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Coles County was established in 1830 from Clark and Edgar Cos, IL. In 1843, Cumberland was est. from Coles. In 1859 Douglas was est. from Coles.

Unless otherwise stated, source for all Coles Co, IL marriage records is Index to Combs of Illinois Marriages.
Unless otherwise stated, source for all Coles Co, IL Land Sales is Index to Combs Land Sales in Illinois


Two Combs Manuscripts refer to Coles Co, IL:

(1) The 1885 Carlton Wilbur Combs Letter. Carlton, b 1809, was the s/o John and Jean JACKSON Combs (m 15 Jul 1807, Grainger Co, TN) and gs/o John and Sarah MABRY Combs of Jefferson Co, TN. According to Carlton's letter, the children of his uncle George Mabry Combs (m Agnes ORE) were "our Coles Co. relatives." He identified George Mabry's children as: "… seven sons and one daughter, to wit: Nelson T. and John C., Hugh L. W. T. P., Pleasant M., Alfred S., Caltha Constant, Napoleon B. and Oliver Perry," and stated that all except Nelson and Hugh had come to Coles County. Carlton described the remaining eight as follows (excerpted): (1) "John C. married Dorcas COX. They had a large family of children, but only two sons, William Alexander and John Tilford." (2) "Pleasant M. married Mary HAYWORTH who also had a large family with 3 if not 4 sons. I remember Oliver P., Thomas Jefferson and John Nelson." (3) "Alfred Sterling is the next in order… He was remarkably studious and after leaving school studied medicine, went into practice in Tenn. but soon migrated to Coles Co, IL and located in practice in a town then called Independence, now Oakland, or which he was in part proprietor. Before leaving Tenn. as I now remember it, he was attacked with measles, on which he took cold. The cold settled in the lungs, producing consumption of which he died at the age of 30 to 35. He never married." (4) "Caltha Constant was the only daughter of the family, came with them to Illinois, married a man by the name of PEMBERTON, had one child and died. " (5) Napoleon married also in Illinois and died soon after, leaving a son who is deaf and dumb, but mental power pretty good, I conversed with him 2 or 3 hours by asking and answering question on a slate." (6) "Oliver was scarcely grown when reaching Illinois but the country proved too unhealthy for all of them and he too soon after died. Their Mother came out with them and soon died. Their father died many years before in Alabama." Other references in the letter to Coles County relatives have been inserted below.

(2) The William F. Coombes Manuscript states that Mary Combs, d/o Adin and Pamelia WILLIAMS Combs, m John WILLIAMS of Hardin Co, KY, and that two sons, Adin and Walter WILLIAMS, removed to Coles Co, IL.


1-02-1833 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. A:6 John Combs & Elizabeth MITCHELL

According to Carlton Combs, John Combs, s/o Joseph and Nancy THOMASON [THOMPSON?] Combs, and gs/o John and Sarah MABRY Combs, "… married Mary Ann MITHILL [sic] of Coles Co, IL…" It is not yet known if Mary Ann MITHILL was an error, and actually the above Elizabeth


8-25-1836 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. 2:15 Cathy Combs & Alfred D. PEMBERTON

Notes: Apparently this is Caltha Constant, d/o George & Agnes MABRY Combs.


1-11-1838 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. Napoleon B. Combs & Susanah A. PEMBERTON

Notes: Apparently, this is Napoleon B. Combs, s/o George & Agnes MABRY Combs.


1840 Coles Co, IL Census Index

p. 175
Napolean Combs


05/27/1841 McCOMMIE, Anderson BAUGHER, Emily Jane

Vital Records in Coles County Pre-1900 Marriages Presented by Illinois Genealogy Trails

Submitted by Phyllis Combs


3-23-1843 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. Louisa Combs & William W. P. QUINN


2-11-1847 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. A:108 Mrs. Susannah A. Combs & Rice T. HACKETT

Notes: Perhaps Susanna A. PEMBERTON, widow of Napoleon B. Combs (s/o George & Agnes ORE Combs)?


11-27-1847 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. Orleana C. Combs & William W. SNYDER


3-10-1848 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. Narcissa B. Combs & Philip T. WIGGINS


7-15-1848 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. Nersissa B. Combs & Ira CURTIS


9-23-1848 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. Mahala A. Combs & Jacob GALLADAY


1850 Coles Co, IL Census

Independence Precinct

P. 097

Darcas Combs
Saleda A. Combs
Pleasant Combs

Muddy Precinct

p. 084

George V. COEM

Notes: 1850 Census still needed, but (1) based on Mitchell Cemetery records (below) Darcus was actually Dorcas COX w/o John C. Combs (s/o George and Agnes ORE Combs).


1851 Coles Co, IL. Cholera Epidemic Reported (Combs Researcher Debi Hanks)


6-23-1851 Coles Co, IL Land Sales (Residence: Clark Co) Federal Sale John Combs


8-27-1851 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. B:25 Salita Combs & James R. MCDAVITT


5-08-1852 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. B:37 Mrs. Darcus Combs & Thomas BLAND

Notes: Possible remarriage of Dorcas COX, widow of John C. Combs? If so, not noted in Mitchell Cemetery Records and see next.


8-30-1852 Coles Co, IL Land Sales Federal Sale Doreas Combs


8-30-1852 Coles Co, IL Land Sales Federal Sale Pleasant Combs

Notes: Probably Pleasant Miller Combs, s/o George Mabry and Agnes ORE Combs


9-1-1852 Coles Co, IL Land Sales (Residence: Indiana) Federal Sale John Combs


9-1-1852 Coles Co, IL Land Sales (Residence: Indiana) Federal Sale John Combs


10-5-1852 Coles Co, IL Land Sales (Residence: Clark Co) Federal Sale John Combs


10-5-1852 Coles Co, IL Land Sales(Residence: Clark) Federal Sale John Combs


10-5-1852 Coles Co, IL Land Sales (Residence: Clark) Federal Sale John Combs


1-25-1854 Coles Co, IL Land Sales* Federal Sale William Combs


2-08-1855 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. B:87 Mrs. Elizabeth M. Combs & Martin L. ASHMORE

Notes: Possibly Elizabeth MITCHELL, w/o John Combs?


12-15-1855 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. B:104 Nancy B. Combs & Thomas WYETH


10-17-1857 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. B:147 Almira Catherine Combs & Samuel K. WYETH


1860 Coles Co, IL Census

Roll: M653_171

Morgan

p. 111

769/769 Wm Combs 55, m, farmer, 10880/400, IN
Margaret Combs 55, f, KY
Margaret Combs 18, f, domestic, IN
Wm H Combs 16, m, farm laborer, IN
Rachael E Combs 14, m, IN
John M Combs 11, m, IN


1870 Coles Co, IL Census

Roll: M593_197

Morgan

p. 262

113/112 TAYLOR, William 22 MW Farmer /100, OH, Feb
Elizabeth, 18, FW keeping house, IL Feb
William Combs, 67, MW farmer 12000/2000, IN
Margaret, 64, FW keeping house, KY
William 25 MW IN
Rachel 23, FW IN
John 20 MW IN

Note: MARGARET MYERS, b. 16 Mar 1804, Spencer Co, KY; d. 02 Jul 1881, Coles Co., IL; m. 11 Jun 1827, Spencer Co., Kentucky; WILLIAM H. COMBS, SR., b. 01 Sep 1801, PA or IN; d. 01 Sep 1874, Coles Co., IL. They removed to Clark Co, IN in 1827, and by 1850 were residing in Clark Co, IN


12-05-1860 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. B:217 Mary E. Combs & Seth T. BLAND


3-14-1861 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. C:2 Clara A. Combs & Don Carlos CURTIS


12-13-1862 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. C:57 Margaret J. Combs & Thomas MCMILLAN


9-22-1863 Coles Co, IL Land Sales Railroad Madison AS Combs


2-12-1869 Coles Co, IL Land Sales Railroad William A. Combs


10-08-1863 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. 6:186 Thomas H. Combs & Anna M. GREENLEY


10-20-1863 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. C:89 William B. Combs & Freelove SEXTON

Note: William B. Combs, aka William Bird/Byrd Combs, and wife Freelove moved to Nodaway Co, MO where they are found in the 1870 and later census records. William was the son of Martin Combs (of Monroe/Lawrence Cos., IN and Nodaway Co, MO) who was the probable son of Bird Combs of Surry Co, NC and Monroe Co, IN. William's father Martin married secondly Permelia SEXTON.


12-23-1864 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. C:151 (App. Only) William Combs & Susan ORCUT

Notes: William Alexander Combs, s/o John C. and Dorcas COX Combs


9-19-1865 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. C:196 Thomas Jefferson Combs & Mahulda PIERSON


7-12-1866 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. E:45 L. B. Combs & Susanna C. DOWNEY

Note: L. B. Combs may be same as Lemuel B. Combs, son of Martin Combs (of Monroe/Lawrence Cos., IN and Nodaway Co, MO) who was the probable son of Bird Combs of Surry Co, NC and Monroe Co, IN. This L. B. Combs may have removed to Nodaway Co. with Martin Combs and his family. If he did, he might be the Blewford Combs in Nodaway who appears to be a widower. One younger Thomas Combs of Nodaway Co. marries an Alice DOWNEY per the 1885 birth of their child.


07/16/1866 McCOMAS, Amurel WILSON, Elizabeth G Mrs

Vital Records in Coles County Pre-1900 Marriages Presented by Illinois Genealogy Trails

Submitted by Phyllis Combs


4-08-1868 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. E:162 Joseph Combs & Nancy Catherine SUTTON


12/24/1868 McCOMAS, James BLACK, Mary A MRS

Vital Records in Coles County Pre-1900 Marriages Presented by Illinois Genealogy Trails

Submitted by Phyllis Combs


4-15-1868 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. E:155 Belvadre Combs & James W. HAMILTON


05/08/1870 COMER, Martin PLEW, Alice A

Vital Records in Coles County Pre-1900 Marriages Presented by Illinois Genealogy Trails

Submitted by Phyllis Combs


6-02-1870 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. E:280 O. P. Combs & Elizabeth BRITTENHAM


10-01-1870 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. F:37 Rachel E. Combs & T. N. COFER


2-16-1871 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. F:47 E. F. Miss Combs & J. A. MOCK


4-18-1871 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. F:53 Elizabeth A. Combs & William MOODY


11/30/1871 McCOMAS, Sarah SMITH, Louis

Vital Records in Coles County Pre-1900 Marriages Presented by Illinois Genealogy Trails

Submitted by Phyllis Combs


11-24-1872 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. F:129 Lucy Combs & John C. McKEE


06/29/1873 McCOMAS, Oliver H MACK, Julia

Vital Records in Coles County Pre-1900 Marriages Presented by Illinois Genealogy Trails

Submitted by Phyllis Combs


3-30-1876 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. G:238 Owetis (Owentis) Combs & Clarie A. SHORNK (SHORUK)


11-06-1883 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. J:39 William A. Combs & Julia E. BONHAM


01/12/1892 COMER, Charles A ARTERBERRY, Anna A

Vital Records in Coles County Pre-1900 Marriages Presented by Illinois Genealogy Trails

Submitted by Phyllis Combs


11/25/1894 COMER, Claud FURGASON, Bell

Vital Records in Coles County Pre-1900 Marriages Presented by Illinois Genealogy Trails

Submitted by Phyllis Combs


1-16-1890 Coles Co, IL Marriage Records. K:362 Etta Combs & Daniel B. CAMPBELL


02/14/1899 McCOMB, Hutchinson BOYLE, Margaret

Vital Records in Coles County Pre-1900 Marriages Presented by Illinois Genealogy Trails

Submitted by Phyllis Combs


Coles Co, IL Cemetery Records

Provided to Combs Researcher Joyce Winter Kahre by Pauline Combs from Film 130,527 LDS Coles Co, IL:

???? Cemetery

Combs, Susan K. (ORCUTT) dau of Samuel W. and Roxy (KELLOG) Orcutt, wife of Wm. A. Combs (son of John C. Combs, son of George Mabry Combs) b 27 Mar 1838 d 9 August 1876

Combs, Henretta (infant dau of W. A. & S. K.) b 24 Aug 1868 d 20 Sep 1868

Combs, Greta G. (Infant dau of W. A. & S. K.) b 18 Jul 1872 d 22 Sep 1872

Combs, Susan K. (Infant dau of W. A. & S. K.) b 1 Jul 1876 d 18 Sep 1876

Humbolt Twp; I00F Cemetery

Combs, Wm. b 1935 d 1964

Nellie Ross Hyde Gardens

COOMBS, Geo. 3 Dec 1873 d 27 Jun 1967

Berry Cemetery E. Oakland Twp

Combs, Napeleon B. age 29 d 9 May 1844

Notes: s/o George & Agnes ORE Combs

Mitchell Cemetery

Location - West Charleston, IL about 4 miles

Combs, John 1810 1844

Combs, Dorcas wife of John Combs, 10 Mar 1810 22 Feb 1898

Combs, Minerva dau of J. and Dorcas Combs 17 y, 29 d. 28 Apr 1855

Combs, P. M. 8 May 1801 22 Jun 1866

Notes: (1) John C. Combs (s/o George Mabry and Agnes ORE Combs) m 11 Sep 1826, Grainger Co, TN, Dorcas Combs (d/o Dudley and Leanne NEAL Cox). (2) Pleasant Miller Combs, also a s/o George and Agnes.


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