Cole, **Samuel Larsh

Samuel and family are enumerated in the 1920 Grant Co., Indiana Census (Gas City Twp, page 16A, Microfilm #T625_434). They are shown as follows:
~ Samuel Cole - (head) age 72, born in Ind., father born in KY, mother born in Ohio
~ Mary M. Cole - (wife) age 53, born in Ind., father born in NC, mother born in Ind.
~ Louis L. Cole - (son) age 32, born in Ind., occupation: truck driver at lumber business
~ Lena Warren - (daughter) age 24, born in Ind. (shows she is married)
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From the Grant County, Indiana Website at RootsWeb

Civil War Soldiers of Grant County, Indiana
Cole, Samuel L., of Jefferson Twp.; Priv., Unassigned in 79th Reg. Substitute
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Obituary: Funeral services for Samuel Cole, 79, prominent resident of Gas City who died Thursday morning at his home on North "F" street following an illness of several weeks were held this afternoon at the residence at two o'clock with Rev. Bragg of Marion in charge. Burial was made in the Gas City Cemetery. Mr. Cole a veteran of the civil war, was well known in the county where he had lived the major portion of his life. The services at the home and at the cemetery were under the direction of the G.A.R. The W.R.C. conducted their services for Mr. Cole Friday. Surviving relatives include the widow, three sons and four daughters. (Source: Judy Cameron, decendant, online family tree info)

Anecdotes from his son, Sam: He played the fiddle, holding his left index finger in the air. This was because it was cut off at the first knuckle. Sam the son, admired the fiddle but was never allowed to touch it. When his parents were gone from the house he would take it down and taught himself to play it. He thought that since his father held his index finger up that that was the way it was to be done. When his father came home unexpectedly and caught him playing the fiddle he laughed at the boy for playing with his finger in the air and afterward allowed him to play when he wanted. They lived near where the railroad tracks run between Gas City and Upland (about 1.5-2 miles outside Gas City). When the railroad was being laid a workman came to the house to get water from the well. He came frequently and Minnie was, apparently, "overly friendly". One day Sam came home and when he saw Minnie in the doorway and the workman nearby, he threw the hatchet he was carrying. The hatchet stuck in the door frame very near Minnie's head. According to Sam, the son, he wasn't really aiming at her or he would have hit her as his aim was very accurate. As a Civil War soldier (Union) he had a great dislike for the Confederate Soldiers. His favorite joke was about a Union soldier who, after the war, was walking down a street when he came across a legless man begging in the street. He was wearing the remains of his Confederate gray uniform. The Union veteran gave the beggar a coin. The beggar asked if it was because he felt guilty about what the Union soldiers had done. "No," said the Union soldier, "But, I don't mind paying for good entertainment." Sam, the son, said his father was a very harsh man but honest in his dealings. He said grace at every meal and always told Sam that he should make sure that "whatever you get, you get it honest." (Source: Judy Cameron, decendent, online family tree info)
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