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Note: Grandma's anecdote: "They" lived within 13 miles of Niagara Falls but never saw them. (This would be Robert Reed's grandfather's family, Noah Cooley and Jane Sutherland who lived on Holland Land Purchase property in Niagara County New York about 13 miles direct line distance east from the Falls). Another anecdote (Dale Cooley): They could sometimes see a rainbow caused by water spray from the Falls.
ROBERT REED COOLEY ANSWERS LAST CALL
<i>The Flagler (Colorado) News </i>Vol. V, No. 50, 3 Jan 1918, p. 4., col. 3 Will A. Borland, ed
This community was grieved last Friday when the word was spread about town that Robert Cooley had passed away on 28 Dec 1917. Mr. Cooley was a man who was held in the highest esteem by all who knew him, and while the writer had known him but two years, still I had learned to love and respect him. His genial disposition and hearty greeting had endeared him to our people and he will be greatly missed in the community.
<b>Robert Reed Cooley </b>was born to Andrew Sutherland Cooley and Salome Warren Cooley in Garnavillo, Iowa 14 May 1847 and died at his home near Flagler, Colo., December 28, 1917, at the age of 70 years, 7 months and 14 days, death being due to apoplexy [a sudden loss of consciousness resulting when the rupture or occlusion of a blood vessel leads to oxygen lack in the brain]. Funeral services were held at the Congregational church in Flagler on Monday morning, December 31st [1918], at 11 o'clock, conducted by the pastor, Rev. A. W. Moore. His text was found in Phil. 1-21: "To me, to live is Christ, to die is gain." Businesses of Flagler were closed during services.
He lived with his parents in Garnavillo until young manhood, when he and his father, A. S. Cooley, disposed of his property near that place and purchased a farm near McGregor, Iowa, where he was in the nursery business several years [This ambiguous quote is from <i>The History of Clayton County Iowa, 1882</i>].
He was united in marriage with Stella A. Owen on December 10, 1874 in McGregor, Clayton County, Iowa.
To this union were born four children: Twins Herbert Merton (Mert) and Robert Berton (Bert) on 20 Oct 1875 in McGregor, Clayton County, Iowa; Verne Alton on 8 May 1880 in McGregor, and Glenn Syren on 14 Jul 1894 in Plainview, Pierce County, Nebraska. Herbert Merton was drowned in the Missouri River near Yankton, S.D., 4 Nov 1914 and Verne Alton died at McGregor Iowa, 5 Aug 1881, at the age of 15 months.
In the spring of 1886 Robert Reed and his family consisting of himself, wife Stella, and twin sons Mert and Bert moved to Plainview, Nebr., where he resided until the spring of 1910 when he migrated to Kit Carson County Colorado where he bought a relinquishment northwest of Flagler.
Robert Cooley was a true man; a man who gave almost his entire life to the service of others. For three year he took care of a helpless brother who was wounded in the Civil War [Peter S. Cooley]. This ordeal practically undermined his health, but he never complained.
Mr. Cooley is survived by his wife, Stella, and two sons, Robert Berton of Otis, Colo., and Glenn Syren of Flagler.
He is also survived by six grand-children, one of whom, Ronald Cooley, has lived with his grandparents since the death of his mother, Elizabeth Holliday Cooley, in December of 1907.
A large number of sympathizing friends and associates assembled to pay their last respects to one whom they loved, and the business houses of Flagler were closed during the services. The floral offerings were abundant and beautiful. The last remains were laid to their final rest in the Flagler cemetery. The News joins with the large circle of friend and acquaintances in extending sympathy to the bereaved wife and children in their time of sorrow.
<b><i>Card of Thanks</b></i>, col 3, same edition
"We desire to extend our sincere thanks to the neighbors and fries who so kindly gave of their assistance and sympathy during the late illness, death and burial of our loved one, Robert Cooley. We especially wish to thank the business men of Flagler and other, for the beautiful floral offerings." /s/ Mrs. Robert Cooley, Glenn Cooley, Mr. and Mrs. R. B. Cooley, Mr. and Mrs. E. M. Owen, Mr. and Mrs. O. A. Groves, Mrs. L. A. Shaffer, Mrs. Mary I. Hicks
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Sources
Birth: Bible Records and information from Lou Cooley (Carrie Louella Miller) about 1968. Death certificate gives age as 70 yr, 7 mo, 12 days at day of death, 28 Dec 1917; this would indicate 16 May 1847 as his date of birth. The given date of birth on the Death Certificate, 12 May 1871, is completely wrong.
Death: State of Colorado, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Certificate of Death; File No 9411a
Burial: State of Colorado, Bureau of Vital Statistics, Certificate of Death; File No 9411a
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