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What is now the state of Iowa was formed from Missouri Territory in 1816, and designated Howard County. When MO was admitted as a state in 1821, Iowa became again “unorganized territory”. In 1834, it became part of Michigan Territory, with the counties of Dubuque (Northern IA) and Des Moines (Originally Demoine) (Southern IA) established. In 1836, further “splits” took place, with Wisconsin Territory formed, and a territorial census was taken that year that included both Dubuque and Des Moines.

No Combs were listed in Dubuque; however, two were found in Des Moines.

See Also Earliest Combs &c. Families of Iowa


1836 Iowa Territorial Census

Des Moines County

Page 58
PAIN, Slyvia [sic] *

Page 67
Combs, Samuel

(Extracted from the 1836 Demoine IA Territorial Census - See also list of others on these pages under Early Combs to Iowa)

Notes: Samuel Combs has not been identified, but may have been same who was on 1840 Jefferson Co IA census. Sylvia PAIN was neè Combs, the widow of Daniel PAYNE who d in 1833 in Hancock Co IL. They had previously resided in Hawkins & Warren Cos, TN; and Walker Co, AL respectively; and in 1840, Sylvia was on the Lee Co IA Census. (See Daniel & Sylvia Combs Payne)


26 Dec 1837 (Des Moines Co IA Marriage Records) Combs, Minerva married PERKINS, Drewary B.

(Marriage CD - Source record still needed)

Notes: Drewery (a.k.a. Drury?) B. PERKINS not found on IA census.


1856 Des Moines Co, IA State Census

Format: married; years in state; native voter; militia

Burlington Twp

p. 212

303/350 Combs Mr. A. 28 M X 1 NY Farmer X X
Combs Mrs. 23 F X 1 OH

Note: Listed in a household with these 29 others; ANN COOPER, E. H. COOPER, R. W. COOPER, W. R. COOPER, E. E. COOPER, C. H. COOPER, A. ?. COOPER, C. M. COOPER, H. E. COOPER, ?. H. COOPER, MARGARETT MCNEALLY, JAMES MCNEALLY, JAMES DONLEY, MRS. DONLEY, A. W. WARFIELD, MARIA WARFIELD, ADA WARFIELD, CHESTER LEWIS, PETER MANUEL, MARIA MANUEL, ?. B. RAYMAN, JOSEPH ESLINGER, G. E. CLARKE, M. B. SATLER, R. M. SATLER, ?. L. CAMPBELL, ANDREW HIGDON, MARY BURNS, ORLANDO BURNS. (Boarding house?)

(USGenWeb Archives Project)


Important: All Records collected for this county may not have been added here as yet. See also the Combs Research List Archives