Born: September 22, 1848, New Brunswick, Indiana.
Died: December 19, 1920, Danville, Indiana.
Buried: Danville South Cemetery, Danville, Indiana.
James was the son of James Coombs and Eliza Graves, and husband of Allie D. Marlatt.
He attended the Academy of Ladoga and the Pennsylvania School of Oratory and elocution. He graduated from Central Indiana Normal School in 1877, and the University of Chicago in 1882.
He taught school for several years, and was president of both Central Indiana Normal School and East Illinois College, Danville, Illinois.
He became a professor of history and literature at Eureka College, Eureka, Illinois, in 1883.
He was a well known lecturer and evangelist.
If you know where to get a good photo of Coombs (head & shoulders, at least 200×300 pixels),