John A. Coltharp - Submitted for the USGenWeb by Richard P. Sevier, November 11, 2013

USGenWeb NOTICE: All documents placed in the USGenWeb remain the property of the contributors, 
who retain publication rights in accordance with US Copyright Laws and Regulations.

In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, these documents may 
be used by anyone for their personal research. They may be used by non-commercial entities, 
when written permission is obtained from the contributor, so long as all notices and submitter 
information are included.

These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit.

Any other use, including copying files to other sites, requires permission from the contributors 
PRIOR to uploading to the other sites.

***********************************************************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
***********************************************************************************************

John A. Coltharp - Madison Parish, Louisiana 

From Madison Journal October 10, 1914

JOHN	A. COLTHARP

Mr. John A. Coltharp is dead!

The full import and meaning of this sad truth is comprehended and realized by his family and friends 
and their sorrow is universal. Death is at all times acknowledged to be the inevitable destiny of man 
and the old and infirm are expected to pay this last debt of nature, but when as the fell reaper he 
takes from us a stalwart man who has lately reached the meridian of life and was in the vigor of strong 
manhood like the one of whom we speak we are amazed and dumbfounded by what we cannot but feel is a 
decree we cannot fathom or understand, why the devoted husband and kind father should be rested from 
their home and their adoring love.

Mr. John Coltharp was a man in all the attributes which make up a good and noble one. Those who would 
place a wreath of irnmortels on his grave or indite a tribute to his memory have had acquaintance with 
him in the dignity of his true manhood and have never known a thing in his life history but the predication 
of virtue and of truth. For all such lives there should be a memorial which would stand out in bold relief 
to dissipate the shadows and gloom of death and make us feel that life, in the broad acception of the term 
is indeed worth living! For all good men like the one of whom we write there should be a loftier sorrow than 
we feel for the or ordinary man in whose life history, (remainder of sentence illegible.)
The genial honest smile, the friendly handclasp will long be remembered by many friends. To the sorrowful 
wife and children, a full mead of sympathy is extended to them but time and destiny will dissipate the clouds 
of the shadow of which has fallen over the one time 
happy family.

Death has a sting, the victory
	Will rise beyond the tomb 
Life's sun is smiling 'oer the way
	Dispelling death and gloom!
The shades of death but usher in 
	The gladness of the day
When life with all its cares and sin,
	Has passed from earth away!
Then rise brave soul whose nobler part,
	Lives just beyond the way,
The night of Death has ushered in 
	The brightness of life's day!
M. B. Y.