Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1895-05-02
a Memorial.

From The Boston Investigator Of
April 20 we clip the following obit-
uary notice of Mrs. Cole. of Gratiot.
mother OF +. j. Cole formerly in the
furniture business in Lancaster, and
we'll known in railroad circles as a
mail agent on the Northwestern dur
ing Harrison's administration:
on Thursday. March 2sth. / was
called 10 attend the funeral services
Of Mrs. Jane ConnerE Cole at Gratiot,
Wisconsin She died the 26th inst.
in her S0lh year. She was born Dec
ember 18th. 1915 at Dunganon, Ty-
rome county. Ireland. AT nine wears
Of ago she emigrated with her par
ents 10 this country. to Lancaster,
| PENNSYLVANIA In 1886 she removed
to Wisconsin She was married
April Is. 1871 10 Samuel Cole. In
the following year the house was
built in which they made their home.
and here husband and wife lived to-
gsther until the death of Mr. Cole in
1885. Mrs. Cole remained in the
| homestead until her death-that
being her continuous residence for
fifty-three years.
She leaves four children, Mrs Mary
j. Campbell, wife Of Hon. Frank
Campbell, Mrs Sarah +. Cook. wife
OF Alfred Cook, +. W. Cole and E. j.
Cole, all Of Gratot
Samuel Cole was for over thirty
years juctice OF the peace. He was
for five years member of the Assem-
bly, of WISCONSIN, and for six years a
| member of the Senate. He was al
WAYS Freethinker-a thoroughgoing
American citizen His father was an
officer in the Revolutionary War
The house in which he was born was
situated just on the verge of Canada.
Indeed, when the boundary line was
drawn it passed through the paternal
dwelling. and some of the rooms were
on the Canadian side. 1t happened
that Samuel was born in one Of these
rooms: while all the other children
were born on the American side. For
this reason Samuel Cole look out nat
uralization papers in order to avoid
any controversy while holding office.
though it is doubtful ii any court
would decide that he was other than
an American citizen. For the reason
that while born in the same house
that his brothers were he did not hap
pen to be born In the same room.
guess the flag would take the whole
building This is nice question iof
lawyers to settle.
Mr.. Cole was a subscriber OF the
Investigator at the time that Abner
kneeland was editor of 1t. believe
he was subscriber OF the first copy.
He has taken the Investigator ever
since until his death, and Mrs. Cole
continued taking il until the present
time. reading it through every week
and keeping thoroughly posted in re-
gard to the history of Freethought.
She was enthusiastic in her support
of the paper, and was instrumental in
securing several new subscribers and
spreading the light of reason. She
was born into the Catholic church. |
but for over half century has been
outside the fold This il quite
Catholic community. Still i'm spite |
of pronounced views and fearless adj |
voeacy of them, she was respected 7
and honored by all who knew her. |
She was a noble and self-sacrificine /
woman. always ready to help. She /
would, however, make no compromise |
with error and superstition. She was
perfectly sincere aud courageous. She
desired that no orthodox services be
held over her grave; that the princi-
pies which Illuminated her life should
he eloquent in her death; and fortu-
nately her wish was carried out. and /
the ideas that animated her long and |
useful life made beautiful the males
~ anil solemnity of death. There |
was a large attendance at the SER
vices, conducted at the house in which |
she had lived So long, and al the
grave when the flowers covered her
peaceful resting place The dav was
bright. and glorious with springs
promise; and it seemed rs if Nature
and humanity mingled ia sunshine
aud sweet memory 10 give grace and
erowning to life So lovely and hu-
name
10 her children and her grand
children who gathered about the
tomb and gave the sad and sweet
farewells 70 mother aud friend. she
leaves a priceless inheritance. a rich
and honorea life. more precious than
all gold and jewels. which cannot per-
ish 50 long as humanity endures.
SAMUEL T. Pl.rNAM