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 of Grant Co., KY

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Grant County was formed in 1820 from Pendleton Co., KY. Williamstown is the county seat.
1870 Census Grant Co., KY (Transcribed by Combs Researcher Deb Coombs)

Downingsville Pct p. 538
HH 249/247
(Jacob ?) HEDGEN, 74, M, Farmer, $1600, $10000, KY
Sarah, 72, F, keeping House, KY
Sanford, 35, M, Stock Trader, $1400, $400, KY
Henry COMBS, 27, M, Farm Laborer, KY
Robert FARMEN, 22, M, Farm Laborer, KY

Williamstown p. 601
HH 11/11
Thomas M. COOMBS, 31, M, Merchant, $1000, $600, KY
Mary S., 30, F, Keeping House, KY
John W., 7, M, KY
Mary, 5, F, KY
Martha E., 3, F, KY
Lizzie 1, F, KY
John S., 22, M, Clerk Dry Goods Store $1200 (personal), KY
1910 Grant County Soundex (Extracted by Combs Researcher Debi Houser)

William H BAKER 43 W Kentucky
Matilda 28 wife Kentucky
Lillie B. 10 daughter Kentucky
Elzie B 07 son Kentucky
Iva L NR son Kentucky
Thomas COMBS 16 brother-in-law Kentucky

James COMBS 70 W Virginia
Elizabeth 56 wife Kentucky
Thomas 25 son Kentucky
Cullen 25 son Kentucky
Leslie 22 son Kentucky
Jennie 20 daughter Kentucky
Melburn 15 son Kentucky

Note: James COMBS, possible son of James and Nancy COMBS of Lee Co VA, was married to Elizabeth CHADWELL. James may be the same James COMBS found on the 1870 Gallatin Co., Ky Census.


10 Mar 1915 Kentucky Death Certificate No. 06658: James COMBS, white, male, farmer, married, age 75 yrs 2 mos 1 d; born 9 Jan 1840 Va; died 10 Mar 1915 Grant Co., Ky of asthma; son of James COMBS born Va & Nancy COLE born Va; informant Mrs. James Combs of Stuardsville, Ky; buried Grassin? Cem 12 Mar 1915; undertaker O.P. ELLISTON of Williamstown, Ky. (Transcribed by Combs Researcher Debi Houser)
4 Oct 1930 Kentucky Death Certificate #30040: Harriet COMBS white, widdowed, female Age: 78 yrs 1 mos 22 ds Spouse: Henry COMBS; born: 10 Oct 1852 Owen Co Ky; died: 4 Oct 1930 Williamstown, Grant Co Ky; buried: Grassy Run, 6 Dec 1930 by Coates & Stewart of Williamstwon, Ky; daughter of George W. ISAACS born Ky & (blank) born don't remember; informant: Tom COMBS. (Transcribed by Combs Researcher Debi Houser)
6 Mar 1933 KY Death Certificate No. 6350: Leslie COMBS, white, male, laborer, married, age 45 yrs 5 mos 18 ds; born 18 Sept 1887 KY; died 6 Mar 1933 Grant Co., KY of pulmanory tuberculosis; son of James COMBS born VA & Elizabeth CHADWELL born VA; informant: Cullen COMBS of Williamstown, KY; buried Williamstown Ky Cemetery 8 Mar 1933 by O.P. ELLISTON of Williamstown, KY.
24 May 1949 Kentucky Death Certificate #11536: Cullen COMBS Resides RR, Williamstown, Grant Co KY; white, widower, male; Occupation: farmer; born: 7 Sept 1884 Grant Co Ky; Age: 64 yrs; died: 24 May 1949 Williamstown, Grant Co Ky of coronary thrombosis; buried: 26 May 1949 Grassy Run, Williamstown, Grant Co Ky by Coates & Youngman of Williamstown, Ky; son of Cullen COMBS and Elizabeth CHATTESWELL; Was Deseased ever in the U.S. Armed Forces? Yes; Informant: Charles _____. (Transcribed by Combs Researcher Debi Houser)
bef 1 Jul 2006 " Civil War soldier honored" By Trina Kinstler, Staff Writer for the Grant County News; posted here with the permission of Trina Kinstler

When Christie Kennedy, of Florence, began delving into her family history, she discovered something interesting about one of her ancestors. Her great-great grandfather, James Combs, was a Union soldier in the Civil War.

Not wanting him to go unremembered for his service, Kennedy decided she would hold a ceremony in his honor.

The service will take place on July 1 at 1 p.m. at Grassy Run Cemetery. A stone will be layed on the grave, and there will be a 21-gun salute, the playing of Taps, and possibly cannon fire.

"There are quite a few graves with flags, but nobody knows that he was a veteran," said Kennedy. "Everyone should be shown respect by getting something if they served."

James Combs was born in 1840 in Russell County, Va. He married Elizabeth Chadwell, also of Virginia, and the couple had 10 children. Their daughter, Jenny, was Kennedy's great-grandmother.

After James had served in the war, he moved to Grant County. Kennedy also believed he spent time in Wilmington, Del.

"I don't know what he did for sure, but I think all he did was farm," said Kennedy.

James died in March of 1915 in Grant County.

Kennedy is a genealogist, and one of her cousins gave her some information about family history. She began researching marriage licenses and death notices and discovered her relation to James Combs. Through a pension letter written from the U.S. Department of the Internal Bureau of Pensions to Elizabeth Chadwell, Kennedy discovered that he had served in the Civil War.

"He was a duty nurse, so he worked in the hospitals," said Kennedy.

It was upon that discovery that Kennedy decided she wanted to hold the ceremony to honor him and place a Civil War marker on his grave, so all will realize his service. She is expecting some family members and some cemetery workers to attend, but all are invited.

"I wanted to have something for him," Kennedy said. "Some people are war heroes, but everybody plays their part."

Carter Combs Notes: James is the s/o James Combs and Nancy Hobbs of Lee Co., VA in the 1850 Census. James is the s/o William Combs, Jr and Anna Thompson of Russell Co VA. James had a brother John that died in Gallatin Co., KY.
Important: All Records collected for this county may not have been added here as yet.