His early education was obtained in the public schools of Flint.

From 1880 to 1887 he taught in the Michigan School for the Deaf at Flint.

In 1887 he entered the University of Michigan, and was graduated Bachelor of Science in 1890.

He returned to Ann Arbor to become Acting Assistant Professor of Botany in the university.

Newcombe was a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, of which he was one of the secretaries in 1899; a member of the Botanical Society of America and its 7th president; of the Society for Plant Morphology and Physiology, and its first vice-president in 1901; and of the Michigan Academy of Science.