Franklin-Escambia County FlArchives Biographies.....Coombs, James Nathaniel 1842 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/flfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com January 31, 2008, 11:44 pm Author: B. F. Johnson James Nathaniel Coombs The State of Maine has sent out from its rocks and lakes and pine forests, a hardy race of men-men who have carried the American name into every nook and corner of the world. They have been our best seamen, strong navigators, shrewd traders, preferring the ways of industry and peace, but ready at a moment's notice to fight for their rights. Like the Scotch, they are found scattered abroad throughout our own and other lands, and like the Scotch again, they are nearly always found occupying positions of responsibility and trust, and in many cases carrying forward large operations for their own account. The hard climate of his native State makes the Maine man strong of body, he inherits thrift and industry from his Puritan ancestry, and the necessities of the situation, continued through generations, has made him resourceful beyond his fellows and enables him to achieve substantial success even amid the most untoward surroundings. James N. Coombs, of Apalachicola, banker and lumber manufacturer, is one of these sturdy natives of the Pine Tree State of the far North who has achieved notable success in the Pine Tree State of the far South. He was born at Pittston, Me., on August 15, 1842. His parents were I. W. and Malinda Parker Coombs. His father was engaged in the mill business, and thus Mr. Coombs has a fairly inherited taste for the saw mill. James N. Coombs obtained his education in the public schools of Maine. On the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted in the Federal army, and served as a Sergeant in the 28th Maine Regiment. In 1870 he came South, settled in Pensacola, and engaged in the lumber business. His capacity and attention to business won a considerable degree of success. After a time he moved to Apalachicola where his interests are more nearly centered and has steadily grown in a business way until he is one of the leading men of that flourishing port. He is now President of the First National Bank, head of the Coombs Company, and President of the Franklin County Lumber Company, of Carrabelle. On April 10, 1866, he was married to Maria A. Starrett, daughter of Abner and Mary Starrett, of Maine. Politically Mr. Coombs is an adherent of the Republican party. He is a member of the order of Elks, the Knights of Pythias, and the Masonic order. Mr. Coombs was one of the pioneers in the yellow pine lumber industry of Florida. He saw it, and struggled with it when the lumber was not highly valued, and the lumber man found it difficult to make a profit. Then he saw years of fat profits and prodigal waste of good timber. He has lived into the period where timber is valuable even in the woods, where waste is not so much in evidence, and where though profits may fluctuate, they are reasonably certain. His own success has been much beyond the ordinary because with patience, with tenacity, with sound judgment he has held on whether the years were lean or fat, and men of this mould always attain to their objective point in the end. It may be ten years, or twenty, or thirty, but the success is certain. Mr. Coombs has spent thirty-eight years, a generation, in the lumber industry of West Florida, and he is fairly entitled to the measure of success which he has won. There are a few points in connection with Captain Coomb's character that call for special remark. Not a politician in the sense of being an office-seeker, he believes it to be the duty of the good citizen to give active support to that party which comes nearest to representing his political views. This he has done in such ways as were within his compass and the last six National Republican conventions have found him in attendance as a delegate. In the last three conventions he was a National committeeman. This from the standpoint of citizenship is a commendable trait whatever one's political convictions may be. Of great executive capacity he has trained up in his business an especially efficient force of men, both in his lumber and banking interests. With these employees he is liberal, interested in each man's welfare, trying to bring out the best that there is in his young men and pushing them forward just as much as their abilities will justify. Thus it will be seen that he is diligent in business and active in the duties of citizenship. Over and above all this, he is a man of the widest charity. Cases of distress always arouse his sympathy, and that sympathy takes the shape of substantial relief. He belongs to that excellent type, more numerous than some of the pessimists would have us believe, whose prosperity acts constantly as a greater incentive to good deeds. Additional Comments: Extracted from: FLORIDA EDITION MAKERS OF AMERICA AN HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL WORK BY AN ABLE CORPS OF WRITERS VOL. III. Published under the patronage of The Florida Historical Society, Jacksonville, Florida ADVISORY BOARD: HON. W. D. BLOXHAM COL. FRANK HARRIS HON. R. W. DAVIS SEN. H. H. McCREARY HON. F. P. FLEMING W. F. STOVALL C. A. CHOATE, SECRETARY 1909 A. B. CALDWELL ATLANTA, GA. COPYRIGHT 1909 B. F. JOHNSON Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/franklin/photos/bios/coombs13gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/fl/franklin/bios/coombs13gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/flfiles/ File size: 5.8 Kb