Coombs, Samuel F., SUDDEN DEATH OF SAMUEL F. COOMBS - Served With Blaine in Maine Legislature Before Coming to Coast - MARIE CARRAU'S FRIEND - Noted for His Recollection of Events in Early Pioneer Days - Samuel F. Coombs, first justice of the peace of Seattle precinct and a resident of the Puget sound country for fifty-one years, died yesterday morning at his home 192 Eleventh avenue north, aged 77 years. Until Tuesday night he had been in fairly good health and less than a week ago he was on the street. Shortly after dinner Tuesday evening he complained of feeling ill. Dr. J. P. Sweeney an old friend of the family, was called, and the aged pioneer sank slowly, dying surrounded by the members of his family. Possessed of a remarkable memory even in his declining years, Mr. Coombs was called many times as a witness in civil suits involving affairs long past. He was a witness in the famous Sullivan-will case and was one of the friends and advisers of Marie Carrau, who was a claimant for the estate by reason of a noncupative will. - Came to Puget Sound in 1859 - Mr. Coombs came to the Puget sound country in 1859 from his home in Maine by way of the Isthmus of Panama. He was a Douglas Democrat and before coming to the Pacific coast he served in the lower house of the Maine legislature with James G. Blaine. He first went to Port Madison, where he worked in a lumber mill, later becoming teacher in the village school, in which capacity he served as schoolmaster to Judge C.H. Hanford of the United States district court, and to Judge Hanford's four brothers, as well as a number of others who have since been prominent in public life. In 1861 he came to Seattle and worked in Henry L. Yesler's mill, the while serving as deputy postmaster and agent of the Wells-Fargo Express Company. In 1863 he was elected county auditor. With the organization of the Old first city government of Seattle in the following year, he was made the first committing magistrate of the city. Later he served as justice of the peace, and police judge. In 1884 he was named by President Grover Cleveland as warden of the government prison at McNeil island. This position he occupied for four years, and then retired from active business and official life. - Conducted Hotel - In a business way Mr. Coombs was identified with many of the early enterprises of the city. His first independent venture of any size was the opening of the Hotel Western Terminus at the site where now stand the Hotel Northern. At one time he was a reporter on the Intelligencer. He was one of the early owners of the 100 acres now known as Renton addition, the title to which he obtained after it had been abandoned by George (?P. Fry the original owner? Hard to read.) parted with the 100 acres for $100. Mr. Coombs was always greatly interested in the Indians and devoted himself to a study of the various Indian dialects in use among the several tribes of Western Washington, and not many years ago he issued a Chinook dictionary for general circulation. - Wrote Indian History - Together with J. A. Costello, Mr. Coombs published in 1896 a book called "The Siwash." It contained a history of the Northwestern Indians from the time Vancouver visited Puget sound. An incident of interest is the visit of his aged father to Seattle in 1884, to see his son. The father was at that time 90 years old and crossed the continent under conditions much cruder than those now attending railroad travel. The father died in Seattle four years later. Mr. Coombs was a Mason and a member of the Pioneers' Association, and was a prominent figure in the recent gathering of the association. Two sons, Mortimer and Ray; one daughter, Mrs. J. H. Watson, and a widow survive. (THE SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER - Thursday, June 18, 1908). (