Wooden grave markers were not that common in this region, with exception of Hayden Hill, which all those graves markers were made out of wood and they were destroyed in the town’s great fire of 1910.

Luckily, I photographed the wooden markers in the Susanville. Since then, they have been obliterated altogether. I did have some one volunteer, whose hobby is wood working, to make replacements. Needless to say, that did not come to fruition.

The following is Jesse Cole’s obituary that appeared in Lassen Advocate on 3 March 1898: The Death of Jesse Cole.

“Last Monday night [February 28], between the hours of 10 and 11 o’clock, Jesse Cole, an old resident of this section and a Justice of the Peace of this Township, died suddenly at his residence on Pine Street. He had been afflicted for years with some form of heart disease, and several times during his residence here has been near death’s door. About a month ago he was obliged to call medical counsel and with its help had been practically resume his usual avocations. On the evening of his death he had gone to the post office as his want for the mail, and returning home, complained of feeling cold. Stimulants were administered and he was enabled to get to bed, but alarming symptoms manifested themselves and help was summoned. Before his friends and neighbors could respond the grim visitant Death had entrapped the cold from with its mantle and. borne to other and brighter realms the wearied spirit.

“Jesse Cole was a native of Atchison county, Missouri. He came to California in 1862; located at Milford in this valley and has lived in this State ever since. In 1869 he was married to Miss Martha Smith at Napa and after some years in the lower country, returned to this section. At the last general election he was elected Justice of the Peace, Township No. 1 and the office he discharged to the satisfaction of our people and with the credit to himself. The Superior Court when in session, adjourned Wednesday that attorneys and friends might attend the funeral services at the M.E.Church, where an impressive sermon was preached by Rev. Rosen. The Foresters, of which the deceased was a member, conducted the services and laid the remains of their late brother to rest with solemn rites of that Order. The funeral procession  was headed by the Mountain Echo Band and at the grave a beautiful  and appropriate selection was rendered by the choir, consisting of Mrs. J. Alexander, Miss Dovie True, Dr. Dozier and A.H. Taylor.

“A wife and son remain to mourn the loss of kind and indulgent husband and father, and to receive the hearty sympathies of this community.”

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