Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1897-06-17

Obituary OF 1on.p. ]. Cole.


On the evening OF Wednesday June |
9th, just when the busy day had closed,
the dark shadows enYelOped the earth,
and AL around was silent save the
night winds wall" the slender thread
which for several weeks had bound
the soul OF D. J, Cole to earth, snapped
in twain, and he lives no more among
us but In memory.
Mr.. Cola was born in Culpepper
county, Va, on May 5, 1924 of Eng
lish and Polish ancestry. In 1888, he
emigrated to Illinois with his parents.
whom were among the earliest settlers
in the neighbOrhOOd Of Virginia City.
Here the family redeemed q large
quantity Of wild laud from the wilder
ness, and built up q. fine estate OF
which the subject Of this sketch was
administrators on the death Of DIS
father, He thought much and indie
pendently, and while others thought
and maintained convenient silence,
he thought and spoke, regardless Of
consequences to himself. He became
therefore even in his Illinois home y
powerful leader of the grange move
ment. In 1879 he moved with his fam.
lily to Reno county and openly con-
tinued the advocacy of the principles
which were so firmly fixed IN his con-
science as to be part of his intellect
ual nature. Early in life he joined the
Baptist church and for fifty-seven
years was an honest and consistent
member, acting about thirty'seven
years in the capacity of deacon, and
for over twenty-five years he was sup
erintendent of one Sunday school in
Illinois. HIS political career is one
upon which his children and the county
may look upon with pride.
In 1882 he was candidate for Con-
gress on the greenback ticket against
Tom Ryan in this district, and in 1883
was a candidate for auditor of state
when the present incumbent, Heffel-
bower, was a candidate on the same
ticket for treasurer. He was elected
delegate from Kansas to every green
back or populst national convention
held since 1875, and has been promi-
nent in nearly all the State cOnven-
tiOns.
The time was when he had a good
bounty Of this worlds goods, but his
too generous public spirit, and uDaag'
ging work for a good but unpopular
cause before his death very greatly re-
duced it. But for this work he will be
remembered by host of firm friends
and co-labOrers, not only in this county
but over the State. He sold eighty
acres of land to the State for the Re-
formatory at one time for about half its
value, and donated forty acres to the
city under condition that it was to inn
PROVE 1t for park, but the city not do
ing this it reverted back to him.
The funeral was held at the Baptist
church at three O'Clock Friday after
noon, the services being conducted by
Rev. Bradshaw. The church was we'll
filed, and the large number of prOmi.
nent citizens and old settlers betOkened
the esteem in which he was held.
Mr.. Cole leaves wife and nine chill
dren, Mrs. Lou Lurton, wife of q
prominent business man of Jackson
vile, Illinois, Mrs. o. W. Hendee and
Mrs. A. A. Tanner of this city, Mrs. o.
@. Parks of Wichita, Misses Ina
and Pearl Cole, Mr.. Loyal OF
New Orleans, and Thadius G. Of
Hutchinson.
AS republican editor in Illinois
once wrote of him when he left the
party, so we may say now:
We shall meet but we shall miss him,
There will be one vacant chair.