Representative John F. G. Cold View All Years

HON. F. G. COLD.

MR. SPEAKER: Your committee appointed to prepare resolutions commemorative of the life, character and public services of the Honorable John F. G. Cold, a member of the Twenty-eighth General Assembly of Iowa, beg leave to respectfully submit the following report:

John F. G. Cold was born at Ecenfoerde in the province of Schleswig, December 10th, 1840. He came to this country with his parents and located near Cleveland, Ohio in 1848. In 1861 he joined the United States army and served his country faithfully during that great war. He participated in the battle of Town Creek and a great many skirmishes, and was honorably discharged at Greensboro, North Carolina on June 24th, 1865. For many years past he was a member of the G. A. R. Post 71 at Grundy Center.

After the war he returned to Ohio where he remained until 1867 when he came to Jackson County, Iowa, where he engaged in farming. In September, 1869, he removed to Lincoln township in Tama County, where he purchased one hundred and sixty acres of wild land. To this farm he added other lands until he had over six hundred acres, than which there is no better land in our fair state. Here he lived until the day of his death.

Of late years Mr. Cold took life comparatively easy, turning the farm operations over to his children. Through his efforts a postoffice was established at his place and in his honor was named Coldsville. He was made postmaster and served as such for eight years until the office was discontinued.

He has been a life-long Republican; has taken an active part in politics and served his party in various capacities. He has filled with credit to himself and his constituency many public offices, among which are: township trustees, township assessor, justice of the peace, census enumerator, (both state and national), school director, road supervisor, secretary of the school board, and in the House of Representatives of the Twenty-eighth General Asembly. There is probably not a man in Lincoln township who is better known than John F. G. Cold. Nor is there one who possessed to a greater extent the confidence and respect of all who knew him.

On the 14th day of May, 1867, he married Miss Mary A. Pillatt, a native of Nottingham, England. Six children came to bless their home; namely, Frances F., Henrietta, William F., Elizabeth P., Catherine M., and Bertha A. All are living except Elizabeth who died about eight years ago.

In the fullness of time the light of this noble, useful, patriotic life went out and passed the great divide whence there is no returning, and his body was laid to rest by loving hands in the peaceful shades of Fifteen Mile Grove Cemetery.

Resolved that we extend to his family and friends our heartfelt sympathy, and that a copy of these resolutions be spread upon the Journal of the House and that an engrossed copy thereof, duly authenticated, be sent to the bereaved family of the deceased.

W. N. TOWNSEND,

F. A. O’CONNOR,

GORDON HAYES,

Committee.

Adopted.