Background
Newcomb was born in Wellsborough, Tioga County, Pennsylvania.
Newcomb was born in Wellsborough, Tioga County, Pennsylvania.
At some point the family moved to Cortland County, New York and in 1833 the family moved to Vernon, Jennings County, Indiana. In 1836, Newcomb started as an apprentice in horse harness and saddle making. Newcomb was licensed to practice in 1844 and practiced in Vernon until 1846.
In 1849, Newcomb was elected mayor of Indianapolis and reelected in 1851.
In 1854 he was elected to the Indiana General Assembly from Marion County and elected to the Senate in 1860. In 1861 he resigned and was appointed President of the Board of Commissioners of the Sinking Fund.
In 1864, he became political editor of the Indianapolis Daily Journal. From 1864 to 1868 he was again elected to the General Assembly.
Newcomb resumed his law practice after retiring from political life.
In 1871 Governor Conrad Baker made Newcomb a judge on the Superior Court of Marion County along with Solomon Blair and Frederick Rand. He was reelected to the position in 1878. Just a few days after the appointment, President Ulysses South. Grant appointed him Assistant Secretary of the United States Department of the Interior.
He was a Republican.
Republican Party, Democratic Party.