GALLIA COUNTY OHIO - OBIT: HOLCOMB, Samuel Robert (d. 1867)
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Attached are 2 obituaries for Samuel Robert HOLCOMB. 

Samuel R. HOLCOMB obituary, Gallipolis, Ohio, Gallipolis Journal, 
28 February, 1867.

GENERAL SAMUEL R. HOLCOMB
     Departed this life January 24th, 1867, in the 90th year of his age.
-----------------------

     As a Tribute of Respect to the memory of Gen. S. R. HOLCOMB, this 
Memoir is written.  He located in Gallia county, and State of Ohio, in the 
year 1805, --and his first appearance in public life was, as Capt.' Of a 
military company organized under the military laws of Ohio.  Although 
military officers in a time of profound peace, commanded no very great 
respect; notwithstanding, his dignified appearance and manly deportment with 
the requisite military pride, --attracted the attention of the community, who
witnessed the display, and one and all united in saying that he merited a 
higher command --and would, at no distant day rise to the first honors in 
the military department of Ohio; and it was but two seasons subsequently, 
until he was honored with the command of the whole body of the militia of 
Gallia county, with the rank of Colonel.

     While holding that command, the war with Great Britain, of 1812-'15, 
was inaugurate, --Col. HOLCOMB received orders to hold himself and staff, in
readiness to take the field at a minute's warning.  This notice was received
with much satisfaction, as he desired to take an active part in repelling 
the invasion of Ohio by the combined forces of the British and Indians, on 
the northwestern portion of the State.  But officers having precedence by 
dates of commissions were first called, by which, Col. HOLCOMB was deprived 
of his cherished aspirations.

     So great his thirst for battle scenes, that, on the call of Governor
MEIGS, in August, 1813, for volunteers to repel a threatened invasion of 
Ohio, Col. HOLCOMB, with other volunteers to the number of 10,000 marched to 
Gov. MEIGS' head-quarters at Upper Sandusky, where they were organized and 
ready to march to any point when ordered.  In that organization, Col. HOLCOMB
was appointed an aid-de-camp to Brigadier Gen. E. W. TUPPER, where he 
continued in service until the disbandment of the whole body of volunteers.

     So prompt and energetic was he in all things, that on the contingency 
of a vacancy in the field, of Brigadier General in the 3d division of Ohio, 
Col. HOLCOMB was promoted to fill the vacancy, and it is due to him to say, 
that no field officer has since discharged the duties of that office with 
more satisfaction to officers and privates.  He was, at all times, prompt in 
keeping up a well-organized militia.

     As he was vigilant in the discharge of all trusts confided to him, the
Commissioners of Gallia county appointed him collector of the revenue of the
county.  The system of collecting revenue was not then as at the present day
--that taxpayers were compelled to hunt the collector, but the collector was
compelled to hunt the taxpayer.  About the same time, he was elected Sheriff 
of Gallia county, --the labor of which, with that of collector, was more than
he could well accomplish --so that he was compelled to postpone collections 
of revenue; notwithstanding, his annual settlements were made, honestly and
squarely, --all deficiencies were made up of his other means.  In the 
meantime, an omission to collect, operated greatly to his disadvantage, as 
many of those who owed revenue had gone to parts unknown, while small amounts would not justify, the expense of collection; and when he surrendered the 
trust of collector he found that his assets and profits much less than he had
anticipated.  The office Sheriff required him to travel over a large space of
country, for such fees as would hardly defray expenses, so that when he had
given up both offices and retired to his home, he found himself delinquent
--which required the use of much of his private means to discharge all his
liabilities.  Consequently, his latter days were not spent in independence 
and ease, as he desired; although, he had, from the resources of quite an 
extensive farm, a sufficiency to keep him from want.

     The office of collector he held as long as he desired to hold it, and 
the office of Sheriff some twelve years, and in all his settlements, never 
was he found delinquent, not even to a dollar. --He was proverbially honest 
and faithful in all his public transaction, Indeed, so great was public 
confidence in him, that when he was solicited to become a candidate for the 
Legislature, he was elected without opposition, or if any, but little.  
While a member, he was placed on committees requiring much legal research, 
and acquaintance with general and local matters, to enable the members to 
acquit themselves with any degree of credit.  But, on all such occasions, 
he discharged his duty to the entire satisfaction of the Legislature.

     While yet in early life, he became instrumental in the organization of a
Masonic Lodge, in Gallipolis, and no one was more prompt in carrying out the
great principles of that institution. --Unity, brotherly love, and
benevolence, seemed to be the attributes of his heart --and he lived to see 
masonry In Gallia county, grow and flourish like "a green Bay tree."

     And to say, that Gen. Samuel R. HOLCOMB was one of the most useful and
distinguished officers of his county, is but to speak of him, as he was --in
truth, he was one of nature's noblemen.

     He possessed the rudiments of a good English education, which he had
cultivated to considerable extent.  He had attended the higher free schools 
of New England; and had he been classically educated, he would have shown 
with brilliancy in the halls of legislation, where nature designed him; or 
if he could have been prepared in early life for the camp and the field, he 
would have ___ the pinnacle of ___, and his name would have been paralleled 
with the abler Generals of America.  But he is gone, and long will the name 
of Gen. Samuel R. HOLCOMB be remembered by the ___ of Gallia county, O.
L.N.

************************

Samuel R. HOLCOMB death notice, Gallipolis, Ohio, Gallipolis Journal, 7
February, 1867.

HOLCOMB - At Vinton, Gallia county, Ohio, on the night of the 24th of
January, 1867, Gen'l Samuel R. HOLCOMB, in the ninetieth year of his age.
Gen'l HOLCOMB was born in Columbia county, N.Y. on the 28th of February,
1777, -came to Gallipolis, Ohio, on the first day of January, 1800, where 
he remained until the 16th of January, 1802, when he was married to Sarah 
EWING by the late Col. Robert SAFFORD, then a Justice of the peace; and on 
the fifth of April, 1805, he, with his wife and two children moved and 
settled themselves for life on the lands upon which the (now) Town of Vinton 
stands, then a rude and unbroken wilderness.  Being a man of great physical 
power and energy, he set about clearing away the forest, and, with his own 
hands planted, sowed and reaped, and gathered into barns, and with the aid
of a frugal and industrious wife, acquired all the necessaries and comforts
of life, suited for himself and family; meantime, he became conspicous among
his neighbors and throughout his county, for his mental qualities and 
upright deportment - just to his Government and faithful to his county.

     He was a soldier in the war of 1812.  Frequently chosen to the office 
of Sheriff and Representative to the State Legislature.  Finally, in all
conditions of life he so demeaned himself as to challenge admiration and
imitation.