Oscar M. Cole

COLE, FOWLER

Posted By: Rebecca Calman (email)
Date: 11/17/2018 at 10:44:40

Centerville Daily Citizen
Monday, February 11, 1901
DEATH OF O. M. COLE
Death Came to one of Centerville’s Best Citizens Sunday Afternoon
After Ten Weeks of Sickness from Typhoid Fever, he Succumbs
The Life of a Noble Young Character Goes Out All Too Soon
Record of his Business, Church, Home and Army Life

Oscar Cole is dead! This is sad news was passed over Centerville yesterday afternoon, send a though not unexpected, it came as a sad shock to almost every resident of the city.
After 10 weeks of suffering from typhoid fever, Oscar M. Cool, one of Centerville's brightest and best young business man passed away peacefully, and apparently without the least pain, at his home on Drake Ave., Sunday afternoon at 2:45 PM. Surrounding the death bed were his heartbroken wife, his aged father and a number of near relatives who were summoned. Oscar had been in an unconscious and dying condition for the past three days and almost since the early days of his sickness death seems to have a sure claim upon him. News from his bedside had been watched for and read with interest and when the final announcement of his death can cutting off the last hope for better news, it brought with it expressions of great sorrow from all. The sympathy for the young life is great and well many have been greatly bereaved, her loss is truly the greatest. And none but she can realize what her loss truly is.

Record of His Life

Oscar M. Cole was born in johns Township, this county, on April 11, 1870 and was therefore at the time of his death 30 years, nine months and 30 days old. When a mere boy he came to Centerville to enter the public schools and Charlie afterwards his parents moved to town and he has since resided here permanently. He graduated in the high school with the class of 1887 and in a few months entered the Maring Clothing Store as a clerk. Since then he has, either as a salesman or partner, been identified without establishment and has built up a business record that is excelled by few young man of his age. He was a partner in the firm until a short time before he took down with the fever December 3, 1900, when he sold his interest expecting to go on the road as a traveling salesman; but this old established house realizing his worth, offered him a special inducement to stay with them and he accepted their proposition. His sickness, beginning December 3, 1900, lasted just 10 weeks. His mother preceded him in death just four months ago, October 11, 1900 and his wife's sister died but a few weeks previous to that time, so that the sorrow to his wife is threefold within but a few short months of time.
On October 19, 1898, shortly after returning from military duty in the south, and before he was mustered out of the service, Oscar (Everyone loved to call him Oscar) was united in marriage to Miss Faye Fowler and they're short married life has been a happy time for them, though now invaded the third time by death. He was a true and devoted husband, who loved his home, he was a brave soldier and an earnest Christian. A member of the First Methodist Church for many years and church treasurer at the time of his death, he was a zealous worker and a faithful Christian member, who a short time previous to his death expressed an abiding confidence for the future.
He was a member of three fraternal orders of the city, the Masonic, Odd Fellows and Knights of Pythias. The latter two will have charge of the funeral services tomorrow morning at the house on Drake Avenue at 10:30 AM. Rev. Kendrick, his pastor will conduct the religious rights and the body will be consigned to the tomb in beautiful Oakland Park Cemetery.

O. M. Cole’s Military Service.
Cole,Oscar M., Enlisted as a private in company E, second Regiment Iowa National Guard, May 1, 1888, at Centerville, Iowa; mustard out June 6, 1890sixth, eighteen ninety, at the reorganization of the company; discharged June 14, 1895, by reason of expiration of term of enlistment; reenlisted June 14, 1895, elected and commissioned as second Lieut. Of Company E, Second Regiment, I in. G., July 8, 1895, Commission first Lieut., June 26, 1896; mustard into the United States volunteer service for the Spanish American war as first Lieut. Of Company E, 50th Regiment Iowa infantry volunteers, may 17, 1898; mustard out November 30, 1898; appointed and commissioned first Lieut. and Battalion Adjutant of the reorganized 50th Regiment Iowa National Guard's, April 21, 1899 and still held the position at the time of his death. On April 26, 1898, eighteen ninety-eight, he went with his company to"Camp McKinley," at the city of Des Moines where he was mustered into the United States service for the Spanish-American warAnd Savannah, Georgia we're he served with credit and honor until mustered out with the regiment at the end of the war. He took great interest in the military service and was recognized as an efficient and valued officer. His death will be mourned by a wide circle of friends and comrades in the Iowa National Guard.