Nathan Coombs was a California pioneer and founder of the city of Napa, California

Napa, California

-History:The name Napa was probably derived from the name given to a southern Nappan village whose people shared the area with elk, deer, grizzlies and cougars for many centuries, according to Napa historian Kami Santiago. At the time of the first recorded exploration into Napa Valley in 1823, the...

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Life

Nathan Coombs lived in Massachusetts and came overland to Oregon

Oregon

Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...

 in 1842. Coombs came to California in 1843, first working for Steven Smith in Bodega Bay

Bodega Bay, California

Bodega Bay is a town and census-designated place in Sonoma County, California, United States. The population was 1,077 at the 2010 census. The town is on the eastern side of Bodega Harbor, an inlet of Bodega Bay on the Pacific coast....

; and then for William Gordon at Rancho Quesesoni

Rancho Quesesoni

Rancho Quesesoni was a Mexican land grant in present day Yolo County, California given in 1843 by Governor Manuel Micheltorena to William Gordon. The grant, west of Woodland, extended 2 leagues along both sides of Rio de Jesús María, now known as Cache Creek...

 in Yolo County

Yolo County, California

Yolo County is a county located in the northern part of the U.S. state of California, bordered by the other counties of Sacramento, Solano, Napa, Lake, Colusa, and Sutter. The city of Woodland is its county seat, though Davis is its largest city....

. In 1845 he married William Gordon's daughter Maria Isabel Gordon (1831-1890). Coombs came to Napa Valley in 1845 and purchased a small part of Rancho Tulucay

Rancho Tulucay

Rancho Tulucay was a Mexican land grant in present day Napa County, California given in 1841 by Governor pro tem Manuel Jimeno to Cayetano Juarez. The Tulucay name originates with the names Tulkays and Ulucas that were applied to the inhabitants of a Patwin village in the area...

 on the east side of the Napa River from Juarez Cayetano. Coombs participated in the Bear Flag Revolt of 1846. In 1847 Coombs purchased a 325 acres (1.3 km²) farm on Rancho Napa

Rancho Napa

Rancho Napa was a Mexican land grant in present day Napa County, California given in 1838 by Governor Juan Alvarado to Salvador Vallejo. The grant extends along the Napa Valley, north of present day Napa.-History:...

 from Salvador Vallejo about one and a half miles north-west of present day Napa, and where he resided until his death.

Coombs purchased 80 acre (0.3237488 km²) of Rancho Entre Napa

Rancho Entre Napa

Rancho Entre Napa was a Mexican land grant in present day Napa County, California given in 1836 by Governor Mariano Chico to Nicholas Higuera. The grant extended along the west bank of the Napa River from present day Napa south to Carneros Creek.-History:...

 from Nicholas Higuera in 1847. On this land, he founded and laid out the city of Napa in 1848.

Coombs and William Gordon purchased Rancho Chimiles

Rancho Chimiles

Rancho Chimiles was a Mexican land grant in present day Napa County, California given in 1846 by Governor Pio Pico to José Ygnacio Berreyesa.-History:...

 from the Berreyesa's in 1851. Coombs was a member for 10th District of the California State Assembly

California State Assembly

The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...

, 1855-56 and 1860-61. He died in Napa, December 26,1877.

Legacy

Coombsville

Coombsville

Coombsville is an agricultural area located at the southeastern end of the Napa Valley’s famed grape-growing appellation. Since the middle of the 20th century, it has gained recognition for its suitability for slow-ripening Bordeaux varietals such as cabernet sauvignon.- Terrain and Climate :A...

 is named for him. His son Frank Coombs

Frank Coombs

Frank Leslie Coombs was a United States Representative from California.-Life:Frank Leslie Coombs was born in Napa, Napa County, California, the son of Nathan Coombs and Maria Isabel Gordon. He attended the public schools in California and Dorchester High School in Boston, Massachusetts...

 was a United States Representative from California.