Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Cole, Henry 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com May 5, 2007, 10:47 am

Author: Portraits & Bio Sketches, 1890

HENRY COLE. 

One of the finest farms within the limits of Crete Township is owned and 
occupied by Mr. Cole, who is recognized as one of its leading citizens. This 
comprises his father's old homestead, embracing four hundred and ten acres, 
finely located and improved, well watered, and plentifully supplied with 
timber. Among its valuable features is a mineral spring which is utilized by 
both the proprietor and outsiders. The main points in the history of the 
subject of this notice are as follows: He is the son of the well-known Erastus 
Cole, a native of New Hampshire and of English descent. The latter when a 
child of three years was taken by his parents to Herkimer County, N. Y., where 
he was reared and educated, and where he lived until forty years old. In the 
meantime he learned cabinet-making, which he followed in the Empire State 
until 1838, and in that year he came to Illinois, an unmarried man and secured 
a tract of Government land, which land is now comprised in the farm occupied 
by his son Henry, and which he secured at a land sale in Chicago. It embraced 
a part of Sections 5, 6, 7 and 8, in what is now Crete Township, and there he 
spent the remainder of his life, dying in 1864, when sixty-six years old. 
Erastus Cole was an honest, hard-working man who gained a competence through 
his own efforts. Possessed of more than ordinary intelligence, and decided in 
his views, he was first a member of the Whig party, a stanch Abolitionist 
during the slavery day's, and died firmly grounded in Republican doctrines. 
His religious views accorded with those of the old school Baptist church. 
After coming to Illinois he was married in Danville to Mrs. Martha (Boardman) 
Gilbert. This lady was born in Rushville Township, Ontario County, N. Y., in 
1810, and came of American parentage. She grew to womanhood in her native 
county, and was there married to Asel Gilbert. They lived in New York State 
until about 1835, then came to Illinois and settled near Danville, where Mr. 
Gilbert engaged in farming and died. To Mr. and Mrs. Gilbert were born three 
children, all of whom are now deceased. Mrs. Cole proved the true helpmate of 
her husband in all his worthy undertakings, and contributed by her good 
judgment and frugality, largely to his success. She survived him a number of 
years, and died at her home in Crete February 28, 1870, at the age of sixty 
years. For some time she had been a member of the Congregational Church. Of 
her union with Mr. Cole there were born three children, two daughters and a 
son. The eldest, Emma, was married to D. P. Shoemaker, and died in 1880 in 
LaPorte County, Ind., at the age of thirty-eight years, leaving two sons. Mr. 
Shoemaker is still living and a resident of Indiana. Miss Ellen Cole is 
unmarried and a resident of Joliet. Henry, our subject, was the eldest born. 
He was reared on the farm and completed his studies at the village schools of 
Crete. Mr. Cole was married in Crete April 22, 1862, to Miss Lucy A., daughter 
of O. O. and Lydia (Skinner) Bordwell. Mrs. Cole was born April 5, 1845, in 
Shelburne, Mass., of which State her parents were also natives and where they 
were reared and married. They came to Illinois in 1854, settling in Crete, but 
in 1866 removed to Manteno where they are now living retired from active 
labor. Mr. Bordwell is seventy-eight years old, while his estimable wife is a 
year his senior. They are greatly respected in their community, and possess 
all the traits of character which made them kind and indulgent parents and 
hospitable neighbors. To the parents of Mrs. Cole there was born a family of 
six children, three of whom are living, and of whom she was the fourth in 
order of birth. She was a child of nine years when her parents came to Crete, 
where she was reared to womanhood and obtained her education in the village 
school. Of her union with our subject there have been born six children—Laura 
E., Willard M., Ada B., Frank W., Inez G. and Ray E. They are all at home with 
their parents, with the exception of Ada, who is the wife of William E. Hall, 
and who resides at Manteno, this State. Mr. Cole, politically, is a strong 
supporter of Republican principles, and has been prominent in local affairs, 
serving as Township Assessor eight years; Road Commissioner four years, and 
School Director for many years.

Additional Comments:
Portrait and Biographical Album of Will County, Illinois, Containing Full Page 
Portraits and Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens 
of the County; Chicago: Chapman Bros., 1890 
 


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