COLE, Eleazar

COLE, HENNON, OTIS, WHIPPLE

Posted By: Marlene Skalberg (email)
Date: 2/5/2016 at 15:14:22

Funeral services were held in the First Baptist Church in Emerson on Sunday, December 13, for Eleazar Cole, pioneer Mills county resident who passed away December 11, at the home of his son, A. G. Cole, near Emerson. Rev. J. F. Stille was in charge of the services, being assisted by Rev. Gilbert, pastor of the Champion Hill Church.

Music for the service was furnished by C. D. Greenwood, Mrs. J. I. Salmons, Laura Post, and Ralph Good, with Mrs. Gail Greenwood assisting at the piano. The flowers were cared for by Mrs. Mrs. C. J. Tidwell and Mrs. A. W. Shanor. Pall bearers were R. W. Davis, W. E. McGrew, Henry Schick, Wilbur Morrison, Dave Kinney, and Brade Bridge.The body was laid to rest in the Emerson Cemetery.

Eleazer Cole, son of Andrew Cole and Elizabeth Hennon, was born in Muskingdom County, Ohio, near Janesville on July 22, 1841 and departed this life December 11, 1936 at the home of his son, A. G. Cole, five miles south of Emerson, at the unusual age of 95 years, 4 months, and 20 days.

On October 1, 1868, he was united in marriage to Mary (Minnie) Otis on October 1, 1868 of Glenwood, Iowa, and to them were born six children, five boys and one girl. Two boys, Frank and W. A. preceded him in death. Those living and who also mourn his parting are O. C., E. E., and A. G. Cole and one daughter, Mrs. B. E. Whipple, all of Emerson; also a number of grandchildren and great grandchildren. Mrs. Cole preceded her husband in death March 21, 1930, a little over six years ago. He also has a sister, Mrs. Luana Wright of Galesburg, Illinois, who was not able to be in attendance at these services.

Mr. Cole received his education in Ohio, which was very limited in his early days for the privileges of education were not as they are today. In 1857, when Mr. Cole was 16, he came with his parents to McDonough County, Illinois, for there was a large caravan of friends and neighbors moving from the east to the west at that time. In the spring of 1866 his parents moved west, coming to Mills County and settled near Glenwood. The deceased came a few months later and has continually been a resident of Mills County.
Mr and Mrs. Cole lived on a farm south of Emerson for many years, the farm where their son, O C. Cole, now lives and it was in this community where Mr. Cole acquired many acres of Mills county land and where he and his family enjoyed the labors of pioneer days and God richly blessed him and all his while they worshipped Him as best they knew how. Perhaps Mr. Cole’s long life is at least partly due to his way of living, for he never drank intoxicating beverages nor did he use tobacco in any form, and did not abuse himself in other ways. He was honest, God-fearing and a splendid neighbor.

Mr. Cole lived in Emerson for a number of years where he was cared for by his children and especially by his daughter, Mrs. Whipple, but the last few weeks he was cared for in the home of Mr. and Mrs. A. G. Cole.

Some 30 odd years ago, Mr. Cole united with the Champion Hill Presbyterian Church of which he remained a faithful member.

Thus has passed from our midst a man who was familiar with the hardships of pioneer days, who was honest in his dealings with his fellow man, loved his family, his neighbors, and has now gone to his reward.

Glenwood Opinion Tribune, December 17, 1936, page 3