- NELSON COLE, one of the honored citizens and leading farmers
of Rock County, residing on
- section 23 Johnstown Township, was born in Jefferson County,
N.Y., on the 22d day of November, 1818. His parents, Sylvanus
and Betsy (TILLAPAUGH) COLE, were natives of the Empire State.
The former died before the birth of his son, being drowned in
the St. Lawrence River. His mother subsequently became the wife
of Isaac ABBOTT, who was also born in New York. Our subject was
the only child of her first marriage, but by her second union
thirteen children were born; Maria, the eldest, is now deceased;
Daniel is living in Elbridge, N.Y.; William died in Onondago
County, N.Y.; Harriet departed this life in Baldwinsville, Onondago
Co., N.Y.; Charlotte died in Oaklin, Mich.; James, a farmer by
occupation, is living near Bangor, Mich.; Julia is a resident
of Oswego County, N.Y.; Ruth A. makes her home in Michigan; Martha
is the wife of Mr. FINCH, who is living in Ohio; John is located
at Grand Rapids, Mich.; Eliza is the wife of Nathan DUMAS, a
resident of Fulton, Oswego Co., N.Y.; Isaac died in Coldwater,
Mich.; and Rebecca is living near Fulton, N.Y.
- Our subject was reared to manhood in his native State, and,
in 1844, was united in marriage with
- Miss Caroline, daughter of Jonathan and Sylvia (DAVIS) BAILEY,
who were natives of New York. They were the parents of five children,
of whom Mrs. COLE was the youngest; Sylvanus is now living in
Lyons, Wayne Co., N.Y.; Sylvia and Diantha are now deceased.
By the union of our subject and his wife the following children
were born: Sylvia, who was born July 9, 1845, married William
FETHERLY, a resident of Oswego, N.Y., and to them has been born
one child, Nelson; Ella, born May 1, 1847, became the wife of
Milton COLE, who is living in Oswego County, N.Y., and they have
six children - Frank, George, Ira, Ernest, Florence, and Nelson;
Harrison S., born June 24, 1849, is engaged in farming and stock-raising
in Wright County, Iowa, and is the husband of Miss Ella GRONER
of La Prairie Township, Rock County, by whom he has three children
- Frank, Eva and George; Alice B., born April 19, 1851, wedded
Homer SPAULDING, County Judge of Phillips County, Kan., and they
have one child, Melvin; Joseph, born Sept. 30, 1853, died in
infancy; Sidney, born May 14, 1855, wedded Caroline HEALD, by
whom he had three children, two of whom are living, Webster and
Francis. They now reside in San Diego, Cal.
- In 1855 the death of his first wife occurred, and Mr. COLE
was again married, on the 25th day of
- November, 1855, Miss Harriet POST becoming his wife. She
is the daughter of Martin and Esther (MILLER) POST, who were
natives of New York City, but are now deceased. The members of
this family to which [s]he belonged were: Abraham, who died in
1876; Samuel, who died in 1872; Lucinda, who departed this life
the same year; Maria, a resident of Tracey, Minn.; Elizabeth,
wife of Julius WARD, a resident of Montello, Wis.; and Mrs. COLE,
the youngest, born Nov. 16, 1832. Seven children have graced
the union of our subject and his second wife: Esther, who was
born Sept. 2, 1856, is the wife of Mr. WOLF, a resident of Nebraska,
and to them have been born two daughters - Clara B. and Alice;
Cora, born Jan. 14, 1858, married Charles PALMER, and they have
one child, Grace; Samuel is a farmer by occupation, and resides
in Potter County, Dak.; Addie, born March 30, 1864, is the wife
of Louis STORY, of Minnesota, and has one daughter; Hattie Belle,
who was born Sept. 1, 1872, but died in infancy; Lois, born Sept.
21, 1875, and Orville, Jan. 5, 1878, are still with their parents.
- Mr. COLE has been an ardent supporter of the Republican party
since its organization, and in early
- life was a stanch advocate of the Whig party. In the days
when William Henry Harrison was running for President, he was
a member of a Tippecanoe Glee Club, and took part in many of
the stirring political meetings held in those days. He was one
of the band of thirty-two boys and girls who attended a grand
Tippecanoe rally at Syracuse, N.Y. They rode on a wagon decorated
with flowers, flags and trees, and drawn by eight gray horses.
There were three large trees on the wagon, one of which was thirty-two
feet high, and among its branches were chained three live coons.
A barrel of cider was placed in the rear end, and as they drove
from Skaneateles to Syracuse, N.Y., the woods rang with such
songs as "With Tippecanoe and Tyler too, We will beat Little
Van." Arrived at the meeting, they were entertained by the
singing of Mr. Hoxie, of New York City, the great musician who
made the campaign of 1840 one long to be remembered, and also
by William H. Seward, who there made his famous speech on the
tariff question and the national bank system.
- In 1864 Mr. COLE left his home in New York and emigrated
to the West, settling in Rock
- County, where he purchased the farm on which he now resides.
It them comprised 200 acres of fine land, but he has since disposed
of 160 acres, owning now but forty acres. He has engaged largely
in buying and selling horses all his life, and now his attention
is chiefly devoted to the raising of fine stock. He has done
much toward advancing the grade of stock in this county, and
giving it the reputation of being one of the best stock markets
in the State. In former years, Mr. COLE also dealt quite extensively
in real estate. He possesses superior ability as a business man,
and by his fair and honest dealings has won the confidence of
all with whom business or pleasure have brought him in contact.
Although he has reached his three score years and ten, he is
enjoying the best of health, and in his old age seems as ready
for business as when a young man. His life record is such as
any man might well be proud of, and he is held in the highest
esteem throughout the community. While residing in New York,
he was a member of the I.O.O.F., and also held membership in
the Temple of Honor. We are pleased to record this brief sketch
of one of Rock County's honored citizens, knowing that it will
be received with pleasure by all the readers of this ALBUM.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 907-908.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|