Special Deputy Marshal

Simon Combs

Felonious
End of Watch January 23, 1901
Age 22
The Vigil Panel 42 ›
Gender Male

Incident

Special Deputy Marshal Simon Combs was shot and killed as he and several others raided a liquor still at a home along Elkhorn Creek in Pike County, Kentucky. Two posse members and a deputy marshal were also wounded in a terrific gun battle with the owner of the home and several other men. The posse was forced to retreat.

The home owner and leader of the other men was one of Kentucky's most notorious moonshiners and the most dangerous, as he was wanted for killing three other men. His home was on top of a bluff making it hard to get to as it was heavily guarded and he was a crack shot. Many attempts were made to capture the suspect without success. On September 12, 1901, he was shot and killed by a 20-year-old man after he abused his sister.

In Our Keeping

Permanent identifier
neuraspine_01krbxtnrcrc3w88b58s7hf23q
Stewardship
Maintained by NeuraWeb Global Inc.
Added to badge.nw
August 2, 2026
Last updated
September 9, 2026

Honored here by 1 tribute.

Are you family? This record can be claimed and maintained by those who knew Simon. Claim this record.

This page is permanent and free. No fee to view it, no advertising, no tracking, and no account required. It will not be taken down.

Tributes

I never knew you. I am standing here anyway.
Special Deputy Marshal Combs served with the United States Department of Justice.
Thank you for your service. Gone but never to be forgotten.
Rest easy, Special Deputy Marshal Combs.

— S. Vincent Anthony, U.S. Army 1985-1993

Agency

Type Federal Agency
Location Washington, DC
Platform Identity usms.fed.us.gov.nw

Service Record

End of Watch January 23, 1901
Age 22
Gender Male

Incident Details

Cause Felonious
Cause Detail Gunfire
Weapon Gun; Unknown type

The Sacrifice · Felonious

Simon is one of 15,743 officers killed feloniously in the United States, 57.1% of the 27,551 remembered there.

34,117 officers are remembered on this memorial. Each number below is one of them.

  1. See the roll
  2. See the roll
Compare against
I

Time

In 1901, 90 officers in the United States were killed feloniously, the 66th heaviest of 213 years on record. The heaviest was 1921, with 248.

Every year on record · United States
II

Who

Simon was 22. Of the 14,220 killed feloniously in the United States whose age is recorded, half were between 31 and 47; the middle age was 38.

Age at death
Where he stood among them
Age by years of service
III

When

January holds 8% of these deaths in the United States; December holds the most, 9.4%. Wednesdays: 12.9%.

By month
By day of the week
IV

How

Felonious deaths account for 57.1% of all 27,551 deaths in the United States, the most common cause. The weapon recorded was gun; unknown type, in 9.5% of these deaths.

Every cause
Weapons recorded
V

His people

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service has at least 120 officers remembered here, Simon among them.

Across the years
VI

Where

Special Deputy Marshal Simon Combs

United States Department of Justice - United States Marshals Service · End of Watch January 23, 1901

Where the Name Is Cut

National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial · Panel 52-W

↑