Smyrna times., 1884-02-06
Death of Rev. Pennen Coomhe

Death OF Rev. PenneIl COomha
The above named gentleman. pa,iv,.
OF this town and weli-known to our
older citizens, died suddenly at bix
Residence at Fernwood. Delaware coun.
ty' Pa ON Friday, it is supposed. from =
ruptured blood vessel. When discoved
he was found sittingin his chair. the light
burning, and the book which he w,s
reading had dropped simply to his Ian
with the page open at the point he Was
reading, his head likewise having fallen
to one side very much as if he had
gone to sleep. His daughters. Mrs. Rev
Ihos. /. Poulson, at Alexandra.
Va, and Mrs. W. W. Tschudv. of
TINS town, proceeded to the place OF
bereavement as soon as informed. He
was the son of Benz. Coombe, promi-
nent citizen and leading merchant Of
TINS town in his day. He was born
August ID, 1911; was converted June
a, 1889; received a good English
education and started in his career as
pastor by filling a vacancy in the NJ
+. Church at Elkton, Md. in 1884
Alter ending that pastorate he removed
10 Philadelphia and was admitted to
the Philadelphia Annual Copferenc.
IN 1850. He was for twenty-eight
years pastor, nine years Conference
secretary, four years Presiding Elder
one year agent for Dickinson Colleo4
ana ten years general temperance
agent. He afterwards returned IN ,
pastorate in Philadelphia and was
DOING effective work up to the time of
his death. In 1856 he was elected n
member of General Conference and re.
turned again in 1860. He was convert
ed at the age of Is years in the great
revival that swept this town in 1929
"hen SO many young men were added
10 the church, John A. Roche proceed
ing him in this event ten days, June l4tb.
vi the young men who were brought
into the church at this meeting six
afterwards became ministers of the
gospel, viz: Pennell Coombe, John A
Roche, James Ruth, VIM. McGinnis
James WoOls and Joseph Mann. The
death of Mr. Coombe leaves Mr.. Rocba
we believe the only surviving one. 1t
was fortunate for the deceased, perhaps.
that he was converted at the age he
was, for with his vigorous. positive
nature If he had started in a differcnt
course he would have most likely mr.
sued 1t with the ardor of his natura
those were the heroic days of Method
sm' a conversion was as marked a.
Ihe turning of "a tide; the foundations
d an individuals life was torn up and
ne structure begun anew. Having set
1ut In new course of lie, it was
Ike him TO push it with vIgoy. 4 few
months found these young men IA ..urt-
'rs and preachers aud their labors v,.,,
lot confined 10 home, but they pushed
'ut wherever needed at the appoint.
hehts ON the circuit. At what WAS
hen called Carroltown" " Church now
'eiersons. down the Neck, the society
lad died out and it ceased to be o place
orpreaching. Young Coombe felt here !
vas the place to work, and with the
I'd OF his young associates, included in
'hlch were WIN. w. Nelson, Reese
'elI and others, meetings were COM L
aenced that resulted in great awak.
nlng and the building up of the church.
men mas ever since remained promi-
ent appointment. Thus was his early a
lrlstlan life until he entered the min
try characterized and it was type F
7 the rest.
His trst wife an estimable Young S
dy Of tRls town, Miss Helrietta
liner, sister of Col. +. Wilmer, was the k
other of this two ladies above named
he died young in life and Mr.. Coombe Q
arried twice afterwards, the second
Miss Harper, of Philadelphia, by al
nom he has son living in Pittsburg.
third Miss McCauley, of Whining. m
n, who with her two daughters grown
rvive him, the oldest daughter mar. hi
ID and living out West.
The Philadelphia Erening TeleoraDh es
US defines his life of ripper years:
: In the death Of Pennel Coombe , CO
niliar landmark of old hshionaS
in this section sldderIv -
appears. For nearly half a ce6tiirS 8.
had been quaint and picturesque ~
ure in the bGIpits of the PhiIadeI-
Ia Conference, and no general gath i've
ng OF the ieqdeFs of this depomina- us
n was complete without his presepce. plC
delighted to stir up the brethren 90
ether in the class room, the Summer -
mp or the weekly preaehers' meet.
!. He was neither brilliant or nro-
nd, but as talker he was a terror
all with whom he differed. and he Al
; never so happy as when disputing que
hough in a friendly way-ior he Of, Sr
ure was kind in the extreme-v;,h MOI fi
ne leSs-determinad man note