Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1908-03-27
DEATH OF DR..
JN0. T. COOLEY
Well Known Tazewell Dentist
Expired Sud enly Saturday
Night At Age of II.

spots Bros. last Saturday evening,
about 8 o'clock. He went into the
store about this hour, and talked
with Mr.. j. w. SPOTS about some
seed potatoes in which he was inter-
ested, and seemed in his usual normal
condition. He took seat on ->the
edge OF barrel near the door, and
suddenly fell backwards, and i'm a
few Monuments was dead. sDr Isaac
Peirce, who at the time, was i'm the
drug store across the street was at
his side in a very few minutes, but
TO no purpose. Life was extinct in
less than five minutes after he was
stricken.
The burial took place in ssthe new
cemetery, on Monday Afternoon, un-
der the auspices of the Knight Temp
lars and Masonic lodge, of which ne
was a lifelong, prominent and devot-
ed member. Brief and simple services
were held at the residence, conducted
by Rev. Mr.. Rector and Rev. Mr..
Harman and Rev. G. r. Brown. The
floral tributes were elaborate and
beautiful, and Notwithstanding rain
was steadily falling and the day very
disagreeable quite large crowd was
present to pay the last tribute of re-
spect to one whom for many years
they were glad to call ''friend.
Deceased leaves, besides wife, six
daughters, viz: Mrs. John W.LairG,
Tazewell; Mrs. McClaugherty, Blue
field; Misses Mary, Nellie, Matte and
Lucille. His wife was a daughter of
the late judge Bojtimore, OF this
county, and the family are therefore,
connected by marriage 10 large
number OF people in this county.
DR.. Cooley came to TaZewell about
40 years ago. He served during the
war in the 5lst Virginia Regiment
as Quartermaster and hospital assis-
tant, and atthe close of the war was
prisoner for several monthsatFt. Dele
ware. After the war he studied den
tistry, and was a successful practi-
tioner for nearly 80 years. He was
married in 1877 to Miss Mamie Bot
timore, as stated above, and spent the
remainder OF his life in this town.
DR.. Cooley was in n class by him
self In nearly all respects. Religious
ly and politically, he was pronounced
often extreme, but always sincere in
his views-no sincerer, more consci-
entious man ever lived. You always
knew where to find him, and could
always ascertain where he stood on
any question, and you could rest as
sured that this was on one side Of the
line. He had, strange to say when
his often reckless expressions OF opin-
ion are taken into account, as many
friends and as few enemies, as any
citizen of any community. He was
severe and relentless, too much so, his
best friends often thought, in opposi-
tion to and criticism of opinions and
conditions which he could not APP
prove, and yet, few if any, of his
friends or acquaintances can name a
single individual who was ever heard
to say that he disIiked DIR. Cooley.
He was almost universally popular
notwithstanding the many attitudes
and positions he placed himself in,
generally thought to be unpopular
and impolitic. His popularity may
cerity and his generosity. In his con-
duct he was open and clean. He de-
spised mean act, was conscientious
in all he did and in everything he
said. His generosity was proverbial.
To help the needy and obilge friend
was to him an absolute pleasure. If
any taint OF selfishness lurked in his
heart it was effectuaIly concealed and
eternally hidden FROM the scrutiny OF
even his most intimate friends
and associates. Beneath a rough ex-
terror presented to strangers or casual
acquaintances was a large, unselfish
generous heart. No honest man ever
had truer friend, no hypocrite @
sterner foe, than was he.
Something should be said of his
religious views and convictions. Ar
impression prevails, more or less
wide spread, that DR.. Cooley was
an infidel. Nothing is farther from
the truth. He was firm believer in
God and in Jesus Christ as the Savior
of the world. He,read the Bible 4
great deal, and believed in it. NJ
man ever heard him declare or ever
hint tnat any passage or saying o
the Bible was untrue. He had hi,
own views of what il taught. and in
terpreted its sayings in his own, orig
inal way, often heretical in the opin
ion OF the people generally, but n,
believed 1t, and in this, as in al
other matters, he was outspoken ant
sincere, and accepted the opinions O
no man. He did not believe in tn
churches as organized, or many O