Massingil Martin Combs was the son of Mason Combs and Jane 'Jenny' Richardson. He married Elizabeth 'Betts' Combs, daughter of Long Jerry and Nancy Combs in Perry Co. in 1825. Martin was only 15 when he married and Betts was 13 yrs. old. They had 15 children: Massingil Burk Combs, Clint Combs, Gilbert Combs, Benjamin T. Combs, Washington Combs, Bonaparte Combs, Hanbill Combs, Elizabeth Combs, Polly Jane Combs, Jenny Jane Combs, Dicy Combs, Ferbia Combs, Preston Combs, Nancy Combs and Catherine Combs.

During the Civil War, five of their sons fought for the north, one fought for the south. Ben did not fight.

Family researchers have said that Elizabeth was 74 when she died in 1886 but she is not listed in either the 1870 or 1880 census.

Massingill died in 1892 in Perry County. According to family researchers, Mart took a new wife in 1892 when he was 82 years old, his new wife was named Polly /Mary Kelly and she was 45 years old. This conflicts with the 1880 census when he has a new wife Mary. Maybe this Mary was his second wife and he remarried a third time in 1892

Massingill inherited some of the land along Carrs Fork from his father, Mason. The land was about one mile wide, 4 miles long, and stretched along Carrs Fork from Accup to Vicco. Massingill started a family farm on the land. He built the first home on the farm between two bends of Carrs Fork. Where Bentown is now. He farmed and raised livestock there. When Massingill died he split the land into shares and gave it to his nine children. Most of Massingill´s children sold the land they inherited.

Children of Martin and Betts were:

Jane Jenny Combs 1826
Elizabeth 'Eliza' Combs 1828
Gilbert Combs 1829 m Louisa Jent
Dicy Combs 1834
Catherine Combs 1834-1935 m Frank Grace
Preston Combs 1836
Massingil 'Burk' Combs 1838 m Annie Williams
Ferbia Combs 1840
Washington Combs 1842 m Rinda Ingram
Hanbill Combs 1844 Susan Williams
Clinton Combs 1846 m Anny Combs
Boneparte Combs 1848-1935 m Betty J. Combs
Polly Combs 1849 m Finley Syra Combs
Betty Combs 1852 m Elijah Sumner
Nancy Combs Jent 1854
Benjamin T. Combs 1856-1942 m Matilda Combs