McCOMB, WILLIAM

MCCOMB, MARDER, MASON, HILL, COOPER, HUGHS, PIERSON, HORN, WADE, VAN HORN

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 5/12/2019 at 22:12:02

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP

McCOMB, WILLIAM, deceased, son of Robert McComb, who was born in Washington Co., Penn., March 31, 1783 ; his wife, Isabella McComb, was born in the same county on the 1st day of November, 1789. They were married December 5, 1805 ; they emigrated from Pennsylvania, and were among the early pioneers of Lee Co. ; they first settled on the farm now occupied by Frank Marder ; they had ten children—Margaret, wife of William Mason, of this township ; Eliza married David Hill, now deceased ; she now lives in Pennsylvania; Jane married Mr. Cooper, both deceased ; Mercy married Hugh W. Hughs, and died in 1842 ; Mary A. died the same year ; Ellen, wife of Joseph Pierson, of Nevada Co., Cal. ; William, the eldest son, was born in Washington Co., Penn., January, 1808, and grew to manhood under the parental roof; educational advantages were limited, and William always lamented the fact that his surroundings were such as to cramp and cripple his desire for a good education. Oct. 4, 1866. he married Miss Ruhama, daughter of John Van Horn, of Illinois ; after marriage, they settled on Sec. 22, in this township, and commenced the battle of life : their first child, Robert William, was born Aug. 11, 1867 ; Lulu May, born Sept. 25, 1869 ; the third child, James, was born April 23, 1872, and died Aug. 19, 1872; the mother died April 26. 1872; the father, William McComb, died May 21, 1877, leaving two children, who are being raised and educated by George B. Wade and wife, their uncle and aunt— Mrs. Wade being a sister to their mother ; Mr. Wade was born in Monongalia Co., Va. ; at 10 years of age, he was bound to a tailor to serve until he was 21 years of age, but ran away the spring before his time was out ; went to Monroe Co., Mo., and engaged as a laborer. In the fall of that year he married Phoebe J. Van Horn, who was born in Buchanan Co., Va., Jan. 28, 1842; in 1863, he enlisted in the Missouri State service, and served four months and twenty days ; when the cause of the Missourians began to look dark, the forces to which he belonged disbanded, and Wade moved over to Hancock Co., Ill., and, in 1869, he came to Lee Co., and settled in this township. William McComb was a man universally recognized as the noblest work of God— an honest man—and during his residence in Lee Co., filled various offices of public trust. He was a Member of the Presbyterian Church.

Source: BIOGRAPHICAL DIRECTORY
HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY IOWA
CHICAGO: WESTERN HISTORICAL COMPANY, 1879

Transcription typed/proofed as article was originally published in 1879