Sidney M. Cole

COLE

Posted By: Judy Wight Branson
Date: 3/12/2006 at 11:47:37

The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, March 21, 1901

S. M. Cole, from McCook, Nebraska, bought the place formerly owned by E. S. Mills. Sunday afternoon, about 4o'clock, he shot himself through the body, evently intending to strike the heart. Cole lived til shortly before 10 o'clock Monday forenoon, when death put an end to his suffering. Mr. Cole's family consists of a wife, a child 8 years old and another 8 months old.
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The Winterset Madisonian
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, March 21, 1901
Page 8

AN OTHER SUICIDE

S. M. Cole, a New Settler in Union Township, the Victim

The Deed was Done Last Sunday Afternoon-Death Resulted at About 10 o’clock Monday

Last fall S. M. Cole, from McCook, Neb., bought of Mr. Warrington his farm in Union township, the place formerly owned by E. S. Mills. A few more days ago he shipped his goods from McCook to Van Meter and had part of them hauled to the farm.

No one knows the cause, but Sunday afternoon, about 4 o’clock, he shot himself through the body, evidently intending to strike the heart. He missed that a short distance. The ball lodged, Dr. Davenport was at once summoned, and the same evening removed the ball from the back. Cole lived till shortly before 10 o’clock, Monday forenoon, when death put an end to his suffering.

Mr. Cole’s family consisting of a wife and a child eight years old and another eight months old, had not yet come on. Mrs. Cole was at once sent for. Mr. Cole, together with an elderly man, his wife’s stepfather; and a young man, some relative, had been staying at the place a few days. The farm is not easily accessible, and the surroundings not very tasty nor comfortable and, after he shot himself Cole said that he got to worrying over the prospect of bringing his family to such a place. He is said to have had abundant means at hand to buy a farm. From the little acquaintance he had made, the neighbors speak well of him.
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Winterset Reporter
Winterset, Iowa
Thursday, March 21, 1901
Page 3

ANOTHER SUICIDE

S. M. Cole, a Newcomer, Shoots Himself with a 38

S. M. Cole, who was just moving from Beatrice, Neb., onto a farm in Union township shot himself in the abdomen with a 38 calibre revolver Sunday afternoon about four o’clock and died Monday morning between nine and ten. He said he had more troubles than he could bear. He was formerly a railroad engineer with a good berth, but being compelled last fall to undergo a new examination he failed on account of some heart trouble and lost his job. This discouraged him and he finally concluded to go on a farm and purchased in Union township.

He was moving in by way of Van Meter while his family were visiting in Illinois. With him were his wife’s stepfather and his hired man who had formerly been his fireman on the railroad. The condition of the roads and the house, which he feared would not be fit for his family, having been used to better, further discouraged him and he brooded over his troubles until they overcame him. He went up stairs with the remark that he would be down soon. The hired man heard the shot but did not realize what it was. Presently he heard Mr. Cole calling and went up stairs to find him laying on the floor with a bullet through his abdomen. Dr. Davenport was called and extracted the ball but could give no hope for the man’s recovery and he passed away the following morning. His wife was telegraphed and has arrived. The funeral will occur at the house at 10 a.m. tomorrow, and the remains interred in the Winterset cemetery.

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