      He (Jesse) was killed by the explosion of a keg of powder in Shade Duff's store in Hazzard. Some one snuffed a candle and accidentally threw the snuff in the keg of powder under the counter. Duff was son-in-law of Combs. Both Duff and Combs were killed. Duff was killed instantly Combs lay a good while.
      Henry Harry Combs had children as follows:- Henry, lived in Big Creek; Matthew lived on Troublesome in Breathitt father of Wm M. Combs of Breathitt and Isaac of Wolfe; also George on Troublesome in Perry. Henry moved to Indiana. Old George married a Herald.
      I do not know when the Combses came to Kentucky but I know it was in (the) 1700(s).
      My grandfather Nicholas Combs lived be 101 or 2 or 3 years old. He is burried near L.D. Combs. I was grown when he died. I was married, just married, had no children, (He
      looked at his Bible. J.J.D.) was Feb. 28, 1838. I bought his dog irons at his sale. to go to housekeeping. The old
      Sizemores used to come to my father's to get liquor. They would drink and fight.
    • Combs researchers be advised:
    Reverend John Jay Dickey interview of John S Combs at Hazzard, Kentucky on April 26, 1898.
    Reverend John Jay Dickey interview of John S Combs at Hazzard, Kentucky on April 26, 1898.
    Transcription of the John Jay Dickey interview of John S Combs
    Transcription of the John Jay Dickey interview of John S Combs
    Non-edited transcription of the John Jay Dickey interview of John S Combs including exact line breaks, page breaks and page numbers.
    Person ID I3842  Schimka Family Tree
    Last Modified 18 Mar 2012 

    Father Jeremiah Combs,   d. Jan 1853, Kentucky Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Mother Cynthia Nancy Sumner 
    Family ID F1299  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Rebecca Maggard 
    Married Nov 1875  Kentucky Find all individuals with events at this location  [2
    Last Modified 16 Mar 2012 
    Family ID F1316  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBorn - 25 Aug 1819 - Kentucky Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMarried - Nov 1875 - Kentucky Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsMiscellaneous - 26 Apr 1898 - Hazard, Perry County, Kentucky Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Histories
    Reverend John Jay Dickey interview of Rebecca Maggard-Boggs Combs
    Reverend John Jay Dickey interview of Rebecca Maggard-Boggs Combs

  • Sources 
    1. [S1136] John Jay Dickey Part 3 of 7, John Jay Dickey, 1842-1934, Library US/CAN Film 157071 ., 2262-2267.

    2. [S1136] John Jay Dickey Part 3 of 7, John Jay Dickey, 1842-1934, Library US/CAN Film 157071 ., 2261-2262.