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John McCombs Family |
Coverage
| Place |
Pittsburgh, Allegheny, Pennsylvania, United States |
| Year range |
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| Surname |
McCombs
Semple |
Citation
- Ward, John Clark. John McCombs family from 1747 to 1897. (Chicago, Illinois: The McCombs Family, 1897).
- JOHN McCOMBS FAMILY
- b 3. JOHN McCOMBS.
- Born June 13, 1777, died in Pittsburgh, Pa., April 18, 1862.
- Was a man of prepossessing appearance, in stature about 5 feet 9 inches, medium weight and quite muscular. He was active and energetic in all his movements, ambitious by nature, inclined toward the progressive side of life. Was strictly temperate in all things, and as a rule enjoyed perfect health throughout his long life. He was not only scrupulously honest in all his dealings with his fellowmen, but was in the truest sense a consistent Christian gentleman and commanded the respect of all who knew him. The following is his autobiography.
- My father and mother emigrated to this country from Ireland, if I do not mistake, in the year of 1770, but were not married until after arrival in this country. They united with the Presbyterian Church of Pequea, Lancaster County, Pa., then under the ministry of Robert Blair, D. D., who I believe, was the founder of the church in its present location. Dr. Blair also established and conducted a grammar school, designed chiefly to prepare young men for the ministry.
- I was born in the month of June 13th, 1777, in Lancaster County, Pa., and grew up to manhood in the same county. In the year 1797 my father removed his family to the west and settled in Morganza, in the neighborhood of Cannonsburgh, and remained there six years [1803]. In the year of 1800 there was a remarkable revival of religion in Dr. McMillan’s church and throughout that section of country. In the course of that year it pleased God in great mercy, as I trust, to produce some saving religious impressions upon my mind which I have never forgotten, and I hope will be abiding to the end.
- In the fall of 1802 I was married to Miss Hannah Morrison of Pittsburgh, and in the following spring removed my family to the town of Pittsburgh, where I resided for many years. About this time I set up the family altar as the worship of God in my house, the number of my family being three, myself and wife and an indentured boy. This service I have been able, in my feeble way, to maintain in my family up to this present time, 1859, and hope to continue it to the end of my pilgrimage; and may God grant to all my children, who become heads of families, grace thus to honor God and belss their households. In the same year, 1803, my family united with a small society associated for public worship and mutual edification, which met in private houses, as they had no house of worship.
- The following were among the heads of families composing the society: Mr. James Morrison, Mr. William Semple, Mr. William Barrett, Mr. William Gazzain and Mr. Joseph McCullough, with their families and others. These met regularly on the Sabbath for religious services. This small society, feeling desirous of having the gospel preached to them and to have the way prepared for their being, organized into a church, united in an application to the Presbytery for some supplies. Their application was finally granted and they were organized under the name of the Second Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh. The first sermon preached to this small congregation was by the Rev. Wm. Wiley. The discourse was very solemn and appropriate to the occasion. During the time of the first stated minister the Rev. Mr. Snowden, my wife and I united with the church by a public and open profession of faith in the adorable Redeemer and have continued in connection with the Presbyterian church. In Mr. Snowden’s time I was solicited to officiate as clerk, that is, to lead the singing, or, as it is sometimes called, precentor, and I continued to serve the congregation in the capacity for several years after Mr. Hunt succeeded Mr. Snowden. In Mr Hunt’s time I was elected to the office of ruling elder in the congregation, but owing to timidity and a conviction of my inability to perform aright the duties of that sacred office, I declined being ordained.
- Towards the latter part of Rev. Mr. Swift’s pastorate in the Second Church of Pittsburgh, having, in 1834, removed our family to a residence purchased within the bounds of Bethany congregation, we became united with that church under the pastoral care of the Rev. Wm. Jeffery. Here we remained for four years. Towards the end of this time, finding it more to our worldly advantage, as we supposed, we purchased property in the village of New Birghton, Pa., and removed to that place in 1838, care of Rev. A. Williams. In 1840 we removed from this place to the village of Canfield, Ohio, transferring our relation from the Church of New Brighton to the Church of Canfield, at that time under the pastoral care of my son William. Here we remained during the space of five years. Having made a purchase of property in the vicinity of Pittsburgh, contiguous to where my son Norris now resides [Squirrel Hill], we took up our abode there in 1845. Here the pleasant memories of the past with the Second Church in Pittsburgh, which was at that time under the pastoral care of the Rev. Robert Dunlap, who was shortly afterwards called to his reward, leaving the church for a time without an under-shepherd, W. D. Howard, D. D., having succeeded to the pastoral care of the church. We continued to worship for several years with this congregation, in all, if my memory is correct, about nine years. Finding it exceedingly unpleasant to travel four miles to church in all kinds of weather, together with the infirmities of accumulating years, we took our dismissal from the Second Church, with all its hallowed scenes and delightful associations, and untied with the church of East Liberty, under the care of Rev. Wm. B. McIlvanine, where we remained until the year 1859, at which time we removed back to New Brighton and again found ourselves in connection with the church of Beaver Falls.
- Married 1st, HANNAH MORRISON
- December 2, 1802, died April 18, 1815.
- Children:
- c 1. William McCombs, born Dec. 11, 1803, died 184?. Married to MARY ANN CALDWELL, Oct. 16, 1826. Married MARY B. MORGAN.
- c 2. Eliza McCombs, born April 19, 1806. Married ALEXANDER B. SEMPLE.
- c 3. Nancy McCombs, born Sept. 26, 1808, died March 12, 1893. Married to WARREN W. MAYNARD.
- c 4. Mary McCombs, born Dec. 25, 1810, died April 22, 1893
- c 5. Norris McCombs, born March 11, 1813, died in Pittsburgh, April 24, 1887. Married ELIZABETH FERREE, 1843.
- c 6. James M. McCombs, born 1815, died in Chicago, Ill. Married ELIZABETH NASH, Sept. 2, 1845.
- Married 2nd, MARY FRANCIS April 30, 1816, died March 30, 1817 (no children)
- Married 3rd, ELIZABETH MURDOCH, February 19, 1818, during Mr. Hunt’s pastorate of the Second Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh. She was born Nov. 16th, 1795, died October 28, 1878. John McCombs died in New Brighton, Pa., not Pittsburgh.
- Elizabeth Murdoch was decidedly attractive in appearance, of medium height, slight build, auburn hair, blue eyes, a very bright and animated talker, and always looked on the bright and hopeful side of life. She was a woman of rare intellectual endowments, and in conversation wielded a magnetic influence over the listener that was irresistible. Having read and studied much, her fund of knowledge was wonderful, and her memory of such a retentive character that she rarely, if ever, forgot what she read, and had the remarkable faculty of being able to recall it at a moment’s notice. It was a great pleasure for her to read aloud of which she never seemed to tire. Her voice was clear, pronounciation distinct, and but few could equal her in this accomplishment. Socially she had many warm and true friends to whom she was devoted. She had a kind and encouraging word for all, and a disposition to live peaceably at any cost with every person. Her long and tranquil life fully demonstrated this, for she never had an enemy. She was a pattern mother, a true Christian and died full of years, beloved and missed by all who were fortunate enough to know her.
- Children:
- c 1. Jane McCombs, born July 23, 1819, died Sept. 1, 1824.
- c 2. Thomas McCombs, born and died Feb. 5, 1821.
- c 3. Hannah McCombs, born Dec. 1, 1822, died July 12, 1824.
- c 4. Robert McCombs, born Oct. 23, 1825, died July 8, 1826.
- c 5. John E. McCombs, born May 16, 1827, died June 24, 1828.
- c 6. George F. McCombs, born in Pittsburgh, Pa., April 3, 1830. Married ANNIE QUAIL.
- c 7. Harriett F. McCombs, born Dec. 10, 1831, died May 6, 1891. Married WILLIAM MacKEOWN, February 24, 1859.
- c 8. Louisa Frances McCombs, born Feb. 14, 1835, died April 23, 1853.
- c 9. Anna Linda McCombs, born Dec. 21, 1837, died July 13, 1839.
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