DARKE COUNTY OHIO - BIOS: COLE, JOSEPH (published 1900)
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A Biographical History of Darke County Ohio, published in
Chicago by the Lewis Publishing Company, 1900. p. 331-334


                          JOSEPH COLE

     No history of Darke County would be complete without the
record of the Cole family, for, since the earliest development of
this portion of the state representatives of the name have been
prominently connected with its business interests and have aided
in promoting its material welfare.  It is therefore with pleasure
that we present this record to the readers of this volume.  The
family is of Holland Dutch lineage, belonging to a race which has
done much in the development of this great country.  The original
American ancestors settled at New Amsterdam, now the city of New
York, and were soon recognized as leading factors in that
location.  David Cole, the great-grandfather of our subject, was
born in New Amsterdam and there married and reared a family of
children, one of whom was Samuel Cole, the grandfather of our
subject.  He was born November 5, 1751, in New York, and was a
farmer by occupation.  He took an active part in the events
which contributed to the upbuilding of this section of the state
and remained in the east until 1819, when he retired from the
active duties of business life and came to Darke county, Ohio,
making his home in Washington township with his son, Samuel,
until 1824, when the family removed to Greenville Township.  The
grand-father there spent his last days, dying January 8, 1828.
He was twice married; first to Janey Davis, who was born the 7th
of July, 1755, a native of the Empire state.  They had three
children: Sophia, who was born July 5, 1773, and became the wife
of Cornelius Van Fleet, of New York; Margaret, who was born
November 20, 1775, and married David Christy, of New York; and
Janey, who was born October 11, 1778, and married Abraham Doty,
of New York.  After the mother died Samuel Cole married Miss Anna
Rider, who was born October 25, 1760. They had eight children:
Lorana, born July 22, 1783, died November 13, 1803; Samuel was
the father of our subject; Phoebe, who was born July 20, 1789,
became the wife of Charles Wood; David, who was born September
10, 1791, wedded Mary Brady and died in Darke county, February
14, 1854; Martha who was born August 6, 1793, and died July 23,
1860, wedded Nathaniel Skidmore, of New Jersey, and in 1819 they
came to Darke county, one of their descendants, Peter Skidmore,
being now a resident of Washington township; Joseph, who
was born February 15, 1796, and died January 17, 1882, married
Anna Sweet, who was a resident of Hamilton county, Ohio, and died
in Washington township, Darke county, Ohio, in 1875; James, who
was born May 6, 1798, wedded Sarah Rupel, of Darke county, and
died in St. Joseph county, Indiana, July 6, 1856; and Sarah, who
was born March 6, 1802, became the wife of Henry D. Williams and
died in Darke county, April 24, 1876.  Samuel Cole, the father of
this family was a Baptist in his religious belief and took a
prominent part in the affairs of the church.  His political
support was given to the Whig party.  He possessed a retiring
disposition and devoted his time and energies to the work of
securing a comfortable and pleasant home for this family.  His
sterling worth was recognized by his friends and neighbors, who
gave him their warm regard.
     Samuel Cole, Jr., the father of our subject, was born in New
Jersey, July 3, 1787.  His early life was spent on his father's
farm and he received such educational advantages as were afforded
by the common schools of those days.  Possessing a studious
nature, he quickly embraced every opportunity for mental
improvement and became an exceptionally well educated man.  He
assisted his father in the operation of the home farm until 1812,
when he was married to Miss Mary Elston, of New Jersey.  Through
the following three years he remained in his native state, but on
learning of the advantages to be secured in the west, he started
on horseback in 1815, reaching Montgomery county, Ohio, after a
long and wearisome journey.  He was, however, greatly pleased
with the prospects offered in that section and returned to the
east with the intention of  taking up his abode in Ohio.  During
this time he kept a diary which is now in possession of the
subject, and gives an account of his journey and of the early
pioneer experiences in the west.  Mr. Cole of this review also
has a Spanish coin, bearing the date of 1774, which was found in
the old pocketbook owned by his father.
     In 1816 Samuel Cole, Jr. again started for the Buckeye
state, being accompanied this time by his family and James Brady,
a brother-in-law.  The journey must have seemed a long one, as it
was made before the days of railroads and all travel was by
private conveyance.  Day after day they continued on their way,
often over roads that were in poor condition.  At length,
however, their travels were ended and they took up their abode on
the Mad river, in Montgomery county.  However, they were not
satisfied with that location and in March, 1817, they came to
Darke County, Mr. Cole securing a claim comprising the southeast
quarter of section 27, Washington township.  Since that time Mr.
Cole has been identified with  the growth and progress of that
section of Darke county.  Mr. Cole and his sons cleared a small
tract and erected a log cabin, which was the third dome in the
township, the other two being the property of Jacob and Martin
Cox, who were brothers.  In this primitive abode Mr. Cole and his
family resided for some time, but later an addition was built and
in this, during the winter of 1821, Mr. Cole conducted the first
school ever held in Washington township.  Here he resided until
1824, when he removed to Greenville township and purchased of
David Williamson the southeast quarter of section 19, passing his
remaining days upon that farm.  His wife, Miss Mary Elston, was
born in New Jersey, November 7, 1792, and died August 10, 1831.
She was a daughter of William Elston, of Monmouth county, New
Jersey, and a granddaughter of John Elston, who emigrated from
London, England, about 1730.  He was a ship carpenter by trade.
Her father, William Elston, married Elizabeth Walling, who was
born in New Jersey, August 26, 1766.  They had twelve children,
of whom Mrs. Cole was the fifth.  Unto the parents of our subject
were born five children: William, whose birth occurred July 25,
1831, married Mary Chenoweth, of Washington township, in
December, 1835, and died April 3, 1836; Asa, born July 26, 1815,
was married September 13, 1840, to Rachel Fisher and died May 29,
1857; Jane, born April 20, 1817, the first white child born in
Washington township, is now living in Boston, Wayne county,
Indiana, with her daughter, Mrs. Mary C. Druly, she having been
married, in December, 1834, to Leonard Wintermute, who died in
Missouri, in 1839; Betsy, who was born March 23, 1819, and died
February 6, 1872, was married October 16, 1836, to George Elston,
who died January 29, 1872; Samuel, who was born April 5, 1821,
and now resides in Washington township, was married in March,
1844, to Miss Elizabeth Cox, their son, H.M. Cole, being the
present judge of the court of appeals; Joseph, of this review, is
the next of the family; Polly died in infancy; Henry, who was
born June 20, 1829, now resides in Reno county, Kansas.  He
has been twice married, his first union being with Margaret
Hoffman, his second with Matilda Tegarden.  For the past fifty
years he has been a well known minister of the gospel in the
Christian church and the influence of his life and teachings have
been most marked.  All of the children were residents of Darke
county at the time of their marriage.  The father of this family
passed away February 1, 1866.  He never sought public position
nor office, but was a man who was honored and respected, for his
life was upright and honorable and he enjoyed the confidence and
regard of all who knew him.  In his death Darke County lost one
of its valued citizens.
     Joseph Cole, whose name introduces this review, was born in
Washington township, December 29, 1823, and spent the first
eighteen years of his life upon the old homestead assisting his
father through the summer months in the work of the fields, while
in the winter season he pursued his education in the schools of
the neighborhood.  In those days schools were held in any vacant
cabin that could be secured and were conducted on the
subscription plan.  Mr. Cole's educational privileges were thus
somewhat limited, but he improved what chances he had, and at the
age of eighteen obtained a teacher's certificate.  From 1841
until 1857 he engaged in teaching and his different certificates,
with one exception, are still in his possession.  In 1846, in
company with his brother, Samuel, he erected a saw-mill, which
they operated until 1850, when they sold the property.
Up to this time Mr. Cole had always made his home with his
parents, but on the 6th of April, 1850, he married Miss Sarah Ann
Shively, daughter of Daniel and Christina (Heck) Shively.  Her
parents were natives of Pennsylvania and on coming to Ohio
located in Montgomery county, whence they removed to Darke county
in 1817.  After their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Cole took up their
abode in Coleville, which town was laid out by our subject, and
there he engaged in merchandising from 1852 until 1855, when he
disposed of his interests and turned his attention to farming in
Greenville township, being thus occupied until 1865.  In that
your he purchased his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres
in Washington township, and in addition to the cultivation of
cereals best adapted to his climate, he has engaged in stock
dealing, both raising and buying stock for the market.  His
business affairs have been capably prosecuted and have brought to
him creditable success.
     Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cole have been born seven children, six of
whom are living, namely: Wallace S., who was born April 6, 1853,
was wedded to Nancy Wise, of Darke county, and now resides in
Reno county, Kansas, where he is engaged in feeding fine cattle.
They have six children; Flora A., who was born March 26, 1855,
was married September 26, 1878, to B. F. Chenoweth and resides in
Greenville.  They have one child, Jesse A.  William Henry, who
was born December 16, 1859, was married December 22, 1881, to
Lucy Manuel, by whom he has three children.  Their home is in
Washington township. Mary C., who was born April 23, 1862,
resides with her parents.  Charles W., who was born October 12,
1866, was married, December 20, 1890, to Lucy Bickel and resides
in Washington township.  They also have three children; Benjamin
F., who was born November 12, 1874, was married on the 12th of
December, 1896, to Myrtle Jeffries and resides on the old
homestead.  They have two children.
     Mrs. Cole is a prominent worker in the Christian church and
Mr. Cole contributes to its support.  In politics he was
originally a Whig, casting his first presidential vote for
Zachary Taylor, but since the organization of the Republican
party he has loyally supported its principles and is one of its
most earnest advocates.  He has had neither time nor inclination
to enter the political arena, yet has filled many township
offices and was once candidate for the office of probate judge.
Although he has passed the age of three score years and ten, he
retains his mental faculties unimpaired and keeps well informed
on all the issues and topics of the day.  He is blessed with an
excellent memory, especially for dates, and can relate many
interesting incidents of frontier life in Ohio.  His marked
characteristics have ever been as to commend him to the
confidence and regard of his fellow townsmen and he enjoys the
good will and respect of all with whom he has been brought in
contact.  So long and actively have the Cole family been
identified with the interests of Darke county that no history of
the community would be complete without mention of its
representatives.  From pioneer days down to the present epoch of
advancement and progress they have borne their part in the work
of public progress and improvement and none more actively than he
whose name introduces this review.