William is the eldest son of Samuel McCombs and Susan Stinson, and grandson of Zacharias McCombs, and was born July 22, 1844, seven miles east of Fort Gibson. His father was one of the hundred State Dragoons selected by the Government of the State of Tennessee to go west and prepare for the emigration of the Indians. After serving in this department, he remained in the employment of the Government at Fort Gibson until 1850. Mr. McCombs was a Scotchman by birth, and emigrated at an early date. Mrs. McCombs was a half Creek and white woman, of the Stinson family, prominent in the nation. In 1855 the subject of this sketch was sent to a neighborhood school, but, his father dying soon afterward, he was obliged to look after his mother and sisters and work for them, until the breaking out of the war, when he joined the First Creek Regiment, under Col. D. N. McIntosh, and was mustered out as adjutant. The general was frequently heard to say that if all his men were like McCombs, he would fear neither strength nor numbers. Mr. McCombs married Miss Sallie Jacob, March 17, 1864, on Red River. This lady was daughter of Tacosar Hargo, a prominent Creek Indian of the Tulsa Canadian Town, being a great hunter and ball-player. In May 1868, he was licensed and ordained as minister of the Baptist Church, which calling he has followed until the present time. He has also served as moderator. As a preacher of the gospel, he is looked upon as the most fluent speaker of the aboriginal language in the Creek Nation. His Christian labors have been largely devoted to the Christianizing and elevating of the full-blood Indians. When he first went among them they were very backward in the knowledge of Christ, but they have recently been advancing with great rapidity, owing chiefly to his individual efforts. In 1871 Mr. McCombs was elected to the House of Warriors, and served four years, and in 1875 became Superintendent of Public Instruction, holding that office six years. In 1881 he was elected to the House of Warriors, and re-elected in 1889, and is now serving in that capacity. Mr. McCombs has seven children living, Lizzie (Mrs. Colbert), born August, 1865; Sudie, September, 1867; William Penn, November, 1873; Susie (now Mrs. Ewing), April, 1879; Tooker, August, 1880; Bettie May, 1882, and G. W. Grayson, April, 1887. The oldest of Mr. McCombs’ children have been educated in the States, while the others are receiving the best instruction that the nation affords. He has 120 acres in cultivation and a good, comfortable home; is a gentleman of fine address and good personal appearance about five feet eleven inches high and weighs 185 pounds. He is one-fourth Creek Indian by blood. Although Mr. McCombs is self-educated, yet he would pass in any society as a collegian. He is a member of the Masonic Order (Eufaula Lodge, No. 1), and has been such since 1874.
