Robert "Return" Ira HOLCOMBE^[1]

1845 - 1916  (71 years)

• Name	Robert "Return" Ira HOLCOMBE  [2, 3, 4]
  Nickname	Return
  Birth	24 Feb 1845	Vinton, Gallia, Ohio   [2, 5]
  Gender	Male
  AFN	RH42-CD
  Military Service	25 Jul 1861	Bloomfield, Cavi, Iowa   [5]
  	10th MO Union Regiment
  Name	Return
  Reference Number	H2749
  _UID	EDD3A20FDB97446FB5B9760CCE5DA1EC3E50
  Death	21 Nov 1916	St. Paul, Ramsey, Minnesota   [2]
  Burial	Oakdale Cemetery, Ramsey, Minnesota
  Person ID	I19124	Carney Wehofer July 2025
  Last Modified	5 Jan 2014

  
  

  Father	Niles HOLCOMBE,   b. Abt 1797, New York City, New York d. 9 Aug 1877, Van Buren, Iowa (Age ~ 80 years)
  Mother	Anna Smith HOWELL,   b. 20 Apr 1810, Huntington Twp., Gallia, Ohio d. Abt 1877, Leando, Van Buren, Iowa (Age 66 years)
  Marriage	9 Aug 1827	Galliopolis, Gallia, Ohio   [4, 6]
  Family ID	F9234	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Lucinda Hannah DEARING,   b. Abt 1839, Indiana d. Yes, date unknown
  Marriage	Abt 1870	Clarinda, Page, Iowa   [2, 5]
  Children	1. Lillian Maude HOLCOMBE,   b. 17 Apr 1872, Centerville, Appanoose, Iowa d. 13 Sep 1916 (Age 44 years)
  Family ID	F9232	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
  Last Modified	29 Aug 2016

  
  

• Notes

  From Minnesota Historical Society: Mr. Holcombe was born in Huntington Township, Gallia County, Ohio, February 24, 1845, and was named Robert Ira, but he changed his first name to Return, which was the name of his grandfather's grandfather, a soldier of Connecticut in the army of the American Revolution. His parents and the family removed to Missouri when he was six years old, and there he received a serviceable education in the district or vil- lage school; after the war he attended an academy in Troy, Iowa. In our last conversation, five hours before his death, he told me of having learned "small Latin and less Greek," as one of his favorite old authors, Ben Jonson, wrote of Shake- speare. During the Civil War Holcombe served on the Union side in the Tenth Missouri Regiment. Ever afterward, throughout his life, he took great interest in all phases of the history of that great war, and much enjoyed fellowship with those who wore the blue in 1861-65, being a member of the Garfield Post of St. Paul, Grand Army of the Republic. But his interest and breadth of sympathy extended also to those who wore the gray; he carefully read their monthly magazine, the Confederate Veteran, and collected many articles from newspapers and much information through correspondence concerning the southern side of the war. He was sixteen years of age when that conflict began, and, as the early limit for recruits was eighteen years, he entered the service as a drummer boy, later taking a musket as a soldier. After the war he resumed his school studies for a time ; learned the printer's trade, at which he worked about four years ; was married and resided several years at Clarinda, Iowa; and engaged as editor of newspapers in Iowa and Missouri. His only child, a daughter named Lillian Maude, was born in 1872, and was married to 0. E. McAnulty in 1898. She died September 13, 1916, leaving a little daughter., Lillian Audrey, as her only surviving child. For further info see Historical Society.

  
  

• Sources

  [S896] Paul Ebert. [S134] http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/, REG&db=charae&id=I03499 (Reliability: 3). [S305] The Holcombes, Nation Builders; by McPherson; 1947, Page 38-1; A-4-2-10-5-2-1-11 (Reliability: 3). [S134] http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com/, James Ewing of Pocahontes Co. Family Tree 2001 (Reliability: 3). [S304] uftree.com/UFT/WebPages/, jholcomb/GHOLCOMB/d3/i0014544.htm (Reliability: 3). [S304] uftree.com/UFT/WebPages/, jholcomb/GHOLCOMB/d3/i0014542.htm (Reliability: 3).