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386

[[newspaper clipping]]
MONDAY, MARCH 7.
OBITUARY. 1887
The Death of Mr. George B. Coale and Other Well-Known Citizens.
|Reported for the Baltimore Sun.|
Mr. George B. Coale, one of the leading insurance company representatives, and a gentleman well known for scholarly accomplishments and cultivated taste in letters and art, died on Saturday, at his residence, No. 215 Madison Avenue, aged 68 years. He died of a heart affection, after having been for some time in failing health. Mr. Coale was a native of Baltimore, and was descended from a family noted in the religious Society of Friends. Wm. Coale, his ancestor, a preacher of that society in Anne Arundel county, died in 1678. Mr. Coale commenced his business life as a clerk in the Union Bank half a century a century ago. He was the secretary of the Merchants' Fire Insurance Company until it was changed to the Merchants' Mutual Marine Insurance Company, of which he became president, and so continued. He was the founder of the insurance firm of George B. Coale & Son, on Second street, and he was for a long series of years the Baltimore representative of the Hartford Insurance Company of Connecticut, and the home of New York.  His father, Edward Johnson Coale, was a Baltimore bookseller, and his grandfather, Dr. Samuel Springer Coale, was one of the early physicians of the city. and one of the promoters of the first school of medicine.  The wife of that Dr. Coale was a sister of Francis Watkinson, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Mr. Coale's mother was a daughter of Dr. George Buchanan, of Druid Hill, Baltimore, and his maternal grandmother, the wife of Dr. Buchanan, was the daughter of Dr. Thomas McKean, who was also a signer of the Declaration of Independence and a Governor of Pennsylvania. Mr. Coale was a relative of Admiral Franklin Buchanan commander of the Confederate iron-clad Merrimac. Mrs. Coale, a Daughter of the late Dr. Robert Edward Dorsey survives, with two sons - Prof. Robert D. Coale, of the Maryland University, and Mr George Wm. Coale, of the insurance firm - and one daughter.  Mr Coale was successful in his affairs, and had a wide circle of friends. He was a member of the Athenæum Club and also of the Maryland Club, and he was one of the board of the Wednesday Club.  He was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church.
[[/newspaper clipping]]

I think now I am in the way of making a fine picture of it. Went home by the 4 o'clock train.  The nice open to Newburgh and no snow to speak of until Kingston where it is still a foot deep.  Tom met me at the station with the two horse sleigh and Eldridge Anderson who came up in the train rode down with me.  I found Jane [[Goethens?]] visiting Sara.

Sunday 13. A brilliant, mild day. I walked over to the toboggan slide on the top of the snow which is hard and compact. They only cleared using the slide a week ago last night.  My father seemed to me today to look well and Sara said he did seem more so than for some days past. I made out a number of checks to pay off some small debts tomorrow and did many things which kept me busy most of the day.

Monday 14. Beautiful morning with a feeling of spring in the air and the blue birds twittering in the sunshine. The Norwich went over the river an broke a track for the ferry.  They crossed the ice this morning with teams with passengers from the trains. I drove down town with the sleigh after having boxed up my studies over at my studio, and took the box to the express office. Most of the people went about in wagons but there were also a number of sleighs. I went around and settled some small bills. Saw Bray who told me he had sold his house. The prospect for real estate I think is favorable and as soon as this spring opens I shall finish the grading of Chester St. I spoke to Henry about it yesterday. There is a good deal of a rumpus up there about building in the lot opposite the Carwell store houses, which Major Cornell has sold to McMilan & Co and which undoubtedly ought to be included in the street.  Sam and the Major I hear are no nearer a reconciliation. I came away in the 435 train, sending back by Tom my Ulster. Before we reached N.Y. the wind blew a gale and very cold from the N.W. Came to my room and got warm and put on my overcoat and went over to the Century through clouds of dark. Had some supper and talked with Armstrong. A meeting is called for Saturday night. Another project to move the club.

Tuesday 15.  Cold as winter and the wind still blowing a gale from the N.W. I painted in the rocks and water in my picture from the study I brought down. My box of studies arrived from home. At noon I went down to Cortlands St and bought some lettuce and some radish seeds which I sent up home for the hot bed. Met Jas. Gifford in the L train. Said his father and Mary are in Pokeepsie. Have not felt at all well today having caught a little cold. Read the plot of Bernhardt's play of Theodora by Sardou, in French. Mary and I are going to see her in it at the Star where she is playing now. Around to the club and signed a protest against moving into expensive quarters. Wrote a note to Sara.

Wednesday 16.  Still cold and windy.  Went down town after breakfast and walked up Broadway from the Astor House. Saw Fred Norton at a distance, am feeling a little depressed the result of my cold. I meet men I knew not long ago as young and active, growing old and showing signs

Transcription Notes:
the play, Théodora by Victorien Sardou