Howard W. Cole Biography


	This biography appears on pages 844-845 in "History of South 
	Dakota" by Doane Robinson, Vol. I (1904) and was scanned, 
	OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

	This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit 
	organizations for their private use. 

	Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval 
	system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other 
	means requires the written approval of the file's author.

	This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here 
	Inside a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door 
	is at

	http://www.usgwarchives.net/sd/sdfiles.htm


	HOWARD W. COLE, who has been prominently identified with the 
development of the agricultural and stock-growing industries in Brown 
county, and is at the present time rendering effective service as 
sheriff of the county, was born in the town of Eureka, Montcalm county, 
Michigan, on the 28th of March, 1857, and is a son of Leander T. and 
Sarah Jane (Stout) Cole. The father of our subject was born in the 
state of New York, where he was reared to the age of fourteen years, 
when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Michigan, the 
family settling in Jackson county. In 1851 he took up his residence in 
Greenville, that state, where he formed the acquaintance of Miss Sarah 
J. Stout, whom he wooed and won as a companion on the journey of life. 
Immediately after their marriage they located on a farm in Eureka 
township. The father died January 17, 1900, the widow still surviving. 
Mr. Cole served for two years as a member of the Twenty-first Regiment 
of Michigan Volunteer Infantry during the war of the Rebellion, 
receiving his honorable discharge at the close of the great conflict 
through the results of which the perpetuity of the Union was insured. 
Leander T. and Sarah J. Cole became the parents of four children, of 
whom the subject of this review is the eldest.  

	Howard W. Cole was reared under the invigorating discipline of 
the homestead farm and his early education was received in the public 
schools. He continued to be associated with his father in the work and 
management of the farm until his marriage, in 1880, at the age of 
twenty three years, and he then came to what is now the state of South 
Dakota, arriving in Brown county on the 8th of August, 1881, and 
settling on a preemption claim ten miles north of the present town of 
Groton. In 1882 he sold this property and took up a homestead claim in 
what is now Claremont township, his claim being the southeast quarter 
of section 25, township 125, range 60, and shortly afterward he entered 
the employ of H. M. Fuller as foreman on the latter's farm. In the 
spring of 1884 he entered into partnership with S. W. Weber, F. D. 
Adams and H. C. Sessions and they effected the purchase of what is 
known as the Fuller farm, to which they added from time to time until 
the same has now an area of twelve hundred and eighty acres. The co-
partnership continued until the death of Mr. Adams, in 1898, and our 
subject still retains his interest in this fine property. He continued 
to reside on the ranch until the autumn of 1902, when he was elected 
sheriff of the county and forthwith removed to Aberdeen, the judicial 
center of the county, and entered upon the active discharge of his 
official duties. He has proved a most discriminating, fearless and 
faithful executive, and his course has been such as to amply justify 
the confidence reposed in him by the voters of the county in making him 
their choice for the shrievalty. Mr. Cole assisted in the organization 
of Claremont township and for a number of years was, an active and 
valued member of the township board. He also served for nine years as 
treasurer of his school district, and represented his township in 
nearly all of the county and state Republican conventions, having ever 
been a stalwart advocate of the principles and policies of the "grand 
old party." He served for two years as postmaster of Huffton, and has 
at all times been recognized as a loyal and progressive citizen. 
Concerning the fraternal relations of Sheriff Cole we enter the 
following data: He is affiliated with Cement Lodge, No. 103, Ancient 
Free and Accepted Masons, at Claremont; Aberdeen Chapter, No. 14, Royal 
Arch Masons; Damascus Commandery, No. 10, Knights Templar, at Aberdeen; 
Adah Chapter, No. 52, Order of the Eastern Star, at Claremont; and has 
attained the thirty-second degree of the Ancient and Accepted Scottish 
Rite, in which division of Masonry he holds membership in James C. 
Bachelor Lodge of Perfection, No. 6; Aberdeen Chapter, No. 4 Rose 
Croix; Albert Pike Council, No. 4, Knights of Kodosh; and South Dakota 
Consistory, No. 4, Sublime Princes of the Royal Secret. He is also 
identified with Claremont Lodge, No. 5, Ancient Order of United 
Workmen; Claremont Tent, No. 25, Knights of the Maccabees; and 
Claremont Camp, No. 6199, Modern Woodmen of America, all of Claremont.  

	On the 9th of December, 1880, Mr. Cole was united in marriage to 
Miss Theresa M. Howell, who was born in the province of Ontario, 
Canada, whence she accompanied her parents to Michigan when a child, 
being there reared and educated and having been a resident of Montcalm 
county, that state, at the time of her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Cole 
became the parents of five children, all of whom are living except the 
eldest, who died in infancy, the names, in order of birth, being as 
follows: Charles Henry, Arthur Maxwell, Mildred N., Mary J. and Walter 
G.