Biographical sketch of Lena Adeline Pilkington Cole, from
"Women of Montgomery County, Iowa," printed in 1982 by the Nishna Valley Printing Co., Red Oak, Iowa 51566.
http://www.rootsweb.com/~iamontgo/women.htm

"COLE, LENA ADELINE PILKINGTON
"Lena Pilkington was born August 23, 1873 in Monmouth, Illinois. She came to Red Oak at the age of 3 years with her parents, James J. and Mathilda M. Butterfield Pilkington. She lived in Red Oak her entire life, attending the Red Oak schools. June 3rd, 1903 she married George Pendleton Cole and they became parents of five children, Margaret Cole Bazar, Arthur Cole, Grace Cole Caldwell, Georgia Cole Nye and Ruth Cole Edwards.
"During her lifetime she became an active leader in women's clubs, the church, political and school life of the community. She was a delegate to the National Democratic Convention in 1933, the first woman from Montgomery County to have this honor. She was also the first woman to run for the Red Oak School Board. She was a member of the Red Oak Monday Club and a lifetime member of the First Congregational Church.
"One of the highlights of her career was the time she spent in Honolulu. Shortly after the annexation of the Hawaiian Islands, she spent a year in the employment of the United States Government, from 1900 to 1901. She also had been employed as a hand type setter for the "Red Oak Sun" paper.
"As a homemaker and mother much of her social life centered around her home, her family and her church. Lena Cole died February 24, 1935."
Obituary - Mrs. Lena Adeline Pilkington Cole
Red Oak Express, February 25, 1935, Page 3
MRS G. P. COLE DIED SUNDAY, HEART ATTACK
Services to be Held Wednesday Afternoon at Congregational Church
Following a short illness of two weeks, Mrs. Lena Adeline Pilkington Cole, prominent Red Oak club woman and an outstanding figure in democratic party circles, died Sunday afternoon at Murphy Memorial Hospital at 2 o'clock of a heart attack.
Her death came as a shock to the family members which had watched her apparent improvement during the few days after taking treatment at the hospital and having been released once during the two weeks to go home. She re-entered the hospital Friday evening to continue medical aid. A relapse occurred Sunday from which she failed to recover.
Services will be held Wednesday at 2 o'clock at the Congregational church where she was an active worker and contributed freely of both time and finances. Rev. G. B. Wilder will be in charge. Interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery. Pallbearers include Arnim West, Marion Thomas, Ed Thomsen, Russell Schaeffer, Fred Replogle and James Pilkington.
Mrs. Cole was 61 years old at the time of death. She had resided in Red Oak since she came with her parents 58 years ago. During that time she had become a prominent leader in women's club, church, political and school life. Her activities were many and varied. Always a staunched democrat, she was elected a delegate to the national democratic convention at the last presidential election and had taken an important part in the formation of the county organizations.
It was on August 23, 1873 that Lena Adeline Pilkington was born at Monmouth, Illinois, the daughter of James and Mathilda Pilkington, pioneers who came to Montgomery County three years later. She attended Red Oak schools and in the early days was active in school organization leadership. Much of the social life of the community centered at the Pilkington home, and later at the Cole residence. On June 3, 1903 she was married to George P. Cole at Red Oak.
Forever young in spirit through close association with her family of four daughters and one son. Mrs. Cole at the time of her death had many interests and presided over many social parties at her home. The children, Margaret, Omaha; Ruth, Ames; Georgia, Des Moines; and Arthur and Grace, Red Oak, with her husband survive. The family circle had never been broken by death before, although two sisters preceded Mrs. Cole. They were: Mrs. Harry Alden and Mrs. Emma Maus. She also leaves a twin sister, Lucy Schaeffer of Omaha, and three brothers, Harry Pilkington, Red Oak; W. B. Pilkington, McGregor; Dean Pilkington, Big Springs, Nebraska.
The body will rest in the home she directed until Wednesday afternoon when services will be held at the Congregational church. The interment will be in Evergreen Cemetery.
Red Oak Express, Red Oak, Iowa, Monday, February 25th, 1935, page 3

More About LENA ADELINE PILKINGTON:
Fact 1: Abt. 1876, Moved to Red Oak, Montgomery County, Iowa with parents at age of 3 years.
Fact 2: 1933, First Woman in Montgomery County to be a delegate to the National Democratic Convention.
Fact 3: First Woman in Montgomery County to run for the Red Oak School Board.
Fact 4: Bet. 1900 - 1901, US Government employee in Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands.
Fact 5: Bet. 1890 - 1935, Active leader in women's clubs, the church, political & school life in the Red Oak community. Member of the Red Oak Monday Club and lifetime member of the First Congregational Church.
Fact 6: Employed as a hand type setter for the Red Oak Sun; newspaper.
Fact 7: Twin Sister of Lou.
Father: James Henry PILKINGTON b: 7 Oct 1843 in Bedford, Bedford, Pennsylvania
Mother: Martha Mahetabel BUTTERFIELD b: 7 Oct 1849 in Keithsburg, Mercer, Illinois