Emma Neville

  General Notes:

(1) N.S.W.BDFM Index Birth #YF.V1862.1414.160
(2) Obituary....LATE MRS.COLE WAS ONE OF MOLONG'S OLDEST NATIVES....The death of Mrs.Emma Cole, of Wellington Street,East Molong last Friday, removed one of the towns oldest natives. She was born at Molong, and had seen the town grow from a few houses to its present size. Her father (the late Geo. Neville) was one of the first settlers in Molong under the Robertson Closer Settlement Act of 1861.
Her early years were spent on her fathers farm, which is now part of Nandillyan Estate. When only 12 years of age, she lost her mother, and the responsibility of the young family fell upon her. She had an intensive and profound knowledge of the difficulties of the early settlers, and right up to her last hours was able to give very interesting memoirs of the problems of the early days on the land. The droughts of those years caused great hardship and loss because of the lack of reserves of plant and fodder, and the settlers were forced at times to
fall back upon bird life for food. It was the custom to take the community washing to the Bell River each week, and butter and eggs were transported to town through the little track in a handcart. In 1887, she married the late
W.R.Cole, who founded the butcheries business in Molong with which his name is still associated, and who was an alderman of Molong for several terms.
For over 50 years she had been an active member of the Salvation Army and was a foundation member of the Molong Corps. Her Christian principles and work for charity was well and widely known. She is survived by two sons, Bert and George of Molong, and two daughters, Eva (Mrs.Reilly) of Newcastle, and Millie, Molong. The funeral service was conducted by Major Smith, of Orange, who was a very old friend of the late Mrs.Cole. The Orange Salvation Army Band was in attendance at the service.
(3 ) Obituary 2....Retired Recruiting Sergeant Emma Cole, of Molong, N.S.W. had a splendid record fifty-eight years of faithful Salvation Army service. At the age of twelve her mother died and Emma being the eldest girl, had to act the part of mother. She was however, blessed with a good Christian father, and his little house-keeper gave her heart to God when very young. When the Army firstopened Fire in Molong, she was enrolled as a Soldier, and imbibed the Soldier spirit. For ten years the Corps was closed, but our promoted Comrade never lost faith, and in full uniform kept her witness alive in the town. The Corps was re-opened and Sister Emma Cole was commissioned Corps Sergeant-Major, and faithfully fulfilled her tasks for many years. Failing health and advanced age
prevented her from vigorous participating in Corps activities during recent years, but her faith and prayers and zeal were maintained. An officer has said "One of the outstanding characteristics of this grand old warrior of eighty-five years, was her life of faith and trust which culminated in blessed reality". Major Gordon Smith of Orange conducted the funeral services.
(4) Mrs Emma Cole, one of the oldest and best-known residents of Molong, passed away in the early hours of Friday morning. Mrs Cole had lived at Molong all her life.
Before her marriage she was Miss Neville, and was a sister of Mrs Price.
Although Mrs Cole had been ill for a considerable time, her death occured suddenly. She was the widow of late W. Cloe of Molong and is survived by two sons, Ald. B.A.N. Cole and Mr George Cole of Riddell Street. There are two daughters, Eva and Millie.
The funeral will take place today (Saturday), after a service in the Salvation Army Hall, which will commence at 2:30pm, thence to the Molong cemetary.

Headstone Inscription: Emma Cole d. 16 Apr 1948, age 85y, with William Russell, m/4.

Emma married William Russell Cole, son of David Cole and Catherine Russell, on 21 Mar 1887 in Molong, New South Wales, Australia.⁵⁷⁷ (William Russell Cole was born on 21 Jan 1866 in New South Wales, Australia,³ died on 23 Aug 1931 in Molong, New South Wales, Australia ³ and was buried in Molong, New South Wales, Australia ³.)