My Genealogy Hound

Harvey E. Combs is a native Kentuckian, born in the year 1825. In 1834 he came with his parents to Lewis County Mo., and settled near Canton. After remaining there four years he moved with his parents to his present location. They purchased 55 acres of land at $5 per acre. Our subject afterward purchased 160 acres, but sold 80 acres, and, being anxious to make a few extra dollars, helped cut 60 acres of wheat at $1 per day. The distance to the place where he worked was four and a half miles. This distance he walked barefooted twice a day until finished. In 1846 he married Lucresia Raborn, who died eight years later, leaving three sons. In 1854 he took for his second wife E. Mitchel, and she died eight years later, leaving no issue. In 1863 our subject was again married, taking for his wife the Widow Sprouse, who had three children—two sons and a daughter—by her previous marriage. By the third marriage our subject became the father of two sons and four daughters. He chose his three wives from within half a mile of the same place. When our subject first settled on his present farm he knew of no one living west of him. He kept some very cross and savage dogs, and can tell many interesting anecdotes about early times. He and his dogs were chased into the house many times by the wolves, and he stood in his door in one instance and counted as many as twenty deer, and could at any time see wild turkeys. His father, one fall, cut down 165 bee trees, and obtained seven barrels of strained honey and seven barrels of honey in comb. In 1865 our subject assisted in erecting the First Baptist Church in this part of the country. He took but little part in the late war, being provost guard at Alexandria about two weeks. He takes great pride in the culture of honey bees, having 40 stands at present, and has had as many as 113 stands at one time. He is a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Masonic fraternity. He is the son of George and Susan (Eberly) Combs. The father died in 1868 at the age of seventy-five. The mother is still living, and is ninety-four years of age.