Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1897-06-03
DEATH OF j. w. COOMBS.
Dragged to Death by his Favorite
Horse-The Funeral.

last, May 2S, at noon.
Mr.. Coombs was thrown from his gig
in front of the American house on the
previous Monday; in falling his foot
was caught in foot brace, and he was
unable to extricate himself. In this stu
alton he was dragged down Main street
as far as post office square, where the
horse was stopped.
The injured man was taken to his
home, and everything possible was done
for him. lie fingered until Friday noon,
when he died, never regaining conscious
ness.
The funeral was held at the Congrega
tional church on Sunday afternoon, May
30, at o'clock, prayers being said at the
house just before that hour. Rev. d. L.
Yale OBLIGATED. Appropriate selections OF
scriptures were read, and prayers offered.
The hymns by the choir were selected
from among those that were favorites
Of the deceased-'Rock Of Ages" and
"Nearer, My God, to Thee"
The following brief sketch OF Mr..
Coombs' life, written by a friend, was
read by Mr.. Yale:
Jacob W. Coombs was born at Islesboro, this
State, on August II. ISL. Here he passed his
boyhood. He went to Belfast when quite a
young man, and there in 1852 he married Har.
riet + Whitney Shortly after his marriage he
went to California, going by way of Cape Horn.
He remained on the Pacific coast several years,
spending part Of the time in the gold mines,
and part In san Francisco, where he kept
store. While in San Francisco he mem
Der of the famous vigilance committee which
proved more powerful than the authorities in
maintaining law and preserving the peace.
Returning East, Mr.. and Mrs Coombs ar.
rived in Ellsworth on Christmas Day, ls56-
literally a- the event afterwards proved-a YER
liable Christmas present to this community.
Here they lived and here they died. Mr..
Coombs opened restaurant in the building
now occupied by Morrison, Joy n CO., using
the upper stories for dwelling. Here he re
maincd until lsdG, when he moved to the store
on the corner of Main and State streets, where
he has been for the past thirty years.
He never held public Office, nor was he mem
Der of any social secret organization save
one; he was member of the Abenaquis club.
When q young man he joined the Methodist
church in Belfast, but during all his life In
Ellsworth he attended the Congregational
church, but did not become member.
The story oil Mr.. Cuomh- life in Ellsworth is
the story of plain, simple, frugal, unostenta-
tiou- life. Frank, whole soulcd, generous to "A
fault, he did not make an acquaintance who did
not promptly become his friend The boys all
loved him, for he WAS one OF them. In thought
aud in feeling he never grew old. lie was Is
-eutially a family man; when hi children
came he was a boy again with them, and his
companion-hiP with his grandchildren was one
of the slerie- of his advancing years. Next to
love for hI- family, his regard for domestic an.
finals WIS his passion He not only loved them,
but they In turn loved him. At hi farm by the
river side he spent many happy hour wooins
Nature and communins with those OF her forms
that he loved 20 we'll. 1t i one of those cruel
facts of tfe, almost irrecoucilahle with the kind
way, of Providence, that he should at last be
dragged to his death by his be7t-lovea horse
Fred, which he had raised from Il ycarling.
aud which had been his loving and trusty com.
pauon for nineteen years.
lie cared little for hunting, but his passion for
fishing was unboundcd, and rare it was that "a
fishing exploit of his was SO remarkable as to
be placed by the veriest skeptic beyond the
bounds OF belief.
The loss of his beloved wife in october, 1893,
was the first blow in his long life that really
staggered him. He was not quite the man of
the old days after that. But he never lost heart;
although tinges of sadness were perceptible
In his speech whenever he referred to by-gone
days. on the very morning of the accident he
remarked To an old friend after all, John,
we've had some pretty good times in our day,
haven't we"
An esteemed citizen, good neighbor. an in
dulgcnt and loving father has gone. His weak
nesses-for he had them in common with all the
rest of us-will quickly be forgotten, and only
that in his long, useful and companionable life
will be remembered-hi kindne-ses blessing
and his memory bcnediction for many, many
years in the community that day mourntully
takes its last long. loving look at all that i
mortal of Jacob W. Coombs.
The casket WAS surrounded by choice
people present attested the esteem in
which Mr.. Coombs was held by his neigh
bors and fellow citizens.
At the close Of the service an oppor
tuuity was given those who wished to
take last look at the remains. The pail
bearers We're A. NJ. Hopkins, Cot. {. {.
Burrill, +. H. Greedy, Roscoe Holmes and
A. w. Greedy. The funeral was under the
direction of A. W. Cushman & Son.
As a mark of respect to the deceased,
the church bell was toiled while the pro-
cesson was passing through the streets.
Interment was in the family lot at
Wood bine cemetery.
Mr.. Coombs leaves three children Caro-
Augusta, wife Of A. S. Treat, of Ruther
ford, y. j., Wilbur W.. who is in the
West, and Frederick A, of Ellsworth;
six grandchildren, two sisters Mrs,
John Buck, of Bucksport, and Miss
Annie Coombs, of Ninalhaven, and one
brother Wilbur f., also of Ninalhaven.
Make the popular store your headquar-