In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1906) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1851
From History of Allen County, Ohio : containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; hist (1885), History of Allen County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1906)
WILLIAM McCOMB, Jr., mayor of Lima, was born January 29, 1851, in Tompkins Cove, Rockland Co., N. Y., son of William and Sarah (Sands) McComb, natives of Ireland, and who came to America in 1849, settling in New York State, where they remained until 1864, then coming to this county, located in Lima, where they now reside. They had a family of seven children, of whom William Jr. is the only survivor. Our subject was educated in Lima, and learned the trade of iron mohler, at which he worked for many years. He then took a course at Wilkes Commercial College, after which he was employed in the postoffice as clerk, under Mr. Parmenter, and in the spring of 1884 he was elected to his present office of mayor of Lima. Previous to this he spent three years in the interest of the Commercial Gazette as agent. He is a member of I. O. O. F. Mr. McComb was married February 7, 1878, to Francis E. Bitner.
As printed in History of Allen County, Ohio : containing a history of the county, its townships, towns, villages, schools, churches, industries, etc; portraits of early settlers and prominent men; biographies; hist (1885). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
ILLIAM McCOMB, Jr., formerly mayor of the city of Lima for a period covering 10 years, and now the local representative of some of the leading insurance companies, was born in Rockland County, New York, January 29, 1851, and was one of two children born to his parents, William and Sarah (Sands) McComb.
The father of Mr. McComb was born in Ireland, where he was trained to be a weaver of linen goods. In young manhood he came to the United States and at the time of the birth of our subject was a resident of Rockland County, New York. In 1862 he came to Allen County and settled at Lima, where he lived the remainder of his life, his death occurring in 1900.
William McComb, Jr., was educated in the common schools and his attainment of prominent position has been the result of his own efforts. In young manhood he learned the holder’s trade and worked in an iron foundry for a number of years. He bad always been rather active in politics, being a young man of wide-awake intelligence, and thus he attracted the attention of Postmaster Parmenter, in 1873, and was chosen by him as his assistant. He served in this capacity until 1876, when a change in the administration caused his removal. Mr. McComb then engaged in the grocery business at Lima for several years, but subsequently returned to his trade as an iron worker.
About this time he was elected as the representative of the Cincinnati Gazette at Lima, and he continued to further the interests of this journal until 18S4. when he was chosen as mayor of Lima. Although he took up the reins of office with little previous preparation in the way of public service, he pleased the people and they re-elected him in 1886, again in 1888, in 1892 and finally in 1900, at the expiration of his last term, he retired from the municipal chair in order to give more attention to his insurance business, which he had established in 1890. This he has continued to develop until he represents many of the old, sound and reliable companies of the country among which may be mentioned: the American, of Newark, New Jersey; Reliance, of Philadelphia; National Union, of Pittsburg; United States Fire, of New York; Columbia, of Dayton, Ohio; Phoenix, of Brooklyn; Glens Falls, of New York; New Hampshire, of Manchester, New Hampshire; Security, of New Haven, Connecticut; Anchor, of Cincinnati, Ohio, and German, of Indianapolis, Indiana.
Mr. McComb was united in marriage with Francis E. Bitner. Both he and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They have a pleasant home at No. 213 North Elizabeth street, while his office is at No. 202 Yz North Main street.
Politically Mr. McComb is a Republican. Fraternally he is a member of the Odd Fellows.
Personally Mr. McComb is held in very high regard at Lima. During 10 very important years of the city’s life he held the controlling power, and during this period many of the city’s most important improvements were made and her leading utilities furthered. While the dominating factor, he was always noted for his open mind, and between him and the other members of the city government there was accord which resulted in general welfare for the public.
As printed in History of Allen County, Ohio, and representative citizens (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
The printed record stops around 1885. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.