Alice Mary Robertson

on

Reverend William McCombs

Good evening ladies and gentleman. My name is Alice Mary Robertson and it is my privilege to stand before you tonight and tell you about a man and his family that I have respected and loved for many years. The man that I am referring to is a man that I can only characterize as one of the staunchest educational and religious friends that Oklahoma has ever had. The man I speak of is the honorable Reverend William McCombs. Much of his life was spend in the improvement of the conditions of various Indian tribes. He also dedicated 61 years of his life to the pulpit. He was instrumental in the founding and creation of Bacone College in Muskogee. He was educated in government Indian schools and when he was 17 he enlisted in the First Creek regiment in the confederate cause. William served many terms to the House of Warriors and proudly served the Creek people on the Supreme Bench of the Creek Nation. He also was the Superintendent of Public instruction for the Creek Nation and spent 6 years as a national interpreter…and let me tell you, I have never met anyone that could deliver a speech the way William McCombs could. He was absolutely a brilliant orator. William McCombs was the last charter member of the old Muskogee Lodge No.1 of the Masons which started in Fort Gibson and later transferred to Muskogee and later Eufaula. He was initiated into the order December 27, 1873, passed the degree of Fellowcraft October 7, 1876 and raised to the Master Masons April 4, 1877. What an accomplishment…….I could go on and on talking about my dear friend William McCombs but it is just as important that you know a little about the family that he comes from.

Reverend McCombs father, Samuel McCombs was one of the hundred men selected by the government to aid in moving the Indian who were forced to abandon their homes in the south, which they had occupied for centuries. This historic march over the Trail of Tears illuminated in the marriage of Susie Stinson, a full blood Cherokee-Creek Indian girl whose ability to speak fluent English and several other tribal languages enabling her to become a proficient interpreter. To them were born 12 children, 24 grandchildren, and 13 great grandchildren.

The Reverend McCombs wife, Sally Jacob, was a full blood Creek, who enjoyed having a large family. William and Sally had six fine children of whom they were quite proud of Their children were Lizzie, wife of James Colbert--- Sudie, wife of William Bumgarner-Susie, wife of Peter R. Ewing-William Penn married Alice Lerblance-Bettie became the wife of Charles H. Drew-and George W. married Bessie Carr. I mention their son-in-laws and daughter-in-laws for one reason only. They loved them as if they were their own children and were quite please with their accomplishments.

Before I close tonight, I do want to tell you about the first annual reunion of the family of Reverend McCombs. It was held at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. William Penn McCombs in Eufaula on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1914. The reunion was entertained by Mr. McCombs lecturing on the origination of "Thanksgiving Day". After the lecture, the prayer was offered by the Reverend Peter Robert Ewing, the benediction was pronounced by the Reverend Bunnie McIntosh. This reunion is still being held, sometimes at the McCombs house and other times at the Tuskeegee church. Oh, how we hope Thanksgiving Day could be remembered in this way everywhere.