Knox County Texas Biographies

Knox County, TX Biographies

James H. Stewart
was born in Abbeville District of South Carolina, March 2, 1848. His parents were Shepard G. and Rachael P. (Bedford) Stewart, the father a native of South Carolina, and the mother of Kentucky, in which latter state they were married, vol. m—20

When the son, James H., was three years of age the family moved to Mississippi, where they had their Home until 1874. In the latter year occurred their removal to Texas, and the father was engaged in farming and stock raising in this vicinity until his death in 1881 at the age of sixty-seven years. He is buried in Collin county, and his wife who died in 1883 at the age of sixty-two is buried in Baylor county. They were both devout Christians and members of the Missionary Baptist faith. The father spent about one year as a Confederate soldier, but was discharged on account of ill health. There were nine children in the family, James H. having been the sixth in order of birth. In the state of Mississippi he grew up on a farm, received an education in private schools, took a high school course, and on leaving school qualified as a teacher, teaching in Mississippi and for one year after coming to Texas. Mr. Stewart's home has been in Knox county since 1881. For the first year after coming to Texas he lived at Dallas, then moved to Grayson county, which was his home for six years, and where he and a brother were in partnership in farming and stock raising. For several years after taking up his residence in Knox county, he engaged in the cattle industry, which at that time was almost the only business activity in this section of the state.

His career as a public official began with his appointment as deputy county clerk and district dark. Later he was elected to the office of county and district clerk, serving four years, and altogether, either as clerk or as deputy, he was connected with the office approximately eighteen years. During that time he filled an unexpired term of one year in the county treasury. During about ten years of his residence he has been a county commissioner, and is filling that place at the present time. Mr. Stewart has well earned his position in the community, is a substantial man of affairs, and with the exception of his official duties now leads a retired life.

In Knox County, in 1883, he married Katie Kennedy, a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Kennedy, of Mississippi. Their two children both died in infancy. The family are members of the Missionary Baptist church, and fraternally Mr. Stewart is a Mason and Knight of Pythias. He has served as secretary of the Benjamin Masonic Lodge, and was active in the Knights of Pythias Order, having been keeper of record and seals, vice chancellor, and was elected chancellor commander a short time before the local lodge was disbanded. His interest in politics has always been keen, and he has done much to up build the democratic strength in Knox county. His diversions are chiefly hunting and fishing and in the quiet activities of his home. His service as a soldier of the Confederacy began during the period of the war when he was about sixteen years old. He enlisted in a Mississippi Regiment, and was in the great campaign under Hood in Tennessee following the Atlanta campaign. He fought at the battle of Franklin and remained in service until the close of the war.

Charles E. Coombes
The actual and acknowledged leadership in the Jones county bar belongs to the firm of Chapman & Coombes, both of whom are lawyers possessing ability that will not suffer by comparison with the ablest attorneys of the state, and during that partnership they have acquired the choice of legal business in this section of west Texas. Mr. Coombes has had a varied experience in official and public life previous to his resuming private practice under his present firm title. He has served in different offices, and a few years ago was district judge.

Charles E. Coombes was born in Dallas county, Texas, September 25, 1875, and comes of an old family, established in this state in the early years, and his father before him was likewise prominent in the law. Zachary E. Coombes, the father, a native of Kentucky, was ten years old when brought to Texas. He studied law and became one of the leaders in the Dallas county bar, practicing many years. During the war he went out from Texas with one of the regiments of the state and served with the rank of captain in Polignac's brigade. In politics he was likewise active and served in several important offices. His death occurred in 1895 at the age of sixty-two and he is buried at Dallas. He married Rebecca Bedford, who was born in Kentucky, theii marriage occurring in Texas. Both were active members of the Christian church. Of the nine children in the family, the son, Charles, is the youngest.

Judge Coombes has spent practically all his life in Texas, and from the local schools took a special course at the Christian University at Nevada, Missouri, and after that was a student for some time in Kentucky. Returning to Dallas he entered the Dallas business college where he was graduated in 1890. Going into his father's law office he became a stenographer, and during his two years at that work learned a great deal of practical knowledge very helpful to him in his later career. At the same time he studied law, and then at the age of seventeen went west to Benjamin in Knox county, where he lived until 1896. During that time he served as deputy county and district clerk, and also was employed in an abstract office. In January, 1896, he returned to Dallas and resumed the study of law, until admitted to practice in the fall of the same year. For about one year he was associated with his brother in practice at Dallas, but then sought a better field in the vicinity where he had become well acquainted, at Benjamin in Knox county, and practiced law there until 1898. In that year he was elected county attorney, serving one term, and then for one term was district attorney for the Fiftieth Judicial District. After he had resumed private practice it was soon again interrupted by his appointment as county judge to fill out an unexpired term. He served only a few months and on February 29, 1908, was appointed district judge of the Fiftieth Judicial District, and filled the unexpired term of nearly one year. On January 1, 1911, Judge Coombes moved to Anson and formed his present partnership with Mr. W. R. Chapman, under the firm title of Chapman and Coombes.

Judge Coombes was married at Benjamin, December 25, 1894, to Nellie Bedford, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. G. Bedford of Benjamin. Six children have been born to their marriage, five sons and one daughter, as follows: William Rufus, deceased; Elizabeth, Joe W., Charles E., Jr., Hilroy J. and Jerry Clay. The Coombes family have membership in the Christian church, while Mr. Coombes affiliates with the Blue Lodge and Chapter of Masonry, and with the Woodmen of the World. He has done much good work in the interests of the Democratic party in Texas, and at the present time is chairman of the Democratic County Central Committee. His recreations are both physical and intellectual. He is fond of watching a good game of bas.eball, enjoys other athletic diversions, and his home and library, and music and the theatre enable him to pass many a pleasant hour. Mr. Coombes at the present time is serving as president of the school board of Anson, and lends his vigorous co-operation to any movement for the betterment of his home community.