Biography of William J. Cole - Mercer Co. WV

The History of West Virginia, Old and New 
Published 1923, The American Historical Society, Inc. 
Chicago and New York, Volume II 
pg. 156

WILLIAM J. COLE has standardized, systematized and put on a commercial
basis one of the oldest arts known to mankind, that of baking bread, and in
the Bluefield Bakery, of which he is proprietor, has one of the largest
plants of its kind in West Virginia, capable of producing the staff of life
for many thousands of people every day.

Mr. Cole was born at Marion in Smith County, Virginia, November 12, 1883,
son of L. C. and Elizabeth (Wolf) Cole. The Coles have been in Virginia for
a number of generations. His grandfather, William Cole, was a Confederate
soldier in the Civil war.

William J. Cole acquired a common school education at Marion and Graham in
his native state, and at the age of seventeen began learning the baker's
trade with the Virginia Confectionery Company at Graham. He remained there
two years, and then entered the mercantile business for himself. He
conducted this business successfully for about nine years, finally selling
out in 1911.

In Was in 1912 that Mr. Cole bought the Bluefield Bakery, and since then
has given his entire time and attention to developing the plant and
business. He has installed automatic machinery throughout, and the plant
now has a capacity of producing 3,000 loaves of bread per hour or 48,000 in
a full day's run. The Bluefield Bakery was originally started in 1900 by M.
Stean, who was succeeded by Captain Barger and from him Mr. Cole bought the
business.

Mr. Cole married in 1905, at Graham, Virginia, Miss Mary Holbrook, daughter
of John and Marie Holbrook natives of Virginia. Her father was one of the
leading merchants and citizens of Graham. Mr. and Mrs. Cole had six
children, William Paul, Elizabeth, Holbrook, Carlyle, Kenneth and William
J., Jr. William J., Jr., died in 1920. Mr. Cole and family are members of
the Lutheran Church. He is a Knight Templar and Royal Arch Mason Shriner, a
member of the United Commercial Travelers the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary
Club and the Bluefield Country Club. He has been in business and earning
his own way since he was seventeen, and all his prosperity has been gained
by hard work and close adherence to the fundamental principles of sound
business.


Submitted by Chris & Kerry <cmac4330@chesapeake.net>

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