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- John A. Cole - September 23, 1853 - January 28, 1936. Son of John Monroe and Hannah Cole. Husband of Elvira L. Brown Cole.
Newspaper Obituary - Thursday, January 30, 1936 Sandy Creek News - Sandy Creek, New York - Last Rites To Be Held For John A. Cole - Was Railroad Conductor on Syracuse-Watertown Run 34 Years - Funeral services will be held at the Lawrence Mortuary chapel in Pulaski Sunday at 2 p.m. for John A. Cole, 82, well-known former railroad conductor and a native of this section, who died in Syracuse Tuesday, January 28, 1936. Mr. Cole was born on a farm near Orwell and was well known in this community, having for many years owned a summer home at Blind Creek Cove on Sandy Pond. His wife was the former Miss Eva L. Brown, a native of Sandy Creek. For many years he was conductor on the run from Syracuse to Watertown, retiring about 1923 after more than 40 years of railroad service. He was born near Richland February 23, 1853. His father’s name was John Cole, and he owned what was in later years the Stowell farm a mile east of Orwell. Mr. Cole spent his boyhood days around Richland and at one time helped in Albert Wright’s restaurant. He married Miss Elva Brown, daughter of Asa S. Brown, who was a long resident of the southern part of the town of Sandy Creek. Mrs. Cole, who died about a year ago, was a sister of Mrs. Anna Widric Kenney of Sandy Creek. Mr. Cole entered the employ of the old R. W. & O. as a freight brakeman July 31, 1882. He was promoted to a freight conductor June 15, 1887, and to a passenger conductor August 25, 1889. From then until his retirement in 1923 he had the run between Syracuse and Watertown and became a well-known figure. At the time he made his last run after having reached the retirement age of 70 he was given a demonstration by many railroad officials and by friends at towns all along the line. At that time he spoke briefly about his career as a railroader, saying that he was no different than a lot of other old timers. He recalled the unusual snow storms of those early years and said that it was not uncommon to have a train stalled for a few days, but that it was all a part of the work. When Mr. Cole became a brakeman on what was the the old R. W. & O. he went to work under Superintendent E. A. VanHorne, who was the first superintendent of what is now the Ontario division but which at that time was called the Western division. Mr. Cole died at his home in Syracuse. His sister-in-law, Mrs. Kenney of this village had been assisting in his care during his last illness. The body was brought Wednesday afternoon to the Lawrence Mortuary Chapel in Pulaski, where services will be held at 2 o’clock Sunday afternoon. The body will be placed in Pulaski vault with burial in Pulaski cemetery in the spring.
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1853 - 1936 (82 years)