STEUBEN REPUBLICAN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1901, page 1, column 5

NELSON COLE, 04 May 1838 -04 Jan 1901

   Nelson Cole was born in Portage county, Ohio, May 4, 1838, and 
died at his home in Scott township, Steuben county, Indiana, January 
4, 1901, aged 62 years and 8 months.
   He was one of the numerous sons of Jacob V. and Sarah Geer Cole, 
two of the old pioneers of Steuben county, and was united in 
marriage to Eliza Phenicie, Feb. 16, 1860.  There were born to them 
four sons, one of which died in infancy, while Sherman, Frank and 
George grew to manhood and with their mother, survive him.  He 
remained on the farm northeast of town until the call to arms was 
sounded, and in 1862 he with his brother Samuel, and cousin, George 
Geer, enlisted in company H, 74th Indiana volunteers on the 9th day 
of August, 1862, and on the second day following went into camp at 
Fort Wayne, Indiana.  He was one of the most robust members of his 
company, and participated in all its movements and campaigns.  His 
brother Samuel was severely wounded at Jonesboro, Georgia, from 
which he died some weeks after, while his cousin, George Geer, was 
killed at Chickamauga, and he was left alone of that once happy 
trio.  He was fortunate in not being wounded, but during the Atlanta 
campaign and on Sherman's march to the sea a dreadful disease 
grafted itself upon his system, which kept getting worse until his 
muster out in 1865.  He was a sufferer, not excelled by any one in 
his county for many years and was hardly ever free from pain and 
total helplessness until the angel of death called him from his 
home.  He was always known in his neighborhood as an excellent 
neighbor and citizen, and his acts of generosity and assistance in 
time of need will ever be remembered by many.  As he could do no 
work, he spent much of his time reading, and was well informed on 
all public questions.  He was a firm believer in the principles of 
the Republican party, and was ready and willing to contend for them 
at all times.  Funeral occurred at the South Scott church, on Sunday 
afternoon, January 7, Elder C. S. Medbury officiating.  A great 
concourse of neighbors and friends gathered to pay their tribute of 
respect to the deceased, among them being sixteen men who served in 
the same company with him in the war of the Rebellion.
(Picture included with obituary)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

   Nelson Cole, 04 May 1838 - 04 Jan 1901, married Eliza (Phenecie) 
Cole, 27 Jan 18__ - 29 Dec 1904.  They are buried at South Scott 
Cemetery, Steuben County, Indiana, as well as all these listed 
children and their spouses.  Nelson was the son of Jacob V. Cole, 03 
Mar 1812 - 03 Feb 1886, and Sarah (Geer) Cole, 26 Jul 1818 - 23 Sep 
1886.

Children of Nelson and Eliza Cole:

   Samuel C. Cole, 5 Jul 1866 - 28 Dec 1866.
   Sherman O. Cole, 24 Sep 1867 - 1948, on 27 Nov 1890, married Mary 
Eliza (Dotts) Cole, 1870 - 1943.
   Frank J. Cole, 1869 - 1931, on 23 Apr 1892, married Edith 
(Berlien) Cole, 1870 - 1939.
   George Cole, 1870 - 1960, on 01 Mar 1899 married Jennie* Harmon, 
11 Feb 1874 - May 1911.  He married second, Lulu May (Maugherman) 
Cole, 10 Apr 1885 - 1956.
*Jennie Harmon is listed several ways: Cemetery book, Jennie;  
Marriage license record, Steuben County, Indiana, Jane; Family Group 
Record, Clesta Jane.  She is the daughter of William H. and Eliza 
(Teegardin) Harmon.  

Siblings of Nelson Cole (all buried at Circle Hill Cemetery, Angola, 
Indiana):

   Sgt. Samuel Cole, 10 Nov 1843 - 12 Dec 1864, died in Nashville, 
Tenn., of wounds received in battle at Jonesboro, Ga.
   Jacob C. Cole, 16 Feb 1848 - 11 Apr 1863. 
   Major (per cemetery book) William H. Cole, 30 Sep 1841 - 17 Oct 
1895, married Nettie A. (Gifford) Cole, 1844 - 1912, daughter of 
Amaniah and Rachel Jane (Beard) Cole. 129th Indiana Infantry.
   Capt. John Cole, 1845 - 1914, married Patience (Elliott) Cole, 
1839 - 1923.  129th Indiana Infantry.

"Cemeteries of Steuben County, Indiana, 1990" by Audree Siebel 
Lewis, Vol. I, 379, 380. 381, 383, 383.
"History of Steuben County, IN - 1885, biography of brother William 
H. Cole, pages 672, 673.      

Submitted by:  Mona Hilden-Beckwith
e-mail:  hilbeck123@att.net