Santa
Clara County
Biographies
WILLIAM
L. COOMBS
WILLIAM L. COOMBS. As an early settler of San Jose, and a worthy
representative of the self-made men of Santa Clara county,
W. L. Coombs is especially deserving of honorable mention in a work
of this character. Of New England birth
and breeding, he has inherited in a large measure those sterling virtues of
industry, integrity and persistency that belong by right to the people of that
rugged section of our great country, and in the pursuance of his various
occupations has invariably won and retained the respect and esteem of his
fellow-men. He is a man of great
mechanical ability and ingenuity, and as chief engineer at the San Jose high
school building is rendering the city excellent service. A son of Samuel Coombs, he was born
September 1, 1832, in Waldo, Me. He
is the descendant of a Massachusetts family of distinction, his
great-grandfather on the parental side having served in a Massachusetts
regiment during the Revolutionary war.
The son of a farmer, Samuel Coombs was
born in Maine, and was brought up to agricultural pursuits. Subsequently embarking in the lumber business
as a manufacturer and dealer, he located in Bangor, Me., where he resided until
his death, at a comparatively early age.
He married Sarah Mayhew, who was born in Maine, the daughter of a
soldier of the war of 1812. She survived
her husband, came to California with her son, W. L. Coombs, and died in
Stockton in her eighty-first year. She
bore her husband seven children, of whom three are living. One of her sons, James Coombs, came to
California in 1849, but subsequently returned east and died at his old home.
His parents removing to Bangor, Me.,
when he was three years old, W. L. Coombs was brought up and educated
in that city, and from early boyhood worked in the lumber yard or mill. Starting for California in the spring of
1852, he sailed from New York City for Chagres, thence proceeded
by boat to Gorgona, from there walking to Panama,
where he took a steamer for San Francisco.
He went at once to Stockton, arriving there with $50 in his
pockets. Finding a man about to start
for Murphy’s Camp, Mr. Coombs joined him, securing a position as mule
driver, thus paying his traveling expenses.
Before starting for the mines, however, Mr. Coombs sent his entire
capital, $50, to his mother, and entered the camp penniless. There he was fortunate enough to meet Cyrus
Knapp, from Oldtown, Me., with whom he formed a
partnership, and began mining in some of the old forty-nine tailings, each
clearing over $40 in the first day’s clean-up.
A short time later Mr. Coombs accepted a position in Stockton with
his brother, who was junior member of the firm of Webster &
Combs[sic], and was employed there for seven years, receiving a salary of $150
a month. He then embarked in business
for himself as junior member of the firm of Houche &
Co., but through his partner lost all of his money. Going then to Nevada, Mr. Coombs was
successfully engaged in quartz mining for three years. Locating in San Jose in 1868, he first
engaged in the laundry business, and has since been a resident of the
city. For ten years or more he served as
janitor of the Horace Mann school, and in 1897, on the
opening of the San Jose high school building, was appointed to his present
responsible position as chief engineer.
His mechanical skill and ability render him especially qualified for his
duties, which he is performing most satisfactorily to all concerned. Since coming here he has put in oil burners,
the plant now being up-to-date in all respects.
In Stockton, Cal., Mr. Coombs
married Emma E. Griswold, a native of New York state, and they are the parents
of two children, namely: Edward, with
the Chase Lumber Company; and Frank W., who has been chief engineer at
the Agnew State Asylum since it was
opened, in 1888. In his political
affiliations Mr. Coombs is a true-blue Republican, and for one term served
as deputy sheriff under Sheriff Williams.
He is a member of various organizations, including the Independent Order
of Odd Fellows; the Santa Clara County Pioneers’ Association; the San Jose
Local Association of Stationary Engineers; and of the International Union of
Engineers. He resides at No. 90 North
Fifth street.
[Inserted by D.
Toole.]
William L.
Coombs
1875
Apr 7, Evening Post, P2, San Francisco, California
The
San Jose Steam Laundry, owned by W. L. Coombs, was destroyed by fire Monday
night. The building was insured in the
Commercial Insurance Company for $2,000.
Total loss about $9,000, including $3,000 worth of
underwear.
1875
Apr 7, San Francisco Chronicle, P1, San Francisco, California
Fire
in San Jose
San
Jose, April 6 – The San Jose Steam Laundry, owned by W. L. Coombs, was
destroyed by fire last night between eight and nine o’clock. The building was insured in the Commercial
Insurance Company for $2,000. Total loss about $9,000, including $3,000 worth of underwear. The proprietor will rebuild and resume
business immediately.
1884
Apr 8, Evening News, P2, San Jose, California
Died
Griswold
– In Walla Walla, March 30, 1884, Mrs. Mary Griswold,
mother of Mrs. W. L. Coombs, late of this city, aged 74 years.
1898
Oct 19, Evening News, P5, San Jose, California
The
Parade
Grand
Marshal W. L. Coombs has notified his aids, R. J. Langford, W. K. Bennett and
B. A. Herrington, to meet him tomorrow (Thursday) at 10 o’clock at Odd Fellows’
Hall. The following will be the order of
procession of the grand parade tomorrow:
First division – Police Fifth Regiment Bank, Brigadier-General C. C.
Sherman and staff, Patriarchs Militant, Rebekah Drill
Corps, No. 1, of Stockton. Second division – Marine Band, Rebekah
lodges, subordinate lodges, subordinate encampments, Grand Encampments and
officers. Formation of procession First
division forms on North Third street, right resting on Santa Clara. Second division forms on South Third street, right resting on Santa Clara.
1901
Jul 29, Evening News, P3, San Jose, California
Admission
Day – The Society of Pioneers is making elaborate preparations for the
celebration of Admission Day in connection with the Native Sons. W. L. Coombs has been appointed
marshal of the Pioneer’s division, and President Leaman
has appointed various committees.
1901
May 13, Evening News, P3, San Jose, California
Remodel
Dwelling
The
residence of W. L. Coombs on the corner of St. John and Fifth streets is being
moved forward on the lot and thoroughly overhauled and remodeled. The building will be modernized and greatly
improved.
1907
Jul 24, Evening News, P8, San Jose, California
Trouble
with Tenant
W.
L. Coombs entered a plea of not guilty to a charge of disturbing the peace made
against him in Judge Wallace’s court and his trial was set for August 6. Coombs had trouble with one of his tenants
over the vacating of a dwelling and his arrest resulted.
1911
Sep 28, Evening News, P4, San Jose, California
From
the Evening News 25 Years Ago Today
W.
L. Coombs and family have returned to reside here.
1915
Oct 6, Evening News, P3, San Jose, California
Funeral
of Leroy S. Coombs Here Tomorrow
The
funeral of Leroy S. Coombs, the employee of the Osen-McFarland
company who died yesterday, will be held tomorrow at 2 p.m. at the residence,
90 North Fifty street. The decedent was
a member of the Odd Fellows and prominent in the Machinists’ union. He was the son of Lizzie L. and the late W.
E. Coombs, brother of Bessie L. Coombs, grandson of Mr. and Mrs. W. L. Coombs,
Sarah E. Selby and the late J. S. Selby.
1917
Nov 14, San Jose Mercury News, P6, San Jose, California
40
Years Ago Today
Gerstmeyer’s barber shop in the New York
Exchange building was entered by burglars and tools valued at $10, with seven
packages of clothing belonging to W. L. Coombs, a laundryman, stolen. Entrance was gained with a pass key through
the front door.
1918
Jan 7, Evening News, P6, San Jose, California
Coombs
– In San Jose, Cal., Jan. 5, 1918, William L. Coombs, beloved husband of Mary
E. Coombs, father of Frank W. Coombs and the late W. E. Coombs, brother of Mrs.
M. P. Henderson of Stockton and grandfather of Leonard T. and Bessie L. Coombs,
a native of Belfast, Maine, aged 87 years and 4 months.
1918
Jan 8, Evening News, P5, San Jose, California
Coombs
Funeral Conducted by Lodge
Under
the auspices of Garden City lodge, No. 142, I.O.O.F., funeral services for
William L. Coombs, who died January 5, were conducted yesterday in Odd Fellows’
hall, a large number of friends being present.
The Rev. W. E. Crouser of Grace Lutheran
church, as chaplain, conducted the religious services and assisted Noble Grand Mulkey in conducting the services at the grave. The following served as pallbearers: A. S.
York, W. K. Bennett, F. McCoy, F. E. Cooley, C. M. Spencer and H. B. Fisher.
Transcribed by Donna Toole.
Source: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 1413-1414. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
© 2017 Donna Toole.