TAMPICO TORNADO

May 24, 1917

DEATH OF J.B. McCOMBS

J.B. McCOMBS for many years one of Tampico's leading carpenters and contractors, died quite suddenly early last week Thursday morning, May 17, at St. Mary's hospital, Rochester, following an operation for gall stones performed the previous Saturday at the hospital where all major work of the Mayo clinic is done. Death was due to perintitis.

The message telling of his death came as a shock to his wife here who had just the previous day received a letter from a convalescent patient in the same ward stating that Mr. McCOMBS had undergone the operation and was getting along nicely being at that time out of danger.

The remains arrived at Sterling Sunday about 1:30 p.m. and were brought to Tampico in PARENET's auto hearse. Funeral services were held at the Christian church at 3 o'clock, the sermon being preached by Eld. Miles BROWNRIGG who took for his text: "Man Goeth to His Long Home." The church was filled with the relatives and friends of the deceased. Appropriate songs were sung by Mesdames Foster WINCHELL and Chas. MORRILL with Maude FOY as accompanist. The following were pall bearers, six of them being carpenters who had worked for the deceased at some time: Geo. McKENZIE, P.W. MAXFIELD, C.L. FORWARD, Howard BATTEN, Trib STICKEL, R.H. McKENZIE. Interment was in the South Hume Cemetery beside the body of his wife.

J.B. McCOMBS was born in Wood County, Ohio, Feb. 21, 1853 and came west when young and settled with his parents near Coleta. After his marriage Oct. 28, 1877 to Martha WETZELL, they moved to a farm in South Hume where they lived until her death Dec. 4, 1889. Six children were born to this union two of whom died in infancy. He was married again March 15, 1891 to Adaline STEWART and after their marriage they settled in Tampico which has since been their home. For several months his health had been quite poor and he was unable to actively follow his trade. About a week previous to his death he went to Rochester, Minn., to see the Mayo's and get some relief from his sufferings. The most of his life was spent around Tampico where he worked at his trade and many of the buildings of this vicinity are monuments to his handicraft.

He is survived by his widow and the following children: Sylvester of Coleta, Alexander of Tampico, Florence WAREHAM of Davenport and Pearl MOORE of Moberly, Mo. One brother William of Milledgeville, three half brothers, David of Tampico, Henry of Como and Dan of Polo, also survive.