Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1881-09-02
GEN. LESLIE COOMBS.
Dcatn of th c Old X cntucky Veteran
Brief Sketch of Hi EvcntfuI Life.
Special to the Cincinnati Commercial.

Special to the Cincinnati Commercial.
LEXINGTON, KY, August 22.-On Sun
day, August 81, departed this life, General
Leslie Coombs, one of the best known and
most widely respected of Kentuckians, In
the eighty-eighth year of his age. He be-
longed TO generation that has passed, and
OF which few representatives remain, and
all that pertains to his long and active life
can not fail TO be OF general interest.
General Leslie Coombs was the son OF
Captain Benjamin Coombs, and Sarah
Richardson. He was horn November 30,
1893, in the district since organized into
Clark county, near Boonesboro. His faith.
er was native OF Stafford county, Vir-
ginia. He served MS Captain in the Rev
olutionary War. He settled in Kentucky
In 1882, and in Clark county in 1892.
Leslie Coombs was educated under Rev.
clergyman and teacher. In 1912, in his
nineteenth year, he Joined the volunteer
| army under Gen. Winchester. In that
war he was employed to discharge several
dangerous missions. In 1918 he was np-
pointed Captain Of scouts, and became
known as the boy Captoin. He WINS then
transferred to the command OF Gen. Green
Clay, who sent him To notify Gen. Harris
on at Fort Meigs, OF his approach. This
duty he faithfully performed, after sniier-
ing many privations and the loss of most
of his companions. Subsequently he fought
in the disastrous battle Of Fort Meigs,
which ended IN the deleH; of Colonel Dud-
ley, and the capture OF many American
prisoners by the Indians. The prisoners
were aiterward made to run the gauntlet,
many dying from the effects Of the terrible
ordeal.
After the wNr, Captain Coombs studied
law and in 1918 was admitted to the bar
IN Lexington, where he practiced his pro-
fession for sixty years. lie was elected to
the Legislature as a Wing, in 1912, and
was several times reelected. In 1916 he
was elected Speaker.
AT the breaking ont of the Mexican war,
he went into the army again, and did good
service. In 1851 lie ran for Congress
against John q. Breckenridge, and was de-
feated. He went to the Legislature again,
and served from 1857 to 1859. In 1860 he
was elected Clerk OF the Court of Appeals
and served his term and declined to be u
candidate for reelection.
| NHNH tht WIT DIOkt OUl Ht tOOh HlNSf
with the Union party, and rendered some
assistance in keeping the State in the I'm.
ion. lie was II Whig of the most pronoun
ced type, and twice earnestly advocated the
nomination of Henry Clay for the Presi
dency. In 1884 he was one oil the two del
egates from Kentucky TO the Harrisburg
Convention which nominated General Har
rison. lie worked hard to secure tn,
election OF his old General, and wore II
his canvass OF several States hunting
shirt and snsh like that worn by the hero
OF Tippecanoe. For his political seryic,
IN this campaign he was presented with I
piece of plate by the Wings Of New Castle
county, Delaware, bearing this inscription
"To General Leslie Coombs, OF Ken
: tuckY, from numbers OF his Wing friend
: in New Castle county, Delaware, in testimo
! ny Of their high regard for him rs pat
riot and soldier In the Northwestern Cam
paign OF 1872 and 1918, while yet a youth
, and M the able aud eloquent vindicator 0
his old General, the hero Of Tippecano
and the Thames in the political campaigl
! of 1840."
In 1874 Gen. Coombs again supporte,
Henry Clay, for which service he receive,
similar testimonial from the Wings o
New York, bearing suitable inscriptions
: Gen. Coomhs, though an active political,
> all his life, found time 10 devote himself I,
various enterprises for the development 0
his State. lie was early connected will
Kentucky railroads, In whose service h
did good work, and much OF their progres
to-day Is due 10 his energy and skill. Il
his later years he WAS sour In temper, bu
. never dull, aud up to n few months befor
} his death possessed the same strong inlelli
renee nowerful will and great wit that I'M
given him strength and mastery Of men.