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.

STEUBEN REPUBLICAN
Wednesday, January 16, 1901,
p. 1, col. 5.