Birth date calculated on death date of July 13, 1883 and his age at the time of death as 45yrs 8mos and 10das using the website www.timeanddate.com .
Served in the Civil War. (GAR marker #15 was near gravestone.) [Linda Linn found he served in Co. C, 34th NY Inf.]
("The Avoca Herald" newspaper of Avoca, Iowa dated July 18, 1883 on p. 4)
Death of John Coakes
On Thursday morning, of last week, the people of Avoca were thrown into no little excitement by the report that John Coakes had been knocked down and thrown into the river at a late hour the night before. He appeared at home at about three o'clock that morning with his clothes and general appearance in such a condition as to give credence to that story, which he told himself. It was credited by but few, however, and nothing much was thought about the matter until on the following morning, when it was reported that he was missing, he having arisen at an early hour and wandered off, no one knew where. Search was instituted and kept up during the day, but the most thorough search failed to reveal his whereabouts. Close upon the heels of this sensation came the report that the Polk City murderers had been cornered in a grove a few miles away, and that being the latest sensation, search for the missing man was partially abandoned, only being continued by a few. Nothing was discovered, however, until about 10 o'clock Sunday morning, when Messrs. Steve Sanders and Ed. Kentner, who were down near the Morthouse bridge, on the West 'Botna, saw something in the water which looked like a coat. On drawing it to the surface they found their supposition to be correct, and quickly brought to light all that was mortal of the unfortunate man. The remains were brought to town and a coroner's jury summoned, Justice D. Higbie acting as coroner. Following is the verdict rendered: "After hearing evidence and viewing the body, we do find that deceased came to his death by drowning, while laboring under a fit of insanity. It appears to us that he was drowned about July 13, 1883, in the West Nishnabotna river, at the Morthouse bridge, in Knox township, said county of Pottawattamie, whether by accident or otherwise unknown to undersigned. John Acker, W. G. Tittsworth, H. W. Wilson."
As the body had been so long in the water, and decomposition was already far advanced, it was thought advisable to have the funeral at once, and it was so done. The funeral was quite largely attended.
Deceased was about 46 years of age; was born in St. Johns, New Brunswick. The major portion of his youth was spent in Canada, and at the breaking out of the civil war in the United States, he moved to Rochester N. Y., and served one or two years in the Union army. He leaves two children--a son 17 years of age, and a daughter of 15. He was a member of the Masonic lodge in Avoca.
As to the cause which led to his mysterious taking off--if such it can be called--it will be remembered by those who were intimate with him during the last few weeks of his life, that he was brooding considerably over his misfortune at the big fire in Avoca some time since, wherein his livery stable was destroyed, and he has hardly appeared the same man since. In his death Avoca has lost a man in whom were combined all the attributes that go to make a good citizen and a kind and loving parent.
Served in the Civil War. (GAR marker #15 was near gravestone.) [Linda Linn found he served in Co. C, 34th NY Inf.]
("The Avoca Herald" newspaper of Avoca, Iowa dated July 18, 1883 on p. 4)
Death of John Coakes
On Thursday morning, of last week, the people of Avoca were thrown into no little excitement by the report that John Coakes had been knocked down and thrown into the river at a late hour the night before. He appeared at home at about three o'clock that morning with his clothes and general appearance in such a condition as to give credence to that story, which he told himself. It was credited by but few, however, and nothing much was thought about the matter until on the following morning, when it was reported that he was missing, he having arisen at an early hour and wandered off, no one knew where. Search was instituted and kept up during the day, but the most thorough search failed to reveal his whereabouts. Close upon the heels of this sensation came the report that the Polk City murderers had been cornered in a grove a few miles away, and that being the latest sensation, search for the missing man was partially abandoned, only being continued by a few. Nothing was discovered, however, until about 10 o'clock Sunday morning, when Messrs. Steve Sanders and Ed. Kentner, who were down near the Morthouse bridge, on the West 'Botna, saw something in the water which looked like a coat. On drawing it to the surface they found their supposition to be correct, and quickly brought to light all that was mortal of the unfortunate man. The remains were brought to town and a coroner's jury summoned, Justice D. Higbie acting as coroner. Following is the verdict rendered: "After hearing evidence and viewing the body, we do find that deceased came to his death by drowning, while laboring under a fit of insanity. It appears to us that he was drowned about July 13, 1883, in the West Nishnabotna river, at the Morthouse bridge, in Knox township, said county of Pottawattamie, whether by accident or otherwise unknown to undersigned. John Acker, W. G. Tittsworth, H. W. Wilson."
As the body had been so long in the water, and decomposition was already far advanced, it was thought advisable to have the funeral at once, and it was so done. The funeral was quite largely attended.
Deceased was about 46 years of age; was born in St. Johns, New Brunswick. The major portion of his youth was spent in Canada, and at the breaking out of the civil war in the United States, he moved to Rochester N. Y., and served one or two years in the Union army. He leaves two children--a son 17 years of age, and a daughter of 15. He was a member of the Masonic lodge in Avoca.
As to the cause which led to his mysterious taking off--if such it can be called--it will be remembered by those who were intimate with him during the last few weeks of his life, that he was brooding considerably over his misfortune at the big fire in Avoca some time since, wherein his livery stable was destroyed, and he has hardly appeared the same man since. In his death Avoca has lost a man in whom were combined all the attributes that go to make a good citizen and a kind and loving parent.
Birth date calculated on death date of July 13, 1883 and his age at the time of death as 45yrs 8mos and 10das using the website www.timeanddate.com .
Served in the Civil War. (GAR marker #15 was near gravestone.) [Linda Linn found he served in Co. C, 34th NY Inf.]
("The Avoca Herald" newspaper of Avoca, Iowa dated July 18, 1883 on p. 4)
Death of John Coakes
On Thursday morning, of last week, the people of Avoca were thrown into no little excitement by the report that John Coakes had been knocked down and thrown into the river at a late hour the night before. He appeared at home at about three o'clock that morning with his clothes and general appearance in such a condition as to give credence to that story, which he told himself. It was credited by but few, however, and nothing much was thought about the matter until on the following morning, when it was reported that he was missing, he having arisen at an early hour and wandered off, no one knew where. Search was instituted and kept up during the day, but the most thorough search failed to reveal his whereabouts. Close upon the heels of this sensation came the report that the Polk City murderers had been cornered in a grove a few miles away, and that being the latest sensation, search for the missing man was partially abandoned, only being continued by a few. Nothing was discovered, however, until about 10 o'clock Sunday morning, when Messrs. Steve Sanders and Ed. Kentner, who were down near the Morthouse bridge, on the West 'Botna, saw something in the water which looked like a coat. On drawing it to the surface they found their supposition to be correct, and quickly brought to light all that was mortal of the unfortunate man. The remains were brought to town and a coroner's jury summoned, Justice D. Higbie acting as coroner. Following is the verdict rendered: "After hearing evidence and viewing the body, we do find that deceased came to his death by drowning, while laboring under a fit of insanity. It appears to us that he was drowned about July 13, 1883, in the West Nishnabotna river, at the Morthouse bridge, in Knox township, said county of Pottawattamie, whether by accident or otherwise unknown to undersigned. John Acker, W. G. Tittsworth, H. W. Wilson."
As the body had been so long in the water, and decomposition was already far advanced, it was thought advisable to have the funeral at once, and it was so done. The funeral was quite largely attended.
Deceased was about 46 years of age; was born in St. Johns, New Brunswick. The major portion of his youth was spent in Canada, and at the breaking out of the civil war in the United States, he moved to Rochester N. Y., and served one or two years in the Union army. He leaves two children--a son 17 years of age, and a daughter of 15. He was a member of the Masonic lodge in Avoca.
As to the cause which led to his mysterious taking off--if such it can be called--it will be remembered by those who were intimate with him during the last few weeks of his life, that he was brooding considerably over his misfortune at the big fire in Avoca some time since, wherein his livery stable was destroyed, and he has hardly appeared the same man since. In his death Avoca has lost a man in whom were combined all the attributes that go to make a good citizen and a kind and loving parent.
Served in the Civil War. (GAR marker #15 was near gravestone.) [Linda Linn found he served in Co. C, 34th NY Inf.]
("The Avoca Herald" newspaper of Avoca, Iowa dated July 18, 1883 on p. 4)
Death of John Coakes
On Thursday morning, of last week, the people of Avoca were thrown into no little excitement by the report that John Coakes had been knocked down and thrown into the river at a late hour the night before. He appeared at home at about three o'clock that morning with his clothes and general appearance in such a condition as to give credence to that story, which he told himself. It was credited by but few, however, and nothing much was thought about the matter until on the following morning, when it was reported that he was missing, he having arisen at an early hour and wandered off, no one knew where. Search was instituted and kept up during the day, but the most thorough search failed to reveal his whereabouts. Close upon the heels of this sensation came the report that the Polk City murderers had been cornered in a grove a few miles away, and that being the latest sensation, search for the missing man was partially abandoned, only being continued by a few. Nothing was discovered, however, until about 10 o'clock Sunday morning, when Messrs. Steve Sanders and Ed. Kentner, who were down near the Morthouse bridge, on the West 'Botna, saw something in the water which looked like a coat. On drawing it to the surface they found their supposition to be correct, and quickly brought to light all that was mortal of the unfortunate man. The remains were brought to town and a coroner's jury summoned, Justice D. Higbie acting as coroner. Following is the verdict rendered: "After hearing evidence and viewing the body, we do find that deceased came to his death by drowning, while laboring under a fit of insanity. It appears to us that he was drowned about July 13, 1883, in the West Nishnabotna river, at the Morthouse bridge, in Knox township, said county of Pottawattamie, whether by accident or otherwise unknown to undersigned. John Acker, W. G. Tittsworth, H. W. Wilson."
As the body had been so long in the water, and decomposition was already far advanced, it was thought advisable to have the funeral at once, and it was so done. The funeral was quite largely attended.
Deceased was about 46 years of age; was born in St. Johns, New Brunswick. The major portion of his youth was spent in Canada, and at the breaking out of the civil war in the United States, he moved to Rochester N. Y., and served one or two years in the Union army. He leaves two children--a son 17 years of age, and a daughter of 15. He was a member of the Masonic lodge in Avoca.
As to the cause which led to his mysterious taking off--if such it can be called--it will be remembered by those who were intimate with him during the last few weeks of his life, that he was brooding considerably over his misfortune at the big fire in Avoca some time since, wherein his livery stable was destroyed, and he has hardly appeared the same man since. In his death Avoca has lost a man in whom were combined all the attributes that go to make a good citizen and a kind and loving parent.
Inscription
John COAKES
Died July 13, 1883
Aged 45ys. 8ms. 10ds.
Family Members
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