Dr. Fred L. Holcomb of Coldwater, Comanche County physician during the past 35 years, died suddenly at about 2:30 p.m. last Sunday, January 31, within a short time after his car had skidded into a ditch on the icy highway 14 miles south and one and one-half miles east of Coldwater. Dr. Holcomb was on his way to the Chas. R. Jackson home when his car went into the ditch and turned over.

After extricating himself from the overturned car, he was picked up by John Huck, who drove by as he was examining the car. They drove to the home of Mrs. Eva Kindsvater, over a mile west, where Dr. Holcomb called his wife, asking her to send someone after the car, also calling the Jackson home.

After holding a brief conversation with people at the Kindsvater home he suddenly slumped over and died before medical assistance could be obtained.

Dr. Holcomb had said that he apparently was not injured when the car turned over, but he had been suffering from an attack of the flu during the preceding week and had insisted on looking after his patients when he should have taken care of himself. It is thought that the excitement caused too great a strain on his heart.

Funeral services were held Tuesday afternoon at the Presbyterian church in Coldwater, during which Coldwater stores and schools closed.

The Rev. John W. Carrier, pastor of the Coldwater M. E. church conducted the services, assisted by Rev. Thomas Palmer of the Christian Church.

Interment was made in Crown Hill Cemetery where the Masons had charge of the services at the grave.

Obituary

Dr. Fred Louis Holcomb, son of Theodore Crosby Holcomb and Ida Frances Holcomb, was born August 13, 1877, in Galesburg Ill., and passed away January 31, 1937, at the age of 59 years, 5 months and 18 days. He was a descendant of a long line of ancestors, the official record dating back to William the Conqueror in England in 1027. His direct ancestor, Thomas Holcomb, migrated to America in 1630. He settled in Massachusetts and from then on to the present time he and his descendants have been influential factors in the colonial and national life of the United States.

Fred L. Holcomb came to Zenda, Kans., with his parents in early life. He was graduated from Lombard College in 1897 and took his degree in medicine from the Medical College in Keokuk, Iowa, in 1901.

Dr. Holcomb came to Coldwater in 1902, where he had practiced medicine for the past 35 years. On September 20, 1903, he was married to Maud Curran of Coldwater, Kansas.

He leaves to mourn their loss, his widow, two sons, Tom Curran Holcomb and Donald Gilbert Holcomb and one grandson, Tom Curran Holcomb Jr., also two sisters, Mrs. Bessie Taylor of Las Vegas, New Mexico, and Mrs. Lillie Phaff of Conway Springs, Kans., and one brother, Earl Holcomb of Zenda, Kans. His father and mother, two brothers and one sister preceded him in death.

Dr. Fred Holcomb served the community of Coldwater and Comanche county for 35 years as a family physician. Such a record speaks for itself. No drive was ever too long or difficult for him to make at any time, day or night, to render service to those who needed him. The people of the community, his friends and his patients loved him for the willing help which he gave so readily to all, to church, to school and to civic enterprises. He was a man with a sunny and happy disposition, with a marked degree of wit and humor. His everyday life brightened all with whom he came in contact, leaving always a ray of sunshine and hope.

Dr. Holcomb served his community in various capacities of public trust. For 30 years he had been the surgeon for the Santa Fe railroad in this community. He was public health officer for several terms, was mayor of Coldwater for one term, and was county coroner at the time of his death.

He was a charter member and former president of the Coldwater Lions Club and a member in good standing of the Coldwater Masonic Lodge. He united with the Coldwater Presbyterian church 30 years ago and was a faithful member until his death.

Dr. Holcomb had a God-given faculty of being able to see and understand the good and the bad in the soul of man, while others failed to understand. He looked for the best in his fellow men and was always able to see it there. No finer praise can be given than to say, his was a life of service to all, young and old, rich and poor. He loved to serve.

The community will mourn his going and his memory will live long in the hearts of the many who loved him.

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Draft Registration card: Fred Louis Holcomb, Coldwater, Comanche County, Kansas.

United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls.

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1904-05 County Officers: On upper steps from the left: R.A. Strain with beard: above him, Anna Huffmaster, County Supt,; H.I. Burr, Register of Deeds; J.M. Griffith, County Treasurer; Jay T. Botts, County Clerk; upper right, Nellie Botts, clerk in Treasurer's Office; to her left, Park Thornton and Vernie Griffith. Bottom row: from the left: Lawrence Bratcher, Register of Deeds; Ralph Maris, Deputy Sheriff; Dr. F.L. Holcomb, Coroner; C.A. Fridley, Sheriff; and W.C. Monticue, Clerk of District Court. Comanche County, Kansas.

This image is from the Coldwater Diamond Jubilee booklet, courtesy of Bobbi (Hackney) Huck.

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Also see:

Maude (Curran) Holcomb, wife of Fred L. Holcomb.

Thomas J. Curran, father-in-law of of Fred L. Holcomb.

George Curran, mother-in-law of of Fred L. Holcomb.

Ronald "Doc" McCoy, M.D., Doc McCoy took over Dr. Holcomb's practice in Coldwater, Kansas, in 1949.

World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, Comanche County, Kansas - List of the 1,321 men who registered in Comanche County for the draft.

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Thanks to Shirley Brier for finding, transcribing and contributing the above news article to this web site!

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