Prominent Citizen of Smithfield District is No More; Died Christmas Day

Mr. J. M. Combs, a prominent citizen of Smithfield district, of Tariff, passed away Christmas morning after an illness of only a few hours. The exact nature of his ailment is not certainly known, but it is thought an abscess caused his death. He was well and widely known in the eastern part of the county and news of his death occasioned sincere sorrow among hundreds of relatives and friends.

The deceased was born in Russell county, Virginia, about 67 years ago. He came to this county with his family in 1868 and settled in Smithfield district where the remainder of his life was spent. In early manhood, he was united in marriage with Miss Julia Tallman, a daughter of the late Hon. Samuel Tallman. Mrs. Combs survives with one daughter and six sons, Mrs. C. C. Simmons, of Linden, Mr. D. B. Combs, Mr. Warren Combs Charles Combs, of Kanawha county, and Mr. Samuel Combs, of Tariff, Mr. Rex Combs, of Spencer, and Mr. Croft Combs of Pittsburgh, Pa. The deceased is also survived by two brothers and four sisters, Mr. Beverly T. Combs, of Akron, Ohio, Mr. Wm. D. Combs, of Spencer, Mrs. Presley Vineyard of Looneyville, Mrs. Eliza Lockhart, of Ravenswood, Mrs. John F. Jones, of Walton, and Mrs. Jane Jones, of Omar, Ky.

Persons in Spencer who knew Mr. Combs, say that he was a man of the highest character. He reared a splendid family of children and in every way performed the duties of the best type of citizenship.

(Submitted by Pat Combs)
The Times Record, Spencer, West Virginia, Thursday, 2 January 1919, page 1:2