Rufus Edgar Combs Genealogy
Rufus Edgar Combs Genealogy
He was born 1 Jul 1887, Surry Co, NC and died 25 Jan 1980, Springfield MO. He married Ruth Olive Starkey, Wellsford, KS – b. 13 May 1887, Wellsford, KSd. 1927, Dodge City, KS (buried east of Wellsford KS, north side of road)
After Rufus Edgar’s wife, Ruth died, he was left with five small children to care for. Mamie Ida McNutt was hired to care for the children. Later Rufus Edgar married her. Mamie McNutt was b. 11 May 1892, Claflin, Barton Co. KSm. Mamie Ida McNutt, 12, Sept, 1928, Iola KSd. 19 May 1980, Springfield Mo. (buried at Wellsford, KS)Child: LivingMamie was born 11 May 1892, in Claflin, Barton Co. KS. She died 19 May 1980 in Springfield MO and was buried in the Wellsford Cemetery. Her parents were Walter Andrew McNutt and Emma Louise Fredrick McNutt. Siblings are Bonnie, Theodore, Ray and Walter McNutt. A baby girl, Norma, was born to Rufus and Mamie Combs.
Rufus Edgar Combs had the first franchise for Harley Davison motorcycles in Dodge City, Kansas. Rufus Edgar COMBS, 92, of Bolivar [Polk Co], Missouri, died in Springfield, Missouri, Friday, January 25, 1980.
He was born July 1, 1887, in a log cabin near Mount Airy, Surry County, North Carolina. In 1900, he moved to a homestead farm in West Texas and in 1905 to the Oklahoma Panhandle to prove up a homestead farm. Leaving the farm as a young man, he became a Depot Agent for the Rock Island Railroad in Wellsford [Pratt Co], Kansas. While in Wellsford, he opened a bicycle and motorcycle shop. After marriage to Ruth STARKEY, he moved his business and new wife to Dodge City [Ford Co], Kansas where he was a pioneer businessman.
The bicycle shop became the Combs Automotive Company which supplied parts, equipment and services to Western Kansas, Eastern Colorado, and Northwest Oklahoma. While remaining active in the management of the business, he semi-retired in 1939 and began farming and ranching again. His farming, ranching, and buying, selling or trading real estate moved him to Louisiana, Eastern Kansas, Missouri, Colorado and West Virginia.
In 1958 he settled in Boliver, Missouri, where he remained active in many interests until the Lord called him home.He was an active member of the Christian Church for many years, serving as an Elder and Teacher in Dodge City, and supporting the Church in every way as he moved about the country.
His later years were spent in support of the Cookson Hills Christian School, Siloam Springs [Benton Co], Arkansas, which was established to help children in need of a Christian home. He is preceded in death by his first wife, Ruth STARKY-nee Combs, one son, Paul Melvin, one grandson, Wesley and three great-grandchildren.He is survived by his second wife, Mamie Ide McNUTT Combs, two sons, Jay E. COMBS of Dodge City, Kansas, and E. Frank COMBS of Rogers [Benton Co], Arkansas. Three daughters, Janell L. O’Keefe of Dodge City, Kansas, Joyce E. Dillon and Norma Jean Lenz, both of rural Boliver, Missouri, seventeen grandchildren and twenty great-grandchildren. Funeral services are to be held in the Butler Funeral Home, Boliver, Missouri, at 11 A.M. January 29, 1980. Graveside services and internment will be at 11 A.M. Wednesday, January 30, 1980 in the country cemetery near Wellsford, Kansas.
Notes from Sharon Kaasa:Rufus Edgar COMBS was the s/o John William COMBS, b. 28 Aug 1848 in Union Hill, Surry County, North Carolina and d. 12 Oct 1905 in Merkel [Taylor Co], Texas and Matilde Jane BURRUS Combs, b.12 Sep 1849 in Dobson, Surry County, North Carolina and d. 1 Oct 1932 in Dodge City, Kansas.Preceeding Rufus Edgar COMBS in death were two brothers: Claudius Gallio COMBS and Floyd Everett COMBS, and five sisters: Julius Coetta COMBS Venable, Laticia May COMBS Ensminger, Nancy Adaline Combs Grant, Iris Laticia COMBS Hagy and Martha COMBS Ensminger.
Kansas State Guard March 24, 1919R.E. Combs a Pvt of Captain Lloyd F Currier Company “A”, 16th Battalion, Kansas State Guard who enlisted on the 29th day of July 1918 for the period of the war and one year thereafter is hereby Honorably Discharged from the military service of the state of Kansas, by reason of Muster-out organization. General Orders @24, A.G.O., 1919, Captain Lloyd Fleurrier, of Kansas State GuardSigned by C.I. Martin, The Adjutant General, Kansas
To all my Grand Children, Grandpa is not here anymore, he has gone across to that Golden Shore to be with Christ forever more.God has promised and I know it is true, that He will make all things new A Children’s Home it will include, where you may come, and not intrude, My Eyes and Ears can see, and hear, and never fall, throughout the year. A perfect home where all may come, a home up there for every one, to last through all eternity. If along life’s way, you are doing good, and loving people like you should, You will reach that Goal, and hear that word, Well Done.
Of this Ditty you may make, and let whoever will partake. The date of this is some time in the future, but some time in the future, I won’t be able to write.
Today is September 11, 1974 Written by Rufus Edgar CombsEdgar Rufus Combs’ story – recorded on a reel-to-reel tape in 1974…..Find in the Combs History The Combs Siblings (Children of John William and Matilda Jane Burrus Combs) – 1967 Reunion at Elephant Farm in Boliver, Missouri, USA: Claudius Gallio, Floyd Everett, Martha, Julius Coetta, Rufus Edgar, and Laticia May. (Not shown: Nancy Adeline and Iris Laticia (deceased)