Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 13, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 January 1918 — PROMINENT MAIL. CLERK DEAD [ARTICLE]

PROMINENT MAIL. CLERK DEAD

ARTHUR COLE, OF LAFAYETTE, EXPIRED EARLY THIS THURSDAY MORNING. The -community was greatly shocked this Thursday morning, when word was received here announcing the death of Arthur W. Cole, of Lafayette, a former Rensselaer citizen. Mr. Cole’s death was sudden and unexpected, as he had been sick but a very short time and his illness was not regarded as of a serious nature. He was removed to the Home hospital at Lafayette Tuesday noon and his death occurred in that institution at three o’clock this Thursday morning. Mr. Cole is a brother-in-law of Mrs. E. L. Clark and a nephew of Mrs. i. P. Warner, both of this city, and an uncle of Leslie Clark, one of the publishers of The Republican. Mr. Cole’s death was due to pneumonia, which he contracted while making an extra run as a mail clerk on the Monon. After having finished his regular run the fore part of last week, he was ordered the latter part of the week to make an extra run, owing to the shortage of clerks. During his trip he complained to the other clerks on the run that he was not feeling very well. On his arrival at Lafayette his condition was such that he was forced to leave the train and he was taken to his home, later being removed to the hospital, where he continued to sink rapidly until death came to relieve him of his sufferings. Arthur W. Cole has been in the employ of the government as a mail clerk for the past thirty-five years, during which time he gained the reputation as being one of the most efficient clerks on the Monon route. He was one of the best known and most popular clerks in the service of the government on the local road and made friends with whomever he came in contact. Always of a jovial and generous disposition, his death will be keenly felt by his fel-low-clerks and in his removal,’ the government loses a most valuable man. The early life of the deceased was spent in Jasper county and he continued to make this county his home until about 1900, when he and his family left this city to make their home in Lafayette. Mr. Cole was about sixty years of age at the time of his death and leaves to mourn their loss his wife, one daughter, Bright, of Lafayette, one son, Arthur, of Detroit. Mich., and two brothers, Fred, of Lafayette, George, living some where in the west, and one sister, besides many other relatives and friends. The funeral arrangements will not be completed until the return of Mrs. Cole from Grand Rapids, Mich., where she has been attending her sister, who is very sick. It is probable, however, that burial will be made in this city either Saturday or Sunday and that the services will be in charge of the local order of Odd