"Thomas W. Combs was born in this county (i.e. Harrison Co., IN), Sept. 20, 1835, and is a son of David and Jane (ROGERS) Combs, both natives of Virginia, about 1784; was a soldier in the war of 1812, and when it was over he came west and settled in Indiana; the latter was a daughter of Thomas and Sarah ROGERS--the former of Revolutionary fame. David Combs was a son of Adam Combs, a revolutionary soldier who served with distinction during the war, in LEE'S division of WASHINGTON'S army. Thomas W., the subject of this sketch, was reared on a farm, and received but a limited education such as was afforded by the public schools. When the war broke out he joined the Home Guard service, but Sept. 23, 1864, he joined Co. G, Fifty-eighth Indiana Vol. Infantry, from which he was discharged June 4, 1865, the war being over. He returned home after his
discharge, and resumed his farm work. He was married Dec. 23, 1857, to Miss Mary SHANEY, a daughter of Michael and Elizabeth (BROWN) Shaney, the former born in Germany. Mr. and Mrs. Combs have had five children as follows: David was born Jan. 27, 1859, and died Oct. 15, 1865; Elizabeth, born Dec. 8, 1859; William E. C., Sept. 2, 1862; Mary J., Nov. 10, 1864; Michael E., Dec. 15, 1866. Mrs. Combs died April 8, 1867; and April 18, 1868, Mr. Combs married Martha KRON, whose maiden name was KINGREY, a native of Harrison county. To this marriage was born nine children, viz: Martha, Dec. 6, 1868; Thos. I., Nov. 10, 1869; Sarah A., May 9, 1871; Mary A., Oct. 19, 1873; Rosalie, Feb. 15, 1876; Lydia A., Jan. 13, 1878; Eli R., Oct. 20, 1879; Ura K., July 24, 1881; all of whom are living. (Provided by Researcher David Howard from "Biographical and Historical Souvenir
for the Counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott and Washington, Indiana." (Compiled and published by John M. Gresham & Company,
Chicago, Chicago Printing Company, 1889.))