Taylor Combs History and Photos

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Taylor Combs´ history and the children of him and his wife Ada BROWNING.

One of which is Burnett Combs who is now the new president of the Combs family reunion.

The oldest of “The Eight Combs Brothers” was Mason Combs. He was born in 1757, in Warren County, VA. He married Jenny RICHARDSON, on 29 Jan 1793.

He claimed all the land along the Carr´s fork of the Kentucky river. From the mouth of the fork, where Jeff is now, down the fork six miles, to the mouth of White Oak Creek, where Vicco is now.

He also claimed all of the land surrounding the fork of the river that runs southwest from the fork of Carrs, and named it Maces Creek, after himself. The main part of Maces Creek is about 10 miles long with 12 branches running off the main creek. And several smaller branches running off those. Mason keep Maces Creek for a several years. Then traded all his land on Maces Creek for a hound dog and hunting rifle. After Mason traded his land on Maces Creek he lived on his property on Carrs Fork, at the mouth of White Oak Creek.

Mason died in 1822 in Perry County, Kentucky. He died of a typhoid epidemic. Mason is buried on the point at the mouth of the Carrs Fork of the Kentucky River.

Mason and Jenny´s son Massingill Martin Combs (nick-named “Mart”) was born in 1810 in Perry County when he was 15 years old, he married his cousin, Elizabeth Combs, who was 13. They were wed 14 Feb 1825.

Elizabeth was nick-named “Betts”. She was born in Perry County, in 1812. Elizabeth´s father was named Jeremiah L. Combs (his nick-name was “Long Jerry Combs”). He was born in 1782 in Surry County, North Carolina. Massingill Martin Combs and Elizabeth Combs had fourteen children; Burk Combs, Clint Combs, Gilbert Combs, Benjamin T. Combs, Washington Combs, Bonaparte Combs, Hanbill Combs, Elizabeth Combs, Polly Jane Combs, Jenny Combs, Dicy Combs, Farb Combs, Preston Combs, and Catherine Combs.

During the Civil War, five of their sons fought for the north, one fought for the south. Ben did not fight.

Elizabeth was 74 when she died in 1886. Massingill died in 1892 in Perry County. The same year he died, he took a second wife, he was 82 years old, his new wife was named Polly Kelly and she was 45 years old.

The land was about one mile wide, 4 miles long, and stretched along Carrs Fork from Accup to Vicco.

Massingill started a family farm on the land. He built the first home on the farm. Between two bends of Carrs Fork. Where Bentown is now. He farmed corn, beans, squash. He also raised pigs and chickens. When Massingill died he split the land into shares and gave it to his nine children. Most of Massingill´s children sold the land they inherited. One of Massingill & Elizabeth´s children who stayed on the farm was named, Benjamin T Combs. Benjamin´s nick-name was “TBen” Benjamin acquired the name “TBen” when he named the family farm, Bentown, after himself, then everyone started calling him “TBen”

Benjamin was born 15 Mar 1856 in Perry County. On the family farm at Bentown, Happy. He was the youngest of his siblings, so according to the old law of entail, he inherited the home of his parents. Ben inherited a three mile stretch of land along the Carrs Fork, from Accup to Vicco. Which included the old house his parents built.

The first road to Bentown was just a dirt trail, for horses and wagons. The road was across the river from their home and having no bridges, they crossed the river with boats. To get to their home until a swinging bridge was built.

In 1912 when the railroad was built through Bentown, people started traveling to and from Bentown on passenger trains. The railroad was built on the spot where Massingill´s house set. The old house was torn down, and Ben and Matilda built a new house. When a post office was built in Happy, they included Bentown as part of Happy. Because Bentown did not have its own post office. There is still a road in Bentown named Bentown Circle, put the area is no longer known as Bentown, except for by a few people who know the history.

There was a four acre square block of coal on Ben´s property. Ben sold all the mineral rights on the property to a local coal company. They started hauling coal off the property soon after 1949.

Ben married his cousin, Matilda Combs. They were both 16 when they got married. Matilda was the daughter of Hiram Combs and Mary. She was born 20 Mar 1856, in Perry County.

Matilda died 26 Jan 1923 from diabetes. After Matilda died Ben married a girl named Maggie WILLIAMS, they married before 1925.

Benjamin died 27 Nov 1942. He died of stomach cancer. Both Ben and Matilda died in Bentown and they are buried in Jim Pete Combs Cemetery in Jeff KY.

When Ben and Matilda had both passed away the family farm at Bentown was split, and given to their children. Some of their children sold the land they inherited. Ben and Matilda had 16 children. All of their children were born on the family farm, at Bentown. Their children were as follows: they had two daughters who died at birth and were not given names. Their son Jerry Combs died when he was five years old, and their daughter Liza Jane Combs died when she was six. They did not inherit any land. Cordelle Combs sold her land and moved to Leslie County, with her husband Kernel SHEPHERD. Samp Combs and Paul Ann Combs both sold their land and lived at Georges Branch.

The children who stayed at Bentown where; Mary Bell Combs, Doshie Combs, Jim Combs, Massingill Combs, Hiram Combs, McKinnley Combs and Taylor Combs. Preston Combs sold his land and lived in a house on Taylor´s land. After Preston died his house was torn down. Chorlotta Combs sold her land and lived on Taylor´s land until her house burnt.

Taylor was a farmer and a coal miner. He also worked for the L&N railroad. Taylor married Ada BROWNING 24 Sep 1925. Taylor´s sister Cordelle was married to Kernel SHEPHERD, the Kernel told Taylor about Ada. Taylor lived in Perry Co and Ada lived in Leslie Co. So Taylor sent Ada a letter and this started their romance. They dated for a while then were married. Taylor and Ada were married on a mountain-top located on the Perry and Leslie County lines, in Kentucky. The wedding ceremony was performed by Mr. Kelly FIELDS, who was Ada´s uncle.

Taylor and Ada lived in the second house built at Bentown with Ben and his second wife until Ben´s death.

Upon Ben´s death, Taylor inherited about 90 acres of land. Taylor was born, lived and died on the family farm. Ada lived on the farm with him for 74 years. They farmed corn, beans, grapes, and other vegetables. They raised chickens and pigs, they owned a milk cow, and a work horse. And almost always had a dog or two.

In 1925 the state took part of the family farm to build the first highway. It only went as far as the end of Bentown, were RW School is now. Several years later it was built farther down Carrs Fork through Vicco and on to Virginia. There was a cement flat-bridge built to cross the river upon. So now they could drive cars across the river.

In 1945 Taylor and Ada, tore down Ben´s house and built a third house. They used sleepers from the first house (Massingill´s house) to build the foundation. Sleepers are squared logs about 6 inches by 6 inches. In 1969 the state took more of the family farm to build a new highway. The farm was reduced to about 74 acres.

When the new road was built, the third house (the one built by Taylor and Ada) had to be moved. A cement block foundation was built, the old sleepers from Massingill´s house were used for the frame of the floor and the house was moved onto the new foundation. When they moved the house it was turned sideways and what was the front porch on the old house became a bedroom on the side of the new house. The house was remodeled with a few new rooms and a new front porch. It became the forth house and for the first time the bathroom was built inside the house. Before then they had only used an out house.

Taylor died 10 Mar 1999. He died in the Hazard hospital and he was 101 years old when he died. Taylor had sugar diabetes, black lung, and congested heart failure. Ada died in may 1999 she was 94 and died from congested heart failure.

After Taylor died Ada keep asking where he was, we would tell her Taylor died, but she could not except it, she keep asking for her husband. Then she became ill and was taken to the hospital, my mother was there with her. Ada finally realized Taylor was gone, because she told my mother she knew where he was, that he was dead, after she excepted his death she knew it was ok for her to go, and she died.

Taylor and Ada are buried at the Taylor Combs Cemetery on the family farm at Bentown. They were together for 74 years and were affectionate with each other until they died.

Taylor Combs and Ada BROWNING had eight children.

Taylor and Ada´s 1st child

Goldie Combs, she was born 24 Jul 1927 and married Walter WEST, born 27 Nov 1919 and died 15 Jun 1996 of a stroke. Walter had two daughters from a previous marriage they were… Betty, born 14 Nov 1943 and Sandra, born 31 Oct 1945. Walter & Goldie had six daughters they were;

Taylor and Ada´s 2nd child

Lula Combs was born 1 Apr 1930 and died 2 Jul 1995 Lula had one daughter named Donna Kay, Donna was still born. Lula married Henry HATFIELD who was born 30 Apr 1928 and died June 1982. He was a descendent of the Hatfield´s of the Hatfield and McCoy feuds. I don´t know if it is true or not, but the story has been told that Henry had a first wife. And while he was married to her, he had an affair with Lula, this affair lasted for may years Henry was the father of Lula´s illegitimate baby (Donna). When Henry´s first wife died, he then married his long time love, Lula.

Taylor and Ada´s 3rd child

Roscoe Combs, born 10 Apr 1932 and died 4 Sep 2000 of lung cancer. He was married to Joyce COLYER on 11 Aug 56. Joyce was born 22 Jan 1937. Roscoe and Joyce had six children;

Taylor and Ada´s 4th child

Burnett Combs, born 26 Apr 1935 he married Pauly BROWN who was born 27 Apr 1927 I don´t have the date they got married cause Burnett don´t like to talk about it. But they were divorced in 1997 and Burnett has no children.

Taylor and Ada´s 5th child

Matilda Combs born 8 May 1938 she married Charles FOSTER and had one child named Darin.

Taylor and Ada´s 6th child

Cleta Mae Combs, born 25 Mar 1940. When Cleta was born her mother named her. Two of her sisters Goldie and Lula and her father Taylor, did not like the girl Ada named Cleta after. They would not call her Cleta, instead they called her Elizabeth, and she was called Elizabeth her whole life. Cleta had an affair with a man from up north whose last name was LOVETT. They had a daughter who they named Ginger she was born in 1961. Cleta did not marry until 1973 when she married Lester FARLER. Lester and Cleta had one daughter they named Tabatha. She was born 20 Jan 1975. On 4 Feb 1978 Cleta, Lester, Ginger and Tabatha, where in a auto accident, they were working on highway 15 in front of RW Combs School in Happy, KY. They had the road cut off except for one lane. Cleta´s family was traveling in a jeep and was hit head-on by another vehicle. Tabatha was the only one who survived she was only two years old. They say Ginger was holding her in the back set, saw the other vehicle coming and through Tabatha out of the jeep. They found the baby sitting on a rock covered with blood. Today she lives in southern Indiana with her husband, Glendon HADDIX. Cleta and Ginger were so torn up they had to have closed caskets at their funeral. It was told Cleta´s head was cut off. Lester lived about a month after the accident, it was told after the accident he never woke up.

Taylor and Ada´s 7th child

Joyce Ann Combs, born 1 Jul 1942 and married Donald Dean CAMPBELL, they had three children, Kimberly , Gereal, and Dean.

Taylor and Ada´s 8th child

Huey Bertis Combs, born 25 Apr 1945 he only lived five weeks and died from pneumonia

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Photos are all submitted by Barbara

Taylor Combs´ history and the children of him and his wife Ada BROWNING.

Taylor Combs and Ada BROWNING had eight children.