Franklin Leslie COOMBS

Franklin Leslie COOMBS

Male 1853 - 1934  (80 years)

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  • Name Franklin Leslie COOMBS 
    Born 27 Dec 1853  Napa, Napa, California, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    _UID 2307AC9BAB5540469CACE3B15DB734CBE6A8 
    Died 5 Oct 1934  Napa, Napa, California, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Person ID I5899  SteveParker
    Last Modified 5 Jun 2011 

    Father Nathan COOMBS,   b. 1826, Middleboro, Barnstable, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 26 Dec 1877, Napa, Napa, California, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 51 years) 
    Mother Maria Isabella GORDON,   b. 27 Aug 1831, San Francisco del Rancho Toas, Mexican Territory Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. 1 May 1890, Napa, Napa, California, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 58 years) 
    Married 1845  Sutter's Fort, Mexico Find all individuals with events at this location 
    _UID 07DC7E39E92A2D47AFBB010D666B5B1EE3A1 
    Family ID F2011  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

    Family Isabelle Mary Roper,   b. 14 Nov 1855, Phillipston, Worcester, Massachusetts, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Aug 1931, Napa, Napa, California Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 75 years) 
    Married 27 Sep 1879  California, United States Find all individuals with events at this location 
    _UID 637E67FDEA17E54EBA9293414F5AED24537F 
    Children 
     1. Nathan F. COOMBS,   b. 1 Jan 1881, Napa, Napa, California, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Apr 1973, , El Dorado, California Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 92 years)
     2. Amy Louise COOMBS,   b. Jan 1884, Napa, Napa, California, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Bef 1963  (Age ~ 78 years)
     3. Dorothy M. COOMBS,   b. May 1893, California, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Aft 1976, Napa, Napa, California, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age ~ 84 years)
     4. Frank Leslie COOMBS,   b. 22 May 1891, Napa, Napa, California, United States Find all individuals with events at this location,   d. Dec 1896, Napa, Napa, California, United States Find all individuals with events at this location  (Age 5 years)
    Last Modified 29 Mar 2021 
    Family ID F3097  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  • Notes 
    • "History of Solano and Napa Counties, California with Biographical Sketches of The leading men and women of the Counties, who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present time., History by Tom Gregory and other well known writers., Illustrated ~ Complete in one volume, Historic Record Company, Los Angeles, California, 1912, p 576
      HON. FRANK L. COOMBS.
      Of the many progressive citizens of Napa county there is none better known than Frank L. Coombs, who, as the incumbent of various positions of trust and honor, has borne a distinguished part in state, national and international affairs. Not alone through his labors in the state assembly and the national halls of congress, but also through his representation of the United States in a foreign empire, his name is entitled to perpetuation in the annals of his country. He was born near Napa, on a ranch owned by his father, Nathan Coombs. December 27, 1853, and was educated in the local schools of the county. Later he entered the Columbia Law School of Washington, D. C., from which lie was graduated June 10. 1873, and during the same year he was admitted to the supreme court of Washington and the supreme court of California. Early in 1876 lie opened an office at Napa and at once took an active and leading position among the young attorneys of the town. In September, 1879, lie was elected district attorney of Napa county, on the Republican ticket, and re-elected in 1882. holding the office two terms. He was elected to represent Napa county in the legislature for the sessions of 1887. 1889. 1801 and 1897. In 1891 and 1807 he had the additional honor of being chosen speaker of the house. In 1802 President Harrison appointed him United States minister to Japan, where he represented our nation with tact and ability. Returning to the United States in 1893 he resumed his professional labors until 1899. when he was appointed United States attorney for the northern district of -California, which position he filled two years. In 1901 lie was elected to represent his district in congress. On the expiration of his term of office, in March, 1903, he resumed the practice of law in Napa and has so continued up to the present time. While in public life his name was associated with the principal events in public affairs. He always fought for reforms. While minister to Japan he secured action from the imperial gov­ernment restraining the immigration of Japanese laborers to America, this being the initiative in this direction. While in congress it was largely through his work that the present Chinese restrictive measures were shaped. From him came the idea of prohibiting the Chinese from going to our new possessions and usurping the fields where the natives were to be shown the new roads to progress. The present policy of returning the insane and criminals to their own country was first formulated and suggested by him in the plat­form of the Republican party adopted in the state convention at Sacramento in 1900.
      December 27, 1876. Mr. Coombs was united in marriage with Isabelle M. Roper, daughter of Foster Roper, of Boston, Mass., where she was born and reared and educated in the local schools, after which she attended Mount Holyoke Seminary, where her education was completed ; later she taught in the Boston public schools for a time. Of this union there are three children : Nathan F., the present district attorney of Napa county; Amy and Dorothy. The elder daughter, Amy, married Harry Dunlap, son of Sheriff D. A. Dunlap, in 1909. Fraternally Mr. Coombs is a member. of the Elks, the Odd Fellows and Eagles, and Native Sons of the Golden West, and in the latter order has been honored with the office of grand president..

      COOMBS, Frank Leslie, a Representative from California; born in Napa, Napa County, Calif., December 27, 1853; attended the public schools in California; attended the Dorchester High School, Boston, Mass., and was graduated from the law department of Columbian (now George Washington) University, Washington, D.C., in 1875; was admitted to the bar in 1875 and commenced practice in Napa, Calif.; district attorney of Napa County, Calif., 1880-1885; member of the State assembly 1887-1889 and 1891-1897 and served as speaker in 1891 and again in 1897; on the death of John F. Swift was appointed United States Minister to Japan and served from June 1892 to August 1893; State librarian of California from April 1, 1898, to April 1, 1899; United States attorney for the northern district of California from April 1, 1899, to March 1, 1901; elected as a Republican to the Fifty-seventh Congress (March 4, 1901-March 3, 1903); unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1902; resumed the practice of law in Napa, Calif.; again a member of the State assembly 1921-1923 and 1925-1927; died in Napa, Calif., October 5, 1934; interment in Tulocay Cemetery.


      1880 United States Federal Census
      Name: Frank Coombs
      Home in 1880: Napa, Napa, California
      Age: 26
      Estimated birth year: abt 1854
      Birthplace: California
      Relation to head-of-household: Self (Head)
      Spouse's name: Jennie
      Father's birthplace: MA
      Mother's birthplace: NM
      Neighbors:
      Occupation: Atty At Law
      Marital Status: Married
      Race: White
      Gender: Male
      Household Members: Name Age
      Frank Coombs 26
      Jennie Coombs 24

      1900 United States Federal Census
      Name: Frank Coombs [George Coombs]
      Home in 1900: Berkeley Ward 3, Alameda, California
      Age: 46
      Birth Date: Dec 1853
      Birthplace: California
      Race: White
      Ethnicity: American
      Gender: Male
      Relationship to head-of-house: Head
      Father's Birthplace: Massachusetts
      Mother's Birthplace: California
      Spouse's name: Isabelle
      Marriage Year: 1880
      Marital Status: Married
      Years Married: 20
      Residence : Berkley City, Alameda, California 1929 Grove Street
      Occupation: Lawyer
      Household Members: Name Age
      Frank Coombs 46
      Isabelle Coombs 44 3 children, 3 living
      Nathan Coombs 19
      Amy Coombs 16
      Dorothy Coombs 7
      Mary McDowal 40 servant


      1910 United States Federal Census
      Name: Frank L Coombs
      Age in 1910: 56
      Estimated birth year: abt 1854
      Birthplace: California
      Relation to Head of House: Head
      Father's Birth Place: Massachusetts
      Mother's Birth Place: New Mexico
      Spouse's name: Belle R
      Home in 1910: Napa Ward 2, Napa, California
      Marital Status: Married
      Race: White
      Gender: Male lawyer general practice
      Household Members: Name Age
      Frank L Coombs 56
      Belle R Coombs 53 4 children, 3 living
      Nathan S Coombs 29
      Dorothy M Coombs 16

      1920 United States Federal Census
      Name: Frank Coombs
      Home in 1920: Napa, Napa, California
      Age: 64 years
      Estimated birth year: abt 1856 [abt 1859]
      Birthplace: California
      Relation to Head of House: Head
      Spouse's name: Belle
      Father's Birth Place: Massachusetts
      Mother's Birth Place: New Mexico
      Marital Status: Married
      Race: White
      Sex: Male
      Home owned: Own
      Able to read: Yes
      Able to Write: Yes
      Image: 410
      Household Members: Name Age
      Frank Coombs 64
      Belle Coombs 64
      Nathan F Coombs 39
      Dorothy M Coombs 26

      New York Passenger Lists, 1820-1957
      Name: Frank L Coombs
      Estimated birth year: 27 Dec 1853
      Age: 74
      Gender: Male
      Port of Departure: Southampton, England
      Ship Name: Leviathan
      Port of Arrival: New York, New York 1927
      Nativity: California
      Line: 26
      Microfilm Serial: T715
      Microfilm Roll: T715_4151
      Birth Location: California
      Birth Location Other: Napa
      Page Number: 11

      1930 United States Federal Census
      Name: Frank L Coombs
      Home in 1930: Napa, Napa, California
      Age: 76
      Estimated birth year: abt 1854
      Birthplace: California
      Relation to Head of House: Head
      Spouse's name: Isbelle R
      Race: White
      Household Members: Name Age
      Frank L Coombs 76
      Isbelle R Coombs 73
      Nathan F Coombs 49 single, lawyer
      Dorothy M Coombs 36 single, teacher