Notes From The Dickey Diary

By Rev. John J. Dickey - 1898

Interview with John S. Combs, dated 4/26/1898, page 2262:

"Born Perry Co., Ky., Aug. 25, 1819. Father, Jeremiah Combs, born in N.C. or Va. Grandfather, Nicholas Combs, born in Va. or on the New River in N.C., but he came early to Ky.. His children: Mason, George, Nicholas, William, Jeremiah, Byron, Elijah, and Henry. Mason was the oldest. Byron went to Ind., William to the Bluegrass. I think Gen. Leslie Combs was the son of Uncle William Combs, but am not sure. My father was born 1780, died Jan. 1853, at 73. The Combses came from Jamestown, Va., to N.C. My father had two brothers: Samuel lived at Booneville, was the father of Wiley; Nicholas, the father of Lorenzo. One sister who married John Williams and died on Troublesome.

My mother was Sytha Sumner. Her father was Samuel Sumner who was killed by a Sheriff either in N.C. or Ky. Mother's brother, John, went to Ind., but some of his children lived in Letcher and Perry Counties. My grandmother Sumner married a Hicks and went to Indiana and raised a family. Two uncles Hickses lived in the Ozark Mountains in the edge of Arkansas. Nicholas Combs, my grandfather, was a Revolutionary Soldier with some of his brother. My uncle Mason Combs's children: Martin lived on Carr's Fork; Preston lived on the Middle Fork in Breathitt Co., had a son Cyry; Washington lived on the North Fork; Talton lived at the mouth of Carr; Bonaparte lived at Booneville. Children of uncle George Combs: Claiborne lived in Owsley; Byron dead, killed by powder keg explosion at Shade Alriff's (?) store in Hazard. Children of uncle Flijah Combs who lived in Perry Co. and was the general of the militia: Jesse who was Clerk of Perry Co. and had son Josiah who was killed by Joe Adkins and Jesse's grandson Ira Davidson is now Clerk, Children of uncle Henry Combs who went to Indiana: Henry lived on Big Creek; Matthew lived on Troublesome father of William M. Combs of Breathitt County; Isaac of Wolfe County; George lived on Troublesome and married a Herald.

The Combses came to Ky. in the 1700's. Nicholas Combs died at 101, 102, or 103 on Feb. 23, 1838."

Interview with Andrew Combs, brother to John S., dated 4/26/1898, page 2267:

"Born 1806.

Grandfather lived at Long Islands of Holston River. Grandfather married Nancy Grigsby. My mother was a sickly woman. I took her to Salt Creek, Ind., to see her mother, Mrs. Hicks. My grandfather was Nicholas Combs. My grandmother Combs couldn't shoot but my mother could and could kill bears and deer, The Combses owned property and slaves. I think Old Thomas Grigsby came with grandfather Combs, his brother-in-law.

Mason Combs married a terrible woman. Their children: Martin, Preston,

Bonaparte. My wife was Polly Feitner, daughter of John and Betsey Feltner.

She has a brother, Jacob.

The Feltners were from Tenn. My mother was a Sumner from Long Islands of Holston just below Blountsville My brother Mose was the eldest and was grown when I was a boy. My wife's brothers and sisters: William, Henry, Rebecca (Osborne) in Ind. Jacob, my father-in-law, died. His widow had a sister Nancy who married a Ritchie.

Richard Smith, a Baptist preacher, married Nancy Combs, my aunt. My father was called "Chunky" Jerry."

Interview with Allen E. Robertson, in Manchester, Ky., dated 4/l5/l898, page 2281:

"Born Madison Co., Ky., near Fort town, March 25, 1822. Father born near Dan River, Va., at Moraviantown. His name was David Robertson. He died Clay Co., Ky. June 18 or 20, 1872, aged 103 from Feb. to June. Grandfather Samuel Robertson born in Highlands of Scotland. His wife was Elizabeth Harris. His brother William came with him and grandfather left Moraviantown and settled 2 miles southeast of Richmond, Ky., 1777.

My father was the oldest. His brother John went to Jackson Co., No., brothers William, James, and Alex settled in Indiana. James in Shelby Co. The others in Morgan Co. at Martinsville. Sister Sally married a Gordon and went to Mississippi. Esther married George Baker and went to Indiana. Mary married a Metcalf and went to Indiana. Jessamine went to Indiana, unmarried. Martha(?) married William Nobly and died in Madison.

My father married Alie (?) Allen.In 1839 he went to Goose Creek. Another of these hunters from the Bluegrass was William Norris, cal led "Cuddy." My mother was an Allen, daughter of Adoniran Allen, called "Tedious." He was born in New Hamoshire near the Vermont line. He was Captain in Col. Cleveland's regiment at the Battle of King's Mountain. He settled in Augusta, Ga., moved to D.C. for 1 year then to Ky."

Interview with Peney Roberts, at Roberts in Clay Co., page 2295:

"From Hancock Co., Tenn. Ben Howard went from Harlan Co. to Licking or Sand Country when I was a boy. He killed a man. Belonged to the "lower set" of Howards. Brothers: Big Bill Howard, Eli, James, Elisha, and Phil Little Bill, Coney, Mike, Jake, and Larkin were brothers but not of Big Bill.

The "upper set" of Howards are descendents of Old Samuel who married Clare Angelin. The Roarks are Portuguese came from the Black Water Country, Tenn. So did the Sizemores and Collitts. The Sizemores were Williamses and changed name because of a crime committed before coming to Kentucky. Some of the Collitts say they are Collinses."