GOOD WOMAN CALLED HOME




Mrs. Almira Cole Passes Away
At Coudersport May 28, 1928
Aged Nearly 90 Years. Bur
Made at Sharon Center.


Almira Cole, one of seven children born to Johnathan Smith and Kathryn (Keiser) Smith, on June 3, 1878 at North Fork, Potter county, Pa. where she lived until married to W. A. Cole at Oswayo, Pa., 1855.

Almira Cole can be truly call a pioneer of our county, her parents coming here from Northumberland county on foot, bringing with them a cow and a few personal belongings, locating in a dense wilderness on the North Fork where they struggled and cleared a small farm, and reared their family being aided in their food supply by the wild game and fish that abounded at the time. Many, many hours has the writer listened to the tales of the hunting and early struggle for a livelihood so vividly remembers and well told by the subject of this sketch.

After her marriage she moved to Topeka, Pa. where two of her eleven children were born, Charles Henry Cole and Arthur Leroy Cole. Then moving to Clara, Pa., where they were living at the outbreak of the Civil War, her husband answering the call of his country leaving his two small boys in their noble mother's care and served till the end of the war.

In addition to the above named children were born to this union Carrie Cole Hollenbeck, James Henry, Adelaide Betsy Proctor, John Walter, Angie Mariah Flegal, Orin Leonard, Mollie Kathryn Beasor, Margaret Delight Styles, and an infant living only a few hours. Ten of which were reared to man and womanhood on this Clara farm, as was also one grandson Arthur Leroy Hollenbeck. Seven of the above name children survive, together with one grand children and 32 great grandchildren. She survived all of her family of brother and sisters by ten years. Only one sister in-law, who is now 92 years of age.

Since the death of her husband 23 years ago, Mrs. Cole has lived has lived with her youngest son, O.L. Cole at Shinglehouse, until four years ago when they moved to Coudersport where she has been tenderly cared for by her three daughters.

Mrs. Cole's life has been one of service. both to humanity and to her God. she uniting with the church when but twelve years of age and continued steadfast in her belief and service until the time of her death. She was in every way a very remarkable and superior woman, and outstanding character in her home, community and church a woman who made an impression on strangers and one who held her acquaintances as friends to the last. She has been known to a wide circle of friends as "Grandma Cole" and to all the children who came in contact with her, and she loved them dearly.

She retained all her faculties to the hour of her death, being in unusual good health all winter until stricken with pneumonia only five days prior to her death. During which time she knew all of her family, and talked with them and spoke of the absent ones. Two sons, three daughters and a grand daughter were with her to the last and all that tender care and love could do was done, but to no avail, and she passed peacefully to her reward, May 28, 1928.

Funeral service were held at the home in Coudersport at two p.m., her pastor Rev. Arthur Gregson and Rev. Walter Dynes of Andover, N.Y., officiating. The burial was made in Sharon Center cemetery, amid a profusion of beautiful flowers.

Among the relatives and friend from out of town were, Mr. and Mrs. George Williams of Philadelphia, Mr. and Mrs. Irving Blakeslee and two children of DuBois, Horace, Walter and John Flegal and wives of Clearfield, Mr. and Mrs. George Hamre and daughter of Belouit, Wis., Guy Beasor, Jr., of Lewisburg, Pa., Fred Newton of Olean, Mrs. Mae Fields of Port Allegany, Messers. All Kline, Ira Waite and John Moore, of Clearfield, Pa., G. M. Beaser of Canisteo N.Y., Delbert Smith of Oswayo, Mrs. Dora Flegal of Clearfield, George W. Dodge, U.S. Dodge and wife, Mr. and Mrs. H.B. Foster, Mr. and Mrs. R. M. Babcock, Frank Newton, B. L. Langworthy, Mrs. Lydia Nichols, Mrs. Charles Grames, Mrs. George Barnes, Mrs. Ida Whitford, Mrs. H. P. Toner, Mr. and Mrs. C. C. VanDeboe, K.E. Newton, Mrs. W. S. Gadsby, Mrs. Earl Danforth and Mr. and Mrs. E. T. McDowell of Shinglehouse, Mr. and Mrs. L.L. Cole, Miss Mattie Cole and family and Mrs. Martha Christman of Millport.