COOMBS, Zoma

WASSON, PARKER, WADDELL, WHITNEY, GULBRANSON, JOHANNSON, BELL, JOHNSON, JORGENSON

Posted By: Volunteer
Date: 5/5/2010 at 03:43:56

HISTORY OF
Cherokee County
IOWA
VOLUME II
ILLUSTRATED
CHICAGO
THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY
1914
by Thomas McCulla

Zoma Coombs is the owner of three well improved farms in Cherokee county and is numbered among the substantial and representative agriculturists of this part of the state, his success in the development of his individual holdings being an important factor in general advancement. He was born in this county June 17, 1873, and is a son of William and Matilda (McKennan) Coombs, the former a native of Indiana and the latter of Iowa. The father came to this state when he was fourteen years of age and settled in Greene county, where he made his home until 1869. In that year he moved to Cherokee county, where he was one of the first to homestead land, and he operated a farm in this locality until his retirement. Some years before his death he moved to Aurelia and passed away in that city July 4, 1912. His wife survives him. In their family were nine children: Ida, who has passed away; Etta, the wife of Frank Wasson, of Utah; Libbie, who married Charles Parker, of Waterloo, Iowa; Zoma, of this review; Alice, who has passed away; Charles, of Buena Vista county; Effie, the wife of Bert Waddell, of Pitcher township; Mildred, who married W. G. Whitney, of Aurelia; and Pearl, the wife of Roy Whitney, also of Aurelia.

Zoma Coombs acquired his education in the public schools of this county and when he was twenty years of age began his independent career, engaging in farming upon rented land. In 1898 he purchased one hundred and sixty acres on sections 25 and 36, Pitcher township, and he lived upon this property until 1913, when he bought another farm similar in extent, on section 14. He has made other additions to his original holdings and now owns seven hundred and twenty acres divided into three farms, all in a high state of cultivation.

Mr. Coombs was united in marriage to Miss Ella Gulbranson, who was born in Buena Vista county, a daughter of Christian and Sophia (Johannson) Gulbranson, natives of Norway. The parents came to America in 1870 and after a year•s residence in Chicago moved to Iowa, where the father took up a homestead in Buena Vista county, remaining upon it until his death, in February, ion. His wife survives him and makes her home in Alta, Iowa. Six children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Gulbranson: Mrs. George Bell, of Buena Vista county; Mrs. Richard Johnson, of Alta; Ella, wife of the subject of this review; Mrs. Elmer Jorgenson, of Jackson, Minnesota; Mrs. Charley Coombs of Buena Vista county, Iowa; and Carl, of Buena Vista. Mr. and Mrs. Coombs became the parents of ten children: Inez P., whose birth occurred August 25, 1895; Clifford C., who was born February 2, 1897; Ruby S., born October 15, 1899; Lurline I., born November 25, 1901; Oren William, born June 3, 1904; Gwendolyn J., born September 2, 1907; Zoma, who passed away at the age of one year; Donald L., born April 22, 1910; Olive L., born April 20, 1912; and Audrie Ella, born September 26, 1913.

Mr. Coombs is a member of the Masonic lodge and he gives his political allegiance to the republican party. He served for six years as township trustee and proved a capable official, discharging his duties in a far•sighted and progressive manner. He occupies a high place in agricultural circles of this locality and socially has an extensive circle of friends.