Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1913-10-04
PIONEER LAWYER AND JURiST
PASSES AWAY At HOME IN
DEs MONIES.
SERVED TWELVE YEARS ON
SUPREME BENCH OF IOWA
Twice Chief Justice, and Founder Of
Two Law Schools-kssn and Polish
Cd Man and Praeticins Lawyer for
More Than a Half century-In e9th
Year and Mind Bright.

Special to ,Times:Republican.
Des Moines, Oct. 4.-Judge Chester
c. Cole. pioneer lawyer and twelve
years justice Of the Iowa supreme
court. died of pneumonia at the home
of his daughter early today His ill
week and he had grown constantly
weaker since that time. At the age OF
SO little hope of his recovery had been
felt.
Pioneer lawyer, twelve years judge
in the supreme court. twice chief JUS
ttce of the state and founder and or
gani1er Of two Iowa law schools. Judge
Chester c. Cole occupied q position of
unusual prominence in the life of Iowa
during the ffty-six years of his res
idence in Des Moines.
Lawyer . Half Century.
For more than nifty years he was a
conspicuous member Of the bar of
Iowa. He had been chief Justice Of the
supreme court and he had been at the
head Of a law school many years: but
his practice extended all over tho state.
He was born in Oxford. Chenango
county. New York, June I. 1924. lived
on farm with his mother, then at
tended the public schools end Oxford
academy. clerked in a store and later
took thorough course in Harvard law
school. He was admitted to the bar in
1S4S.
Kentucky was chosen as the place
where he would practice and he opened
an office In Marion. Crittenden county.
where he achieved much success. His
strong anti-slavery sentiments led him
to Iowa in 1857 and he located in Des
Moines, ever since his home.
Two years after his arrival he was
nominated by the democratic state con :
vention for Judge of the supreme court
He was not elected. The next year he
made q notable campaign for congress-
engaging in Joint debate with Gen
Samuel r. Curtis. who won. In this hs
made friends all over the state and
earned repute as debater Of rare quail
ities.
A douglas Democrat"
Judge Cole was a Douglas demo
crat" and gave freely Of his money and
services for the union cause, and In
1864 Governor Stone appointed him to
be Judge Of the supreme court. He
was twice reelected. He was elected
on the republican ticket
He was married in 1S4S and had seven
children. He was a long time member
of the Presbyterian church. a Mason
and q Knight of Pythias. For many
years he occupied handsome residence
on Fourth street in Des Moines, the
famous Colchester Place." which was
the center OF social activities at the
capitol in it's palmy days: later occupy
ing a fine residence near Drake uni
versity.
The distinguishing characteristic OF
Judge Cole was courtesy and refine
ment. He was always the fine gentle
man, of polished manners, of suave
ways and elegant language. He was
learned in the law far beyond most
lawyers of his day. His decisions were
models Of style and clearness. His ad-
dresses before the courts were always
charming. AS law teacher he had no
equal and as dean OF law school he
was a great success.
Judge Cole started life as demo-
crat but the war made him q republi-
can. In recent years party ties did not
bind him and he was a free lance. Age
did not dim the freshness Of his vision
and he was always abreast Of every new
thought and every movement which
gave promise OF something better for
mankind.
The funera; OF Judge Cole vii! be held
Monday afternoon.