• General Notes

  [pitts.FTW]
  
  [Br²derbund WFT Vol. 5, Ed. 1, Tree #0725, Date of Import: Apr 16, 2002]
  
  According to his gravestone he was a Mason.
  
  I found the following family in the 1880 Soundex for Kentucky, listed as
  follows:
  
  Combest, James M.                     5        20
  Sheet 11   Line:29
  White   Male    Age: 46        Birthplace: Kentucky
  
  Residence; Casey County
  
  Combest,  George Ann       Wife     47      Kentucky
  Liberty M.       Son      18
  Mary M.          Dau      20
  Clint            Son      16
  George M.        Son      14
  Columbus         son      12
  Erasmus G.       son      10
  Flora P.         dau       8
  John D.          son       7
  
  There is a picture of James M. Combest's military grave marker at the
  cemetery at the end of Combest Road in Casey County, Kentucky in the
  Combest newsletter.
  
  The marker reads:      JAMES M COMBEST
  1ST LIEUT   CO F & KY CAV
  CIVIL WAR
  OCT   1833         JUL     1888
  
  Here is the text of a letter written by J.M. Combest written home to a
  neighbor during the Civil War also contained in the newsletter:
  
  Clarksville, Tenn
  Jan the 21st 1863
  
  Mr. G.W. Riggins (My parenthesis: George Washington Riggins ???)
  
  Dear Sir   I drop you a few lines to let you know I have not forgoten
  you. We are in camp here. This town is on the bank of Cumberland river
  some 50 miles below Nashville. We have had a peacible possession here
  about 4 weeks with exception of a skirmish or two in capturing some
  _________on the other side of the river about Sharlot and some little
  picket fitting. None of our boys got hurt.
  All though we are surrounded by dark clouds of war I hope that he who
  rules the destiny of nations will hasten this despart war to a close as I
  think it has lasted long enough. I hope to see the bright sunshine of
  peace spred over our land one more and we may all return home to our
  familys and enjoy the peace the peace and hapiness we have injoid in past
  days. I would like to see all my old friends in Casey but I do not know
  when I will see them. There is a fine boating tide in the river now. I
  guess will be until summer again. Some two or three weeks ago there was
  five or six boats started for Nashville from this palce and was captured
  by the rebels at the Sholes about 20 miles above here. Since ther was 18
  or 20 boats past up to Nashville. I have bu little time to rite. I must
  come to a clsoe. Give my respects to all the good people of the South
  Fork,. Pleas rite to me if you can spair the time.
  
  J.M. Combest
  Direct your letter to Lt. Combest, Clarksville, Tenn, 8th Ky Cavalry.
  These few lines leaves me in the best of helth hoping they may find you
  and family enjoying the same.
  
  
  In "Men, Women, Events, Institutions, and Lore of Casey County, Kentucky" by W.M. Watkins, published 1939, page 175, is a record of the family of James Combest and his wife Ann Sloan (who are James Marion and Georgia Ann Sloan Combest). This account also mentions, "The children of Riley, brother of James are as follows..." and lists the names of the children William Riley and Delila Sloan Combest.
  
  The parents of James Marion Combest are recorded in the family Bible of Liberty Madison Combest (a son of James Marion Combest) as: Father, Austin Eden Combest, died Tennessee; and Mother, Margaret Combest, died Casey County, Kentucky. (A copy of this Bible record is on file in the Kentucky Historical Society, Frankfort, Kentucky.)
  
  Mattie Combest, wife of Liberty Madison Combest, told her grandson, Lewis Combest, Attorney, that the father of James Marion Combest was Austin Eden, a mule trader from Tennessee.
  
  Carrie Combest, wife of Dr. John Dowell Combest, son of James Marion Combest, told her daughter-in-law, Sara Combest (Mrs. Henry) that Austin Eden Combest married Margaret _______ and that one of their children was James Marion Combest.
  

Details of James Marion's family with George Ann Sloan