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Below is a family biography included in The History of Washington County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1889.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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I. G. Combs was born in Prairie Township, Washington Co., Ark., June 3, 1855, and was reared to manhood on his father’s farm. After obtaining a good common-school education he took a three years’ course in the A. I. U., and after completing his studies in that institution, turned his attention to pedagoguing, continuing that occupation for about four years, teaching in all about eight terms of school. During the summer months his attention was given to agricultural pursuits, and in his farming and other enterprises he has been quite successful, having acquired a comfortable competency. He has always taken an active interest in politics, and is the present sheriff of Washington County. He was married to Miss Martha Cowen, a daughter of Anthony and Georgiana (Hurt) Cowen, who were natives of Middle Tennessee. She is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The father of the subject of this sketch, Mr. Nathan Combs, was born in Breathitt County, Ky., September 19, 1830; and is a son of Matthew and Frankie (Brown) Combs, both of whom were born and married in Buncombe County, N. C. They removed to Kentucky shortly after their marriage, where they spent the remainder of their days, dying in 1866 and 1868, respectively. They became the parents of nine children, all but three of whom are dead. Their son Nathan was reared on a farm in the “Blue Grass” State, and at the age of twenty-three years came to Washington County, Ark., where he married, and in 1861 settled on his farm of 757 acres, three miles southeast of Fayetteville. His farm consists mostly of bottom land, with 450 acres under cultivation, and he has a fine orchard of 1,500 fruit trees. He has a substantial and commodious two-story brick residence, and for many years has devoted his time exclusively to farming, and has achieved a decided success in that calling. He began life for himself with only $13, and is now ranked among the wealthy and prosperous farmers of the county. June 7, 1854, he was married to Elizabeth Cline, a native of Tennessee, by whom he became the father of one son, Isaac G. He and wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and in politics he has always been a Democrat, and has taken a deep interest in the political affairs of the country. His wife’s parents were Virginians, and her father, George Cline was a captain in the War of 1812, and served two terms In the Legislature of Arkansas, having moved to the State about 1838.

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This family biography is one of 300 biographies included in The History of Washington County, Arkansas published in 1889.  For the complete description, click here: Washington County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

To view additional Washington County, Arkansas family biographies, click here

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