Gallipolis journal. [volume] (Gallipolis, Ohio) 1837-1919, 1867-02-28
GENERAL SAMUEL R. HOLCOMB
DEPARTED THIS LIFE JANUARY 24TH, 1867,
IN THE 90FH YEAR OF HIS AGE.

Asa Tribute of Respect to the memory of Gen.
S. r. HoLcoMB this Memoir is written. He loca-
ted in Gallia county and State OF OhIo,, in M the
year 1S05-and his first appearance in public life
was as Capt of q military company organized
under the military laws of Ohio. Although mil
itary officers in time of profound peace, COM
manded no very great respect; Notwithstanding,
his dignified appearance and manly department,
with the requisite military pride,-attracted the
attention of the community, who witnessed the
display and one and all united in saying that he
merited higher command-and would, at no
distant day rise to the first honors in the military
department of Ohio; and it was but two seasons
subsequently, until he was honored with the COM
mand of the whole body of the militia OF Gallia
county with the rank OF Colonel.
While holding that command, the war with
Great Britain, of 1Sf2-15. was inaugurated.-
Col. HOlcomb received orders to hold himself and
staff in readiness TO take the field at minutes
warning. This notice was received with much
satisfaction, as he desired to take an active part
in repelling the invasion of Ohio by the combined
forces of the British and Indians, on the north
western portion of the State. But officers hay-
ing precedence by dates of commissions were
first called by which, Col. Holcomb was deprived
of his cherished aspirations.
So great was his thirst for battle scenes, that,
on the call of Governor Meigs, in August, 1873
for volunteers to repel threatened invasion OF
Ohio, Col. Holcomb, with other volunteers. to
the number of i0,000 marched TO Gov. Meigs'
headquarters at Upper Sandusky, where they
were organized and ready to march to any point
when ordered In that organization, Col. HOl-
comb was appointed an aid -de-camp to Brigadier
Gen Z. W. Tupper, where he continued in serv-
ice until the disbandment of the whole body oi
volunteers
So prompt and energetic was he in all things
that on the contingency Of q vacancy in the field
of Brigadier General in the Sd division of Ohio
Col. Holcomb was promoted to fill the vacancy
and it is due to him TO say, that no field officer
has since discharged the duties Of that Office with
more satisfaction to officers and privates. lie
was, at al times, prompt in keeping up 4 well.
organized militia.
As he was vigIlant in the discharge of all trusts
confided to him, the Commissioners of Gallis
county appointed him collector of the revenue o.
the county The system of collecting revenue
was not then as at the present day-that tax
payers were compelled to hunt the collector, bu
the collector was compelled to hunt the tax-pay.
en- About the same time, he was elected Sheriff
of Gallia county,-the labor OF which, with tha
of collector, was more than he could well accom-
plish-so that he was compelled to postpone col
1ections of revenue; notwithstanding his annua
settlements were made honestly and squarely-
all deficiencies were made up of his other means
In the meantime, an omission to collect, operated
greatly TO his disadvantage, as many of those VIII,
owed reyeaue had gone to parts unknown, whil
small amounts would not justify the expense o
| collections and when he surrendered the srusto
collector he found that his assets and profits wer
much less than he had anticipated. The Office o
Sheriff required him to travel over alarge spac
of country, for suchfees as would hardly defra,
| expenses, so that when he had given up both of
ices and retired to his home, he found himsel
| delinquent-which required the use of much o
his private means to discharge all his liabilite;
| MS Gays Ne16 spent Il
independence and ease, as he desired; although
| he had, from the resources of quite an extensiy
farm, sufficiency to keep him from want.
me ONCE OF collector he held as long as he de
| slreq TO hoid 1t, and the Office of Sheriff som
| twelve years, and in all his settlements, neve
| was ne founo delinquent, not even to dollar
He was proyeroially honest and faithful in Al
his public transactions, Indeed so great wa
public confidence in him, that when he was soIic
tied to become a candidate for the Ierislatnrf
he was elected without opposition or IL any
but little. While a member he was placed q
committees requiring much legal research an
acquaintance with general and local matters +
any degree of credit. But, on all such occa
sions, he discharged his duty TO the entire salts
| faction of the Legislature.
Il While yet in early life, he became instrument.
in the organization of a Masonic Lodge in Ca
Hpolis, and no enc was more prompt IN carryin
Tout the great principles of that institutions
| Unity, Drotherly love and Denevolence, SCENE
to be the attributes of his heart-and he lived
seemasonry In Gallia county, grow and flouris
like green Bay tree.''
And TO say that GEN Samuel R. Holcomb ":
one Of t1e most useful and distinguished citize.
of his county, is bus TO speak of him. as he was
in truth, he was one of natures noblemen.
He possessed the rudiments of a good Englis
, education. which he had cultivated to consider,
bic extent lie had attended the higher fire.
| schools sof New England; and had he been class
oally educated he would have shown with bri
liancy in the halls of legislation where natul
designed him; or if he could have been prepare
in early life, for the camp and the field he won
| have rose ca the pinnacle OF fame and his nan
of America. But he is gone, and long will IL
, name OF Gen. Samuel r. Holcomb be remembers
by the oldest Inhabitants of Gallia county o.
L. n.