Nevada
County
Biographies
JACOB L. COOMBS, M. D.
The story of pioneer life has ever
proved a tale of thrilling interest, often rivaling in dramatic action any
episode upon the state, while deeds of heroism and valor have been no more
commendable, even if more frequent, upon the field of battle. It requires great courage and patient
endurance to leave comfortable homes in a long settled community and face the
hardships of life on the frontier, deprived of many of the conveniences and
privileges known to the older settlements; but a resolute band of men came to
the Pacific coast, and this section of the country now rivals in its
advantages, privileges and improvements the older east.
The late Dr. Coombs was one of the
early residents in this section of the Union, and was a witness to the greater
part of the growth and upbuilding of the Golden state. He was born in Lexington, Kentucky, June 6,
1829. His father, the Rev. Isaac Coombs,
was a native of Virginia, resided in Maryland for some years, and later in
Pennsylvania. Among his ancestors were
those connected with the Revolutionary struggle and the War of 1812. His wife bore
the maiden name of Elizabeth A. Forney and was a native of Pennsylvania, where
her ancestors had resided for many generations.
The Rev. Isaac Coombs and his wife had three children, and the parents
are now deceased. Dr. Coombs, the eldest
child, was reared and educated in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania, where he began
his professional study under the preceptorship of Dr. John Burkhalter. He pursued his first course of lectures in
the medical department of Washington University, and was graduated in medicine
and surgery in 1851. For four years
thereafter he was connected with the regular army as surgeon and assigned to
duty with the First United States Rifles.
In 1854 he resigned, locating to Corvallis, Oregon, where he remained
for ten years. During the war of the
rebellion he served as assistant surgeon in the United States medical department,
being located at Fort Yamhill and at Fort Hoskins, between the years 1862 and
1865.
Retiring from the army, Dr. Coombs
located in Portland, where he remained for one year, and in 1866 came to Grass
Valley, where he practiced during the rest of his life. He always kept abreast with the advances made
in medical science throughout the intervening years, and his knowledge of
medicine was comprehensive and profound.
His marked skill and ability was the means of securing to him a very
liberal patronage, and his success was well deserved.
December 4, 1855, in Polk County,
Oregon, occurred the marriage of Dr. Coombs and Miss
Sarah H. Chamberlain, a native of Michigan and a daughter of Aaron Chamberlain,
who crossed the plains to Oregon in 1844.
They had four children, namely:
Aaron L., Manlie W., Elizabeth A., the widow
of George W. Fleming, and Jessie, the wife of Charles E. Fleming, of Nevada
County. Dr. Coombs was a member of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Improved Order of Red Men. He had a wide acquaintance throughout
northern California and was highly respected as a successful businessman of
integrity and ability. For a quarter of
a century he resided in Grass Valley and enjoyed the warm regard of his fellow
men by reason of his possession of those sterling traits of character which in
every land and in every clime commands admiration and regard. July 4, 1900, he passed away after a short
illness leaving his family and a host of friends to mourn his demise.
Transcribed by
Gerald Iaquinta.
Source:
“A Volume of Memoirs and Genealogy of Representative Citizens of Northern
California”, Pages 272-273. Chicago Standard Genealogical Publishing Co. 1901.
© 2010
Gerald Iaquinta.
Golden Nugget Library's Nevada County Biographies