The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-01-04
4 FAMILY OF STRONG MEN.
A desperate Peat Performed by one ofTheu

A Desperate Peat Performed by Ons OF Theni'
William Comlle, Of Jordan, q veteran
of the Vur Of 1872, well-lnOwn in central
New York, died at the residence Of his
son, in Arlington, Mich. He WINS born
ut Springfield, Otsego county, n. y, in
the wear 1895. His father, Samuel
Combe, WINS Mt that period n conspicuous
figure on the border, and later with his
six sons, all ginnts, mingled in the con
ilicts Of those periods, and left marks nc
nlembcrcd for many year. William
Combo entered Captain HArris's COM
pany Of United Suites light Dungeons,
participated with Scott at Chippewa,
Lundy's Lane, and Fort George; was at
Niagira, QueenstOn Heights, Sacketts
HarbOr, and Sandy Greek.
At tile close of tho war he settled in
Jordan, Onontlnga county, n. y; but,
always restless, he "did not wish TO die q
natural death, but at the point of the
bilyonet." In the late war, his, sons en-
tering the army, he, M old man, shout
dored musket, and participated in the
great battle of Antietam to throw his
life away" as he snid, but the death he
desired wns not his fate. One brother
only of the band OF six survives him
(Clarles), resident Of Brooklyn, two
years his senior. ....
The history Of Jonas, the youngest and
tho strongest Of the six, has never been
written. or turbulent disposition his
combats were numerous, and his great
size insured his success. lie often de-
fcated numbers Of men ut time, but the
cruwning effort Of his life was tho Inst
hat is known of him for certainty.
AT the close Of the war Of 1872, when
Detroit WIS comparatively French set
Element, some turbulent scene precipita-
ted an aflray, and the French to the
number of 100 surrounded him in d
piece Of woods where he Ind taken
refuge, and closed in on him in circle.
Unnrmcd himself, his antagonists armed
with clubs and stones, Jonas quietly took
of his coat and vest and hid them down
at the foot Of tho tree, against which his
back WIS placed, nd prepared for n
struggle. The circle narrowed around
him. Examining them coolly and crit
cally hO waited until the hOoting, yelling
mob Ind arrived within tmenty feet be-
fore he attempted to break through.
SGvenl large stones were hurled ut him.
With two tremendous leaps lie bounded
at the weakest part Of the rings, and,
striking right and left, knocked down his
assailants by the dozen. Men fell on all
sides, hut the rest closed in and rained
blows from clubs and stones. Men
clung to his legs and arms, but with no
seeming impeachment to that stalwart
frame his gigantic limbs still moved OIL
ward with tho force of n Hercules. He
knew it WIS death to him to be impeded
second, and his tremendous strength
WIS brnced and displayed to its utmost.
He stove through them and escaped, his
clothes torn from him, nothing on but
his boots, battered and bruised, tlnrccog-
nizable but for his great size. Luckily
they had no firearms. The French were
ast0unled; II was n display Of strength
and endurance that WIS marvellous, I'm.
paralleled, and it was related by them
and their descendants with astonisliment
for years. Jonas disappeared; it was
never fully ascertained what became Of
him, whether he was killed soon after OF
in some nameless affray. There was n
rumor about fifty years ago that he WIS
seen down on the Mississippi, md Mt
another in Oregon; but many years have
elapsed since anything definite was known
OF him. His fcats, II all written, would
rink him with the hercllean men Of
antinuity.