Collins, Mrs. Richard
Unidentified News Clip in "the Scrapbook"
Died March 14, 1899
[Abstract - view scanned copy for full obituary]
Mrs. Richard Collins died rather suddenly and unexpectedly Monday. The deceased was
born January 20, 1822; died March 14, 1899, aged 77 years, 1 month and 23 days. She
was the widow of Richard Collin. She leaves one son, Virgil, of St. Louis and three
daughters, Jennie, Emma and Lottie, the girls all being present at her death.
Collins, Parmenas
Columbia City News - Whitley County, Indiana
Thursday August 4, 1859
Some days ago the sad intelligence came to our town that Parmenas Collins, brother to
Richard and James S. Collins, came to his death at his Rancho in the State of California
on the 8th day of June last, by being severely kicked upon his chest by a horse which
was hitched to a wagon, he survived but a few hours after having received the fatal
injury.
The deceased was born March 20th 1811, hence at his death, he was in the 49th year of
his age. He was a most amiable man in every particular, and never failed to win the
esteem of all good man with whom he became acquainted. He died in a strange land among
strangers, far from the home of his youthful days and from those that loved him best
and longed to see him return to their embrace once more on earth. He received the kind
attention no doubt of those around him. He is said to have been a most estimable man
and citizen.
Combs, Louisa Cleveland
GSWC First Families of Whitley County (008-FF)
Columbia City Post– Whitley County, Indiana
No date. (died February 12, 1914)
Mrs. Louisa Combs Dead At Whitley. Was Pioneer of the Township and Was Born There
Over 76 Years Ago – Funeral Saturday Afternoon.
Mrs. Louisa Combs passed away at her home in South Whitley Thursday morning at 2:15.
She suffered a stroke of paralysis five weeks ago which made her helpless up to the
time of her death, and last Thursday morning she sustained another stroke which was
the result of her death. She has been failing for over a year.
Louisa Cleveland was born in Cleveland township, in July, 1837, and was 76 years old.
She was a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Benjamin Cleveland, the pioneers of Cleveland
township, and from whom that township received its name. The deceased was united in
marriage to J. K. Combs, of South Whitley, in 1859, and since that time has made that
place her home. To this union twelve children were born, four of whom are living;
H.L. of Jackson, Mich.; Charles and Ward, of South Whitley, and Mrs. O.H. Bowman, of
Pierceton. Mrs. Combs leaves besides her children, one sister, Mrs. L. Martin, near
South Whitley, and two brothers, Will and Fin Cleveland, of Anderson. Her husband
preceded her in death 17 years ago.
She was a devoted member of the M.E. church and attended regularly, living the life of
a Christian woman.
The funeral will be held Saturday afternoon at two o’clock from the house. Rev. McCoy
officiating. Burial in the South Whitley cemetery.
Conner, Robert D.
Transcribed and contributed by Beverly Henley
The Commercial Mail – Columbia City, Indiana
Old Home Town News Letter Insert March 31, 1945 Page 1
Killed in Action World War II
Mr. and Mrs. David W. Conner, who last April were notified of the death of their son, Pfc Ralph E. Conner, on the Anzio Beachhead, Tuesday received word of the death of their second son, Pfc Robert D. Conner, 19, on Iwo Jima. Their only remaining son, Howard, was inducted into the armed forces Tuesday. Robert Conner died March 3 on Iwo Jima where he was fighting with the Fifth Marine Division. He enlisted in the marine corps in June 1943. He was a native of Fort Wayne but spent most of his life in Noble county, graduating from the Churubusco high school in 1943. Ralph Conner was killed April 24, 1944 in Italy. Surviving besides the parents and brother are four sisters.
Cook, Austin Bennett
Columbia City Post - Whitley County, Indiana
Friday, February 26, 1937
Funeral services will be held Sunday afternoon at 2 o’clock from the
Thorncreek Baptist church for Austin Bennett Cook, 76, Thorncreek township,
familiarly known to his friends as Ben. Burial will be made in the Stough
cemetery. Mr. Cook had been in failing health for several months but death
came unexpectedly.
Since the death of his wife Mr. Cook had lived in his own home until the past
few months when he went to the home of his daughter, Mrs. Clyde Cramer in
Thorncreek township, where death occurred.
He had been a life long resident of Whitley county and during his life engaged
in farming. His enterprise was not limited to farming alone, for in the winter
months he did neighborhood butchering. He was known for his sterling worth and
was highly esteemed by his neighbors and friends.
Mr. Cook was born to Henry and Elizabeth Summers Cook, April 6, 1860. He was
united in marriage to Mary Jane Cullers, November 5, 1882. Mrs. Cook passed
away February 8, 1920. He is survived by three daughters, Mrs. Ida Zellers, of
Fort Wayne; Mrs. Clyde Cramer, Thorncreek township, at whose home he passed away,
and Mrs. Glenn Hull, of Washington township, also the following grandchildren:
Virginia, Austin, Keith, Eugene, Phil and Norene Hull, and one sister, Mrs. John
C. Jeffries, at Lake James in Steuben county.
Preceding him in death besides his wife were three sons, William, Austin and
Perry Cook. In 1917 Mr. Cook accepted the Christian faith. The body was
brought to the Luckenbill Funeral home in this city and will be returned to the
Cramer house this evening, where friends may call.
Cook, Mary Jane (Cullers)
Columbia City Evening Post - Whitley County, Indiana
Monday February 9, 1920
Mrs. Ben Cook, of Thorncreek township, died Sunday night at 12:20 o’clock of
heart trouble, following a very brief illness. She had been sick only since
Friday night.
Mary Jane Cullers, daughter of Samuel and Lavina Foster Cullers, was born
November 6, 1864, in Franklin county, Ohio, being 55 years, 3 months and 2
days old at her death. She was married November 5, 1882, to Ben Cook, who
survives. Six children were born to this union, three of whom are dead. It
will be recalled that a few years ago two of the boys died of infantile
paralysis. The surviving children are Mrs. W. H. Zellers, of Fort Wayne, Miss
Clara Cook, at home, and Mrs. Russell Hull, of Thorncreek township. The
deceased was a life-long member of the Baptist church and was always devoted to
her home and family.
Coplen, Austin G
Transcribed and contributed by Beverly Henley
The Commercial Mail – Columbia City, Indiana
Wednesday February 14, 1945 Page 6
Mrs. J. H. Morsches has been notified of the death of her brother-in-law, Austin G. Coplen, 83, a resident of Whitley county for many years, who died suddenly at 11 o’clock Tuesday morning at the home of his son Ernest H. Coplen in Dallas, Texas. The body will arrive in Columbia City Friday morning and will be accompanied here by Mr. and Mrs. Ernest Coplen. Funeral services will be held at 2 o’clock Saturday afternoon at the Smith Funeral Home, where friends will be received until the hour of the service. Burial will be made in South Park Cemetery beside the grave of his wife. Mr. Coplen was a son of Cyrenus Coplen, superintendent at the County Farm Home near this city a number of years ago. His wife the former Ella Brown, died in Thorncreek township May 8, 1940. Following the death of his wife Mr. Coplen went to Texas to reside with his son and family. Survivors besides the son are one granddaughter, Marjory, wife of Lt Charles Rudolph now stationed at Shreveport, La. and a grandson, Robert Coplen who recently graduated from the Dallas schools and will enter military service February 23. Nieces and nephews reside in the county.
Coppage, Ray
Unidentified News Clip in "the Scrapbook"
(Columbia City Commercial – September 30, 1910)
[Abstract - view scanned copy for full obituary]
Edward Russel of Troy township Thursday morning received a letter from his daughter,
Mrs, Ray Coppage, Iba Zanbales Province, Phillipine Islands stating that on August 14,
her husband drowned while in bathing with two other companions. The accident happened
in the afternoon, the unfortunate man being caught by the under current and swept out
into the sea, beyond the aid of those who tried to save him, and he drowned in sight of
his wife who had accompanied him to the bathing pool. The men with him were both swept
out at the same time, but one of them was strong enough to fight his way back, while
the other was saved by a Filipino. Mrs. Coppage saw the helplessness of her husband
and started in to save him but was prevented by those standing on the bank. The body
was washed ashore about two hours after the drowning…Mrs. Coppage states that the
remains of her husband will be brought back home in the course of two or three months,
or just as soon as she can make the necessary arrangements. Mr. Coppage was acting in
the capacity of principal of the schools at Iba and his wife was teaching the higher
grades…The Coppage family had been in the Phillipines for the past six years. The
husband is survived by a wife and a little daughter who is four years of age.
OBITUARY SURNAME LINKS