Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1916-09-21
Memorial to Robt. c. Combs.
IN THE crncUIr CoUar ron ST. MARY'g

Court
i Your Committee, appointed to pre-
pare minute in memory of Robert c.
Combs, late a member of the Bar of
this Court, and now deceased, beg
leave to submit the following -
Robert c. Combs died at his home,
near Leoardtown, on July s, 1916, hav-
ing attained the age OF eighty-two
years.
He was born on his fathers farm, on
Breton's Bay, July |, 1884. He attend
ed public scnool in st. Mary's County,
under the tutelage of Professor A. B.
Holmes who was noted educator in
this County and a ripe classical scholar.
As a boy Mr. ComOs was industrious
and ambitious, never missing a day
from school and devoting the time not
occupied in his studies to work upon
the farm, especially in building fenees,
gates and outbuilaings and this sort
of work was q great recreation to him
all through his life. AT the age of
eighteen he took the examination for
& achers in the public schools, and was
given a certificate 10 teach by Col
Benjamin g. Harris who WAS then
special examiner lie was thereupon
appointed teacher Of the Medley .
! Neck" school. near his home, which
h. taught for two years, saving the
small salary for his further education
at College. He then matriculAted at
I Georgetown College from which he was
| gratuated. with high honor, in July,
1856. Returning home, he was ap.
| pointed teacher OF the Leonardtown
public Fohool and taught there, IN a
| small building then located where the
First National Bank Of ST Mays now
stands, for YEAR. Ssgiag his salary
"a before. he entered Harvard Law
| School Ia 1853 10 continue bis law
suites which he had been prosecuting,
while teaching school. under Mr.
| Robert Ford. later much esteemed
/ Associate Judge of the Seventh Judi
cia Circuit Of Maryland. He was ad
! mi ted To the Bar OF this Cour: 40
March Term, 1859 and az the March
| Term. 1862. he was appointed Auditor
Of the Court, which position he held
continuously 10 the date OF bis death,
except for Two Intervals when he Ferv.
ed. by appointment OF the Court az
| States Attorney for Sc Mary County TO
! OH the unexpiTed terms. respectively,
] nf Col. James 81 Downs, elected to the
/ State Senate. and Judge y. Harris
Camalier. elevated 10 the Bench
/ H. 1885 he was appointed CLERK 10
the County Commissioners 81 st.
/ Msry's Comfy, and he held that posi.
tinn for 3 number Of years. In October.
( 1856. De married Miss Ruth Ellen FORD,
daughter ~ Tie late Judge Robert
4 Ford. who died iust eighteen munths
! before tie daiH 81 hia death and by
this marriage he had seven sons and
three daughters, FIVE ~ the sons and
three daughters surviving him. In
| 1866 b. formed a ca, partnership for the
practice of iAw with the late Cot
I Jamef ~ Downs. and this 20 partner
/ ship continued until the Death Of Col.
I Downs
( lie was elected 10 the State Senate
4 Ia 1877, serving the fol- term 81 four
gears. At the session Of 1880 he wss
q warm supporter ~ the Policies ard
( purpose ~ Governor Hamilton
I Later. iu 1892. he served ne a member
! Of the House Of Delegates. upon his
election the Fall before. A. a member
! 81 The General Assembly 81 Maryland
I h. worked for the good Of his people.
maRlrsluR that spirit ~ ,ndependencg
aBd coursQe which moved bird n al
I things In 1898 he was elected Prusl
Dental Elector and voted for Grover
1 Cleveland IN the Elcrtorial College
1 IN 1907 he formed co partnership
With Mr. W Moveroll Lokcr, his nsp
! hew. which continued 10 the day 81 his
death although for year or two
prior 20 hia death be- had been gradual.
! j. withdrawing from active practice.
ueA a brief sketch ~ tAe iifc ~ a
I mau whose example All ~ 81, young
ard old, shnud seek 10 emulate Who
/ mad the cniilguea and rcspect - all who
knew him whom We sl loved and who,
IN the later years ~ his iife. MAS affse-
tiuuatcly spoken o. ~ that grand old
man =
Sir. Combs was close student. not
only 81 the law. but ''of the right fea-
son thereof and he was a profound
and conscientious thinker His rcla-
tlol,s W.. NV, sls s,ch ,' w. on snen ga
- ~ az go aI.sa,'. la, 80 -
-, 80 III $50 -" -
49, 49,, - 49,, s,,,,'l,,r ,,er,k,,s - H.
ps- sna h,a ,g.,,,ss, ~, ~ 49,. 80
W.. 49, ~ 49,. aa",ss,. 80 ~ 4sa,li.a,
There war no suspicion Of shysterism
about him lie booked upon tha law as
a great science, q great profession, and
upon the practice Of The law ~ means
Of duiug right and justice between man
and man. lie never deceived the Court
and never sought TO take an unfair I'D
vantage Of brother Attorney.
| Upright and honest faithful 10 HE
| friends and just TO his enemies true TO
ms own conscience strong 70 MS con
Yieuona' without any pride ot intellect
clean 20 Inauguration and pure 10 NE
~ -, ~ ,an',iS "uY 49, 49, 49,
~ n'"l "o VIZ '.g'y kl'as an 49, 49,
his qnblemished character and eontem.
| long rs we shalI survive him. must be
inspired TO do justice, TO love mercy
ana 70 'iye rigntly. ,
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1. ALl4SoN :, mlLNER'
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