----Source: Colby Phonograph (Colby, Wis.) 12/27/1928

Cole, Charles R. (5 OCT 1847 - 19 Dec 1928)

A double funeral was held in Colby, Wis. last Saturday, Dec. 22nd, when the remains of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Rodney Cole, early settlers of Colby, were laid at rest in the Colby Cemetery. Funeral services were held at the Methodist Church, Rev. F. A. Fahlgren officiating.

Mr. Cole died at St. Joseph's Hospital at Marshfield at midnight, Wednesday, Dec. 19, 1928, after an illness of six weeks, gangrene being the cause of his departure to the distant shore. Mrs. Cole passed away at two o'clock Thursday afternoon, Dec. 20, 1928 at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Fred Hutton, after and illness of five days, heart failure being the cause of her departure. The bodies were taken from the f. W. Lulloff undertaking parlors to the Methodist Church, where impressive funeral services were held.

Mr. Cole was born at Milford, Defiance Co., Ohio, Oct. 5, 1847, thus reaching the age of eight-one years, two months and four days. Mrs. Cole, whose maiden name was Sevilla Clara Smith, was born at Southport, now Kenosha, Wis., on Feb. 18, 1846, thus reaching the age of eight-two years, ten months and two days. They were married Jan. 22, 1870, at Milford, and lived there twelve years, Mr. Cole coming to Wis. in Sept. 1881, and Mrs. Cole on April 14, 1882. They settled in the town of Hein, Marathon Co., ten miles east and two miles north of Colby. The last two miles leading to their new home had to be made on foot as there was no road except a lonely trail through the woods. They soon moved to Colby, where Mr. Cole and his brother, I. K. Cole, went to work together at the carpenter trade. Mr. and Mrs. C. R. Cole celebrated their golden wedding anniversary on Jan. 22, 1920. They both were descendants of Puritan stock, Mr. Cole had two ancestors in the Revolutionary War, one having participated in the Lexington alarm.

Three children were born to them, two preceding them in death, namely: Frances Cole Cowan and Arthur M. Cole. Mrs. Fred Hutton is the only one who survives. Mr. Cole is also survived by three brothers: Spencer Cole, Grand Rapids, Mich.; C. H. Cole, Grainfield, Kansas; L. E Cole, Hicksville, Ohio. Mrs. Cole is also survived by one sister and two brothers: Mrs. Julia Atkins, Dr. C. W. Smith, and Allen Smith, all of Pacific Palisades, Cal.

Those from out of town here for the funeral were Mrs. W. E. Maier of Ferndale, Mich., granddaughter; Charlie J. Cole and wife of Outonagin, Mich., grandson; Mr. and Mrs. Lewis Chapman and son, LeVon of Corinth, cousins of Mrs. Cole; George H. and James K. Cade of New Lisbon, grand nephew of Mr. Cole; Mrs. J. B. Thompson, Mrs. Frances Prosser and daughter, Dolly, and Mr. Niles Parkhill of Abbotsford.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Cole were esteemed very highly in Colby, which was manifested by the many beautiful floral offerings and the large funeral procession. Both were of generous impulses and never forgot the hospitable ways of the pioneer, but the watchful care of loved ones and physicians were of no avail for the great destroyer had placed his signet on their brow and today they are at Peaceful rest in our silent city.