Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-05-28
THE LAST SAD RITES
FUNERAL SERVICE OF LATE L. M.
COOLEY CONDUCTED YEsTER.
DAY AFTERNOON.
Impressive Ceremonies Are Largely
Attended - cIoutman Post G. A. r.
Accompanies Remains to Their Last
Resting Place.

The funeral of the late Leonidas M.
Cooley, a veteran of the civil war and
one of the best, known and honored
citizens of Ottumwa, who died at his
home, 214 West Woodland avenue,
Monday morning were conducted yes
terday at $3.50 p. M, from the resi-
dence. DR.. A. E. Craig, pastor of the
First Methodist church. was the offici-
ating minister and the services were
very impressive.
The high esteem in which Mr. Cod
ley was held by his fellow citizens was
partially attested by the large attend
ance of friends at the last sad rites and
the many beautiful floral tributes. A
mixed quartet led the singing. Clout-
man Post. G. A. R.. attended the SER
vices in body and accompanied the
remains to their last resting place in
the Ottumwa cemetery where the i'm
pressive ritualistic ceremonies of the
Post were carried out.
Honor Memory of Mr.. Cooley.
The district court, Judge Robert
Sloan presiding, adjourned at noon I'M
til O'Clock, out of respect to the men,
ory Of Mr.. Cooley. who was for four
teen years clerk of the district court.
Among the friends and relatives pres
emit from out of town were T. M.
Walker, Kansas City; Mr. and Mrs.
]. F. Ryan. Des Moines; Harry Cooley,
Chicago; w. H, Needham, Sigourney
The pail bearers were Judge Robert
Sloan, Keosauqua, Major T. P. Spill
man, DR.. D. A. LaForce, w. H. H. AS
bury, Ira A. Myers, S. L. Vest.
"Bravest of the Brave"
Maj. A. H. Hamilton has received a
letter from w. H. Needham, postmaster
at Sigourney, who was member of the
same regiment as Mr.. Cooley, paying
an eloquent tribute to his old COM
rade. The letter is as follows;
Dear Comrade: I noticed in the
Courier Monday evening an obi
Lee NJ. Cooley. I was well
acquainted with the deceased and was
indeed sorry to learn Of his death.
had known him for forty-two years.
was a member of ID" company of the
22d Iowa and formed the acquaintance
of the deceased soon after our regi-
ment was organized. I see that you
give a sketch of his life written by
himself in relation to the memorable
charge on vicksburg, May %, 1858
where SO many Iowa boys lost theil
bravest of the brave honorable
kind and true. No man Of the lowe
ed stood higher or had more warn
friends than Lee NJ. Cooley. Had he
not been wounded or otherwise injured
there is no doubt but what he would
have reached Fort Beauregard the
same as some of the rest of us. Lee
Cooley was a man that did not adver'
tise the brave deeds that he did. I re.
member of talking with him at one O.
our reunions at Iowa City few years
ago
Received a Medal.
ct is known that he received {
medal from the government for BRAY
cry on the day Of the charge. He sale
he felt as though he ought not to wea
that badge, for there were so man!
others that did as much as he did OF
that occasion, and they had none t.
wear That showed that he was {
manly. man and did not feel more
worthy than many others. We Wer'
all pleased to know that the govern
ment gave it to him, but he was 81
modest he did not wish to be put for
ward. The last time / met him was II
Ottumwa q few months ago, and W.
talked over our experiences together
and more especially the charge OF
Nicksburg and the noble men we los
out of our regiment. 1t is strang
coincidence that he died just forty1on
years to day from the time he wa
shot in the leg which required ampu
tation. The old boys of the Iowa 90
will miss his kindly face at our re
unions and mourn his demise. TIL
family he left behind has my SINGER
sympathy. They can point with prid
to the honorable record and noble char
| acter he left behind"