Notes:

Buried:
Find A Grave e-Memorial

Family/Spouse: Clifford Clayton SPARKS. Clifford was born on 20 Feb 1910 in Des Moines, Polk, IA; died on 17 Feb 2003 in Mesa, Maricopa, AZ; was buried in Mountain View Cemetery, Mesa, Maricopa, AZ. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Name: Bill Cole
• Census: 30 Apr 1910, Peabody Township, Marion, KS
• Census: 6 Jan 1920, Washington Township, Taylor, IA
• Census: 8 Apr 1930, Marshall Township, Taylor, IA
• Census: 9 Apr 1940, Gay Township, Taylor, IA

Notes:

DNA:
MKM

Census:
1910 census at Peabody Township, Marion, KS shows Allen Cole (indexed as Allen R. Core), 25, married 3 years, b. IA, parents b. IL/CANADA, farmer; Effie, 20, 2 children born / 2 living, b. IA, parents bl IL/IL; children b. IA: Burnyce Y., 2; Hazel B., 1 1/2. Note: Hazel is listed as a son in the census.

Census:
1920 census at Washington Township, Taylor IA shows: William R. Cole, male, age 35, b. IA, parents b. Can/OH. Effie, female, 30 born IA, parents born IL/IA. Illegible, daughter, 12, born IA; Raymond, 8, born KS; Fern, 6, b. IA; Dwain T, son, 2 5/12, b. MT.

Census:
1930 census at Marshall Township, Taylor, IA shows: Allen R., male, 46, married at 24, born IA, parents born OH/CAN; occupation, ? operator on farm. Effie, female, 39, married at 17, born IA, parents born IL/IL. Raymond, male, 18, born KS, parents born IA/IA; occupation, farm laborer. Fern, female, 16, born IA. Betty E., female, age X/12. (illegible).

Census:
1940 census at Gay Township, Taylor, IA shows Albert Cole, 56, b. IA, farmer; Effie, 50, b. IA; children b. IA: Betty, 9; Gerald, 7; Geraldine, 7.

Died:
Cause of death: Acute cerebral embolism

Buried:
Find A Grave e-Memorial

Allen married Effie Captola HASTINGS on 1 Oct 1906 in IA. Effie was born on 9 Oct 1889 in Fremont Co., IA; died on 8 Aug 1997 in Richmond, Ray, MO; was buried in Washington Cemetery, Gravity, Taylor, IA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Obituary: 13 Aug 1997

Notes:

Birth:
Daughter of Thomas and Ella Sarah (Lowrey) Hastings.

Obituary:
Bedford Times-Press, Wednesday, August 13, 1997

Effie Captola Hastings Cole

Effie Hastings Cole was born to Thomas and Ella Lowery Hastings on October 9, 1889 near Farragut, Iowa. Effie died Thursday, August 7, 1997 at the Bedford Nursing and Rehab Center. Effie almost made 108; it is believed that until her death she was the oldest living woman in the state of Iowa.

Effie's mother died when she was just eight years old, and so she helped her father raise her five-year-old brother and three year old sister. She lived in Taylor County all of her life. She attended public school through fourth grade when her mother died. She was also an active member of the Christian Church.

On October 1, 1906 she married Allen Roy Cole, better known as Bill and they lived in and around Gravity and Bedford, spending a short time in Montana and Kansas. They tenant farmed and every one or two years moved to a new farm. Even in the midst of all that hard work they had time to have eleven children. Burnyce Cole Goudie, Hazel Cole, twin boys who were stillborn, Raymond Cole, Twyla Fern Cole Sparks, Thomas Cole, Robert Cole, Betty Cole Kirby, Gerry Cole and Geraldine Cole Strong. None of these children were born in a hospital; all of them were born at home on the farm.

Effie not only raised her own kids, but also helped raise her brother, Jay Hastings sons, Bob and Lewis, and her granddaughters, Victoria and Pat, Betty's daughters.

Effie was a hard worker, a homemaker who used every means to get things done and provide for her family. She crocheted and made afghans, she picked berries, and pulled vegetables out of the garden and canned. Effie was a seamstress, she took chicken feed sacks and made shirts and dresses.

She built furniture, tore down walls, and hung wallpaper She was the one the kids sought when there was a problem. While playing in the haymow, the kids came across a snake and it was Effie that came after it with a hoe to kill it.

When the family was having problems with chicken thieves, one night she couldn't seem to wake up Bill, she took off out the door after the thieves with shotgun in hand.

In the early 1940's Bill and Effie moved to town. They lived in town for about 35 years when on February 12, 1977 Bill died and Effie would live alone for the next 20 years. She was 99 when she went into the nursing home. She was 100 when she had her first cataract removed, she never went to a hospital, she was never ill---maybe that is part of the secret. On her 100th birthday someone asked her what advice she would give to young people. She said, "girls keep your dresses down and boys keep your pants up". Seems like well needed advice when the teenage pregnancy rate has tripled in numbers.

It is amazing to think of all the things that came into being or happened in Effie's lifetime - cars, airplanes, motion pictures, televisions, transcontinental phone communication, radio, satellites, the atomic bomb, nuclear submarines, space travel, and computers. She lived through wars, the Battle of Wounded Knee, WWI, WWII, The Korean War, Vietnam and the Persian Gulf. She lived through Ellis Island opening up to accept immigrants, prohibition, women receiving the right to vote, Amelia Erhart taking off to fly across the world, Jackie Robinson breaking into professional baseball, the Civil Rights movement, and many more life changing and world changing events. She also lived through 19 different presidents holding office.

When asked on her 100th birthday what one thing in her lifetime was the most amazing to her, it was putting a man on the moon.

Give or take a few family members, Effie had 11 children, 21 grandchildren, 61 great grandchildren, 44 great great grandchildren, and 3 great great great grandchildren. Whew! Now that is something to go to heaven and boast about.

Effie was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sister and brother, 8 of her 11 children, some grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She will continue to be loved and she will be missed by her two daughters, Twyla Fern Sparks, Geraldine Strong and son Gerald Cole, and all those grandchildren and great grandchildren.

She was a kind, caring, hardworking woman and she will be missed by all those who had a chance to know her in her 107 years on this earth.

Services provided by Novinger Taylor Funeral Home, Monday, August 11, 1997 at 10:30 a.m. Burial at Washington Cemetery, Gravity, Iowa.

Buried:
Find A Grave e-Memorial

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 15 Jun 1880, Washington Township, Taylor, IA
• Census: 1885, Washington Township, Taylor, IA
• Census: 1895, Washington Township, Taylor, IA
• Census: 13 Jun 1900, Washington Township, Taylor, IA
• Census: 2 May 1910, Holt Township, Taylor, IA
• Census: 7 Jan 1920, Gravity, Taylor, IA
• Will: 14 Jun 1920, Bedford, Taylor, IA
• Obituary: 22 Dec 1921

Notes:

Birth:
Birth date calculated from age at death, death certificate shows age at death as 78y,11m,29d; which calculates to 12/14/1842.

DNA:
MKM

Census:
1880 census at Washington Township, Taylor, IA shows: Thomas, age 37, farmer, born Ohio, parents born Ohio; Lydia age 32, housekeeper, born Canada, parents born Canada; Ellen, age 11, born IL; Arvilla, age 8, born Iowa; Thomas, age 6, born IA, John, age 4, born IA; Nettie May, age 2/12, born IA.

Census:
1885 Iowa State census at Washington Township, Taylor, IA shows: Thomas, male, 42, born OH, farmer; Liddia, female, 37, born Canada. Children, all born Taylor Co. IA: Ellen, 16; Arvilla, 12; Thomas, 9; John, 7; Nettie, 4; Ann, 2; Allen, 0.

Census:
1895 Iowa State Census at Washington Township, Taylor, IA shows: Thomas, 52, b. OH; Lydia, 47, b. Canada. The children, all born in Taylor Co. Iowa are: Thomas, 19; John, 17; Nellie, 14; Anna, 12; William, 10; Bert, 8; Ada, 5.

Census:
1900 census at Washington Township, Taylor, IA shows: Thomas, born Jan 1843, age 57, farmer, married 33 yrs, born OH, parents born OH/OH; Lydia, born Aug 1847, age 52, b. Canada, parents born Can/Can, to US "end of 1865", 12 children/9 living. Children, all born IA, parents born OH/Can: John E., born May 1877, age 23; L. Anna, born May 1882, 18; Allen R., born Mar 1884, 16; Bert B., born Mar 1886, 14; Addie O., born Nov 1889, 10.

Census:
1910 census at Holt Township, Taylor, IA shows: Thomas Cole, 67, married 44 years, b. OH parents b. OH/OH, farmer; Lydia N., 63, 12 children born / 9 living, b. Canada (English speaking), parents b. US/US; Bert B. , 24, listed as head within same household, married 3 years, farmer, Rubye E., 24, wife, 2 children born / 1 living, b. IA, parents b. OH/England; James R., 2, b. IA, parents b. IA/IA.

Census:
1920 census at Gravity, Taylor, IA show Thomas Cole, 76, b. OH, parents b. OH/OH, farmer; Lida C., 73, b. CANADA (E); parents b. CANADA (E)/NY.

Will:
LAST WILL AND TESTAMENT OF THOMAS COLE

I, Thomas Cole of Gravity, Iowa, being of sound and disposing mind and memory, but knowing that life is uncertain, do hereby make, publish and declare this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills, by me at any time here-to-fore made.
Paragraph One: I first will and direct that all my just and lawful debts, including funeral charges and expenses of my last sickness, be paid in full.
Paragraph Two: After payment of above I will, devise and bequeath to my beloved wife, Lydia Cole, a life estate in all my property, both real and personal, with authority to manage, control and collect the rent and profits derived from the same during her natural life, but with no authority to sell the same or any portion thereof. This bequest to my said wife being in lieu of all dower rights given her by law.
Paragraph Three: After the death of my said wife, I will devise and bequeath all my property, both real and personal, that I may own or have an interest in as follows:
(a) Whereas, I have assisted and helped my two sons, T.M. Cole and Bert B. Cole, in sums greater in amount than their portions would be should I give them each an equal share in my estate with the rest of my children, I therefore will and direct that neither said T.M. Cole nor Bert B. Cole have or derive any interest whatever in my said estate; it being my intention that neither one of them shall participate in said estate, and they are not willed anything.
(b) And whereas, I have assisted and helped my daughter Ellen L. Laws, it is also my will, and I so direct that she be barred from participating in my said estate, and she is not willed anything, and she is to have no interest whatever therein.
(c) And whereas, I have helped and assisted my son, John E. Cole, in sums of money and other acts of assistance aggregating about twenty-four hundred dollars, it is my will, and I so direct, that my said son, John E. Cole, be given, devised and bequeathed an undivided one-sixth of my estate, less said twenty-four hundred dollars.
(d) It is my will and I so devise, bequeath and direct, that all the balance of my estate, after making the distributions as directed above, be equally divided between my children, Arvilla Crawford, Mattie M. Robinson, Anna Neff, Allen R. Cole, and Ada Brillhart, share and share alike, it being my intention that my last five named children shall share equally in the balance of my estate after making the distributions as directed above.
Paragraph Four: It is my will and I hereby appoint my son-in-law, Elmer Crawford, executor of this my last will and testament.
In witness whereof, I have signed my name, to the above will, at Bedford , Iowa, this 14th day of June 1920.

Signed: Thomas Cole
Witness: O. J. Kirkeleg
?? Meikle

Obituary:
Bedford Free Press
December 22, 1921 p. 3

Thos. Cole Passes Away
Thomas Cole passed away at his home here Monday evening about six o'clock after a brief illness. While not in the best of health for some time before his death, he was able to be about most of the time.

The funeral service will likely not be held until late in the week as a son, John Cole of Loma, Montana, is coming and the body will be held until he arrives.

Gravity Independent

Thomas Cole has lived in this section of Taylor County more than a half century. He is survived by his companion and a large family of children, all with homes of their own. Before moving to Gravity he lived on a farm northwest of town. He was 78 years, 11 months and 20 days old at the time of his death. The sympathy of the community is extended to the bereaved family.

Died:
Cause of death, pneumonia.

Buried:
Find A Grave e-Memorial

Thomas married Lydia Ledorna KILBORN on 3 Jul 1867 in Toulon, Stark, IL. Lydia (daughter of John B. KILBORN and Louisa HASKIN) was born on 22 Aug 1847 in Ontario, CANADA; died on 4 Oct 1923 in Washington Township, Gravity, Taylor, IA; was buried on 7 Oct 1923 in Washington Cemetery, Gravity, Taylor, IA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Immigratn: 1865
• Obituary: 11 Oct 1923, Gravity, Taylor, IA

Notes:

Birth:
Birth date calculated from death certificate which lists age at death as 76y,0m,12d which calculates to 9/22/1847. Death certificate also lists Lydia's place of birth as Quebec, Canada, which we know to be incorrect.

DNA:
MKM

Immigratn:
To US About 1865

Obituary:
Gravity Independent
Lydia L. Cole was born near Quebec, Canada, August 22, 1847, and died October 4, 1923 aged, 76 years, 1 month and 12 days.
When 18 years of age she came with relatives to Illinois and settled near Kewanee, where she was married to Thomas Cole, July 3, 1867.
They came to Iowa in 1871 and settled on a farm east of Gravity where they resided until they moved to town. Her husband departed this life, Dec. 12, 1921.
To this union twelve children were born. Three died in infancy. Those remaining are: Mrs. Ellen Laws of Aurora, Nebraska; Mrs. Arvilla Crawford of Gravity, Iowa; Mrs. Nettie Robinson, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; Mrs. Anna Neff of Hollywood, California; Mrs. Ada Brillhart of Hollywood, California; Thomas Cole of Havelock, Nebraska; John Cole of Loma, Montana; Allen R. Cole of Gravity, Iowa; and Bert Cole of Los Angeles, California.
She was a member of the Christian church, a devoted mother and true friend.
Besides her children, she leaves many other relatives and friends to mourn her loss.
The funeral was held Sunday afternoon in the locan Christian church, conducted by Rev. Burkhart, interment in the Gravity cemetery.

Note: Lydia's middle name was Nadomia.

Lydia was not born near Quebec, she was born in Ontario, Canada.

Died:
Cause of death, senile degeneration.
The informant for Lydia's death ertificate was Tom Cole, he gives her middle name as Nadomia and her birthplace as Quebec, Canada.

Buried:
Find A Grave e-Memorial

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 30 Sep 1850, Troy Township, Athens, OH
• Note: 17 May 1851, Henry Co., IL
• Probate: 20 Mar 1852, Toulon, Stark, IL

Notes:

DNA:
MKM

Census:
1850 census shows Ezekiel Cole, 35, farmer, b. OH; Maria, 34, b. OH, children b. OH: Joshua, 12; Sarah A., 11; John, 9; Thomas, 8; Harrison, 7; Mary J., 4; and Ezekiel S., 2, b. MD.

Note:
The Baptist Church was organized at a council held September 23, 1843, by eight persons, viz: Elder Edward Otis, Charles B. Miner, Mary G. Miner, Edward Otis, Merrill Otis, Hileman Otis, and Hannah and Sarah Otis, united. The first three of these were from Connecticut, the remainder from Ohio. It was not until two years afterward that preaching was secured. During this time, Elders Otis, Jonathan Miner and others officiated. During the Summer of 1845, Elder
Charles E. Tinker was secured to preach one Sunday in each month, and so continued for five years. The meetings were sometimes held on the north side of Barren Grove, and at other times at the west end, in school-houses, and often in the open air. For the last two years of this mail's labors the meetings were not held at Wethersfield, and this church ultimately became the Baptist Church at Annawan.
Another church was established at Wethersfield, May 17, 1851, with eleven members. They were: Ezekiel Cole, Mrs. Maria Cole, John Ewing, Mrs. Keziah Ewing, Mrs. Jane White, Mrs. Susan Ellenwood, Mrs. Caroline Purviance, Mrs. Maria F. Miner, Charles B. Miner, Mrs. Mary A. Miner, and Austin Sykes. Of these, the last three named are members.

Probate:
Exekiel died intestate, his wife Mariah was appointed administratrix.
An inventory and appraisers bill of the goods and chattles belonging to the Estate of Ezekiel Cole deceased:

Articles Appraised

1 Bay Mare $ 25.00
1 Sorrel Horse 40.00
1 two horse waggon & harness 30.00
1 Braking plough 12.00
1 Common Seed plough 11.00
1 Grain Craddle & grass Scyth 4.00
3 Cows at $14.00 each 42.00
3 Calves 4.00 ea 12.00
3 Hogs 2.00 6.00
100 bushel Corn 15 cts per bush. 15.00
30 bu Oats 12 ½ 3.75
1 Cook Stove & Furniture 8.00
Other householde furniture 20.00

Tota l 228.75

We the undersigned appraisers, duly appointed and qualified, as will appear by the warrant of appraisment, and certificate hereto attached do hereby certify the for going to be a correct inventory and apppraisment Bill, of the goods and Chattles belonging to the Estate of Ezekiel Cole, as made by us. Given under our hands and seals, this 10th day of March A.D. 1852.
John Turnbull
Adam Oliver
Robert Rule

An estimate of the value of each article of specific property allowed by law to Maria Cole widow of Ezekiel Cole deeased as made out by us, to wit.

Necessary beds, bedsteads and beddiing for herself and family $ 36.00
Necessary household and kitcken furniture 35.00
One spinning wheel 3.00
One loom and its appendage 15.00
One pair of cards 1.00
One stove and the necessary pipe 15.00
The wearing apparel of herself and family 60.00
One milch cow and calf for every four persons in the family 28.00
One horse of the value of 40.00
One womans saddle and bridle of the value of 15.00
Provisions for herself and family for one year 145.00
Two sheep for each member of the family and the fleeces 32.00
taken from the same.
Food for the stock above described for six months 25.00
Food for herself and family for three months 20.00
And sixty dollars worth of other property 60.00

Total $530.00

Given under our hands this 20th day of March AD 1852

John Turnbull
Adam Oliver
Robert Rule

Buried:
Find A Grave e-Memorial

Ezekiel married Mariah Jane SMITH on 3 Feb 1837 in Harrison Co., OH. Mariah (daughter of John H. SMITH and Anna ARGO) was born on 15 May 1815; died on 9 Sep 1891 in Howard Township, Wayne, IA; was buried on 10 Sep 1891 in Edmond Cemetery, Powersville, Wayne, IA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Birth: 14 May 1815, Alexandria, Arlington, VA
• Note: 17 May 1851, Henry Co., IL
• Census: 5 Jul 1860, Elmira, Stark, IL
• Census: 20 Jul 1870, Elmira Township, Stark, IL
• Census: 17 Jun 1880, Washington Township, Taylor, IA

Notes:

DNA:
MKM

Note:
The Baptist Church was organized at a council held September 23, 1843, by eight persons, viz: Elder Edward Otis, Charles B. Miner, Mary G. Miner, Edward Otis, Merrill Otis, Hileman Otis, and Hannah and Sarah Otis, united. The first three of these were from Connecticut, the remainder from Ohio. It was not until two years afterward that preaching was secured. During this time, Elders Otis, Jonathan Miner and others officiated. During the Summer of 1845, Elder
Charles E. Tinker was secured to preach one Sunday in each month, and so continued for five years. The meetings were sometimes held on the north side of Barren Grove, and at other times at the west end, in school-houses, and often in the open air. For the last two years of this mail's labors the meetings were not held at Wethersfield, and this church ultimately became the Baptist Church at Annawan.
Another church was established at Wethersfield, May 17, 1851, with eleven members. They were: Ezekiel Cole, Mrs. Maria Cole, John Ewing, Mrs. Keziah Ewing, Mrs. Jane White, Mrs. Susan Ellenwood, Mrs. Caroline Purviance, Mrs. Maria F. Miner, Charles B. Miner, Mrs. Mary A. Miner, and Austin Sykes. Of these, the last three named are members.

Census:
1860 census at Elmira, Stark, IL shows: Maria Coles, 45, widow, b. OH; John A., 22, farmer, b. OH; Susan, 21; b. NJ; Thomas, 17, b. OH; Mary J., 14, b. OH; Ezekiel, 12, b. OH. Mariah is enumerated next door to her mother Anna Argo Cole.

Census:
1870 census at Elmira Township, Stark, IL shows: Maria Cole, 52, widow, b. OH; Ezekiel, 22, b. OH, farmer. Next door are Henry and Mary Jane (Cole) Dutton.

Census:
1880 census at Washington Township, Taylor, IA shows: Maria Cole, 65, b. OH, parents b. DE/PA, housekeeper; Salathiel Smith, 46, b. OH, parents b. DE/PA, brother, house carpenter; Luella Laird, 12, b. IA, parents b. IA/unknown, ward; Tolbert Inman, 20, b. IL, parents b. OH/OH, farm hand.

Buried:
Find A Grave e-Memorial

Notes:

Married:
Marriage was performed by the brides grandfather, Rev. William Argo.

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1851, Bastard Township, Leeds, Ontario, CANADA
• Census: 1861, Bastard Township, Leeds, Ontario, CANADA
• Census: 1871, Bastard and South Burgess Township, Leeds and Grenville, Ontario, CANADA
• Census: 1881, Bastard and South Burgess Township, Leeds and Grenville, Ontario, CANADA

Notes:

DNA:
MKM

Census:
1851 census at Bastard Township, Leeds, Ontario shows John B. Kilborn, 29, farmer, b. CANADA, no church; Louisa, 28, b. CANADA; children b. CANADA: Lydia L., 5; Joseph M., 3; Ursula V., 3.

Census:
1861 census at Bastard Township, Leeds, Ontario shows John B. Kilborn, 47, farmer, b. Upper Canada, Baptist; Louiza, 46, b. Upper Canada; children b. Upper Canada: Lidua, 14; J.M., 13; A.V. 11, L.V., 8.

Census:
1871 Canadian census lists John B. Kilborn, age 48, born Ontario, Methodist of Scotch origin, farmer; Louisa, 47, b. Ontario, Methodist; Lucy, 17, b. Ontario.

Census:
1881 Canadian census at Bastard & Burgess South, Leeds South, Ontario, Canada shows: John B. Kilborn, age 58, b. Ontario, Canada, ethnic origin Scottish, religion ME, farmer; Louiza, 55, b. Ontario, Canada, ethnic origin Scottish, religion, Baptist.

John married Louisa HASKIN on 11 Aug 1846 in Kitley Township, Leeds, Ontario, CANADA. Louisa (daughter of Joseph HASKIN and Lucy PARISH) was born on 23 Apr 1824 in Leeds Co., Ontario, CANADA; died on 17 Apr 1911 in Bastard Township, Leeds, Ontario, CANADA; was buried in Plum Hollow Baptist Cemetery, Elizabethtown, Leeds, Ontario, CANADA. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Other Events and Attributes:

• Census: 1901, Bastard and South Burgess Township, Leeds and Grenville, Ontario, CANADA

Notes:

DNA:
MKM

Census:
1901 census at Bastard & Burgess Township, Ontario shows Louisa Kilborn, widow, b. 23 April 1824, Ontario, religion Baptist.

Died:
Cause of death: old age & influenza and several years heart failure.

Buried:
Find A Grave e-Memorial