Ben F. Coombs
 

BEN F. COOMBS - The biographies of successful men are instructive as guides and incentives to those whose careers are yet to be achieved. The examples they furnish of patient purpose and consecutive endeavor strongly illustrate what is in the power of each to accomplish, if he is willing to press forward in the face of all opposition, refusing to be downed by untoward circumstances, thus making stepping-stones of what some would find to be insurmountable stumbling blocks. The gentleman whose life history is herewith, we hope, accurately and succinctly set forth, is a conspicuous example of one who has lived to good purpose and achieved a definite degree of success in the special spheres to which his talents have been devoted. Mr. Coombs has for many years been one of the best known and most enterprising business men of Lebanon and is one of the leading lumbermen in this section of the state. He is a scion of one of the sterling pioneer families of Boone county and here he has been content to spend his life.

Mr. Coombs was born in Lebanon, Indiana, April 10, 1861. He is a son of George and Lydia A. (DeBois) Coombs, both natives of Union county, Indiana, where they grew to maturity, were educated and married, and remained there until in 1851, when they removed to Lebanon where they established the future home of the family. George Coombs devoted the earlier years of his life to the mercantile business, maintaining a store in Lebanon for some time, but later took up farming which he followed until his death June 10, 1873. His widow survived nearly forty years, reaching an advanced age, dying January 20, 1912. Both the Coombs and DeBois families came originally from New Jersey.

Ben F. Coombs spent his boyhood days partly in town and partly on the farm and he received his early education in the common schools, including the Lebanon high school. When eighteen years old he began clerking in the Lebanon National Bank, where he remained six years, giving his employers eminent satisfaction. He then launched in the merchandise business in Lebanon, which he followed six years with ever-increasing success, building up a large trade with the city and surrounding country by reason of his honesty and courteous dealings. He kept a retail shoe store, one of the largest in this section of the state. In 1891 he became connected with the Pennell-Coombs Lumber Company, with yards at Lebanon, Jamestown, Advance, Colfax, Shelbyville and Fairland, all doing a large business, also extensive planing mills, sash and door factories, where a large number of men are employed and which are equipped with modern machinery, so that high-grade and superior work is turned out promptly, their products finding a very ready market over a vast territory, which is constantly growing, owing, principally, to the able management and wise foresight of Mr. Coombs. Fine grades of finishing, dressed lumber and rough building lumber, in fact, all kinds of building material is handled, also coal of all kinds. Their business at all the above named yards is rapidly increasing. Mr. Coombs is also a director in the First National Bank of Lebanon, also the Citizens Trust Company of Lebanon, the Campbell, Smith & Ritchie Company, of Lebanon, the Bank of Advance, is vice-president of the Indestructible Wheel Company. He is a heavy stockholder in all the above named concerns and is interested in the Oak Hill Cemetery Company and various other business enterprises, in all of which his judicious and able counsel makes for success. He has been very successful in a financial way and is one of the leading and most substantial men of affairs of Boone county and is regarded as an unassuming, straightforward, trustworthy man of broad and progressive ideas.

Mr. Coombs was twice married, first, December 18, 1883, to Mellie Lane, a daughter of Levi and Pherbia (Hayes) Lane, of Lebanon, and to this union three children were born, John L., deceased, Florence M. and Esther A. The wife and mother was called to her eternal rest August 19, 1897. Mr. Coombs was again married June 5, 1901, to Ethel Campbell, a daughter of George W. and Alice C. (Page) Campbell, one of the prominent families of Lebanon.

Mr. Coombs is a Republican and since attaining his majority has been very faithful in his support of the party, active in political and public affairs and influential in his county and city. He has served as a member of the Republican County Executive Committee and for some time was a member of the County Jury Commission, and has been a frequent delegate to county, district and state conventions. Fraternally, he is a Mason, a member of the Chapter, Commandery and the Ancient Arabic Order of Nobles of the Mystic Shrine. He also belongs to the Knights of Pythias. He and his family are members of the Presbyterian church, in which he is a ruling elder and active in all church and Sunday school work. The family is prominent in the best social life of Lebanon and their beautiful home on East Washington street is known for its hospitality.

Submitted by: Amy K. Davis
Source: "History of Boone County, Indiana," by Hon. L. M. Crist, 1914.