The Cole Family

James Cole came to America from the shire of Essex in England in 1635 and was one of the founders of the City of Hartford, Connecticut. His wife's name was Ann. Their son Silas fought in the Revolutionary War and was with Washington at Valley Forge. In 1784, Silas married Louisa Wattles.

Amos Cole, a son of the Revolutionary soldier, was born January 25, 1803, in Connecticut. When he was a child the family moved to Chenango County, New York, and in 1812, they came to Ohio, locating in Scioto County. Amos grew to manhood in the district bordering on the Ohio River. He was one of the solid pioneer citizens of his day and generation. He was married in Scioto County to Nancy

Watts. She was about the age of her husband and a native of Ohio. They commenced their married life as farmers on the banks of the Ohio River. Their first child, Mary Louisa, was born there.

In the year 1832, Amos Cole and his brother-in-law, Rueben Wait (sometimes spelled Waite), started on a tour of exploration through northwestern Ohio. They inspected the land along the Maumee River and finally bought a tract on the south bank of that stream opposite the historic Girty's Island in what is now Henry County.

The next year they left their old home and started for their newly acquired possessions in the wilderness. They made the trip with two teams of horses and wagons each and one team of oxen and wagon. They spent many days in following the rough trails or breaking out roads through woods and across swamps. Their route lay through what was then known as the Black Swamp in which it took them several days to go a few miles. They crossed the Maumee River at Perrysburg and came up the north side to the John Patrick Indian Trading House which was four miles east of where Napoleon now stands, at that time but a primeval wilderness. From the Patrick farm they made their progress to their land up the river on pirogues as there were no further roads and no way to cross the river.

They landed and camped on their land until they built a two family log cabin with no floor and no roof over the center so the smoke could escape from a two family union campfire. There they lived until they built for each family a large two story hewed log house. Their lands were an unbroken wilderness. The timber had to be cut away to make room for crops. Hard maple, poplar, black walnut, red and white oak, hickory, red elm and cherry had to be cut and burned as there were no mills to cut it up into lumber, and no sale for lumber. But maple sugar and syrup were a harvest for the settler for many years.

Game of all kinds was plentiful but these sturdy farmers had little time for hunting. Deer, wild turkey and squirrel were familiar daily sights on the farm, while bear and wolves made nightly raids on the farmer's hogs.

The Indians of the Wyandot Tribe were still there but were removed to the western reservation in 1842.

Amos Cole, in 1850, built a large two-story house which was one of the largest and best built houses of that day. It was built on a road back from the river on high ground overlooking his farm which at that time comprised 228 acres.

Amos was a hard working man with good business judgment and eventually amassed a large amount of property, chiefly represented in land of which he owned 538 acres. Much of this was improved and put into cultivation under the owner's direction.

The early annals of Henry County contain many references to the name of Amos Cole. He was one of the commissioners selected to organize Henry County and served on the board of commissioners for a number of years. He was a justice of the peace for many years and subsequently became an associate judge of the county courts, an office he filled almost to the time of his death in 1863. His widow survived until 1876.

In politics, Amos was a Whig and later a Republican.

He was a Protestant in his religious beliefs and always fed the local and traveling preachers on their rounds. His wife was also active in church and charitable works.

Throughout all of this section of Ohio he was spoken of with respect as Judge Cole.

The children of Amos and Nancy were Mary Louisa Cole Andrews, Elizabeth Ann Cole Heath, Julia Caroline Cole Weaver, Newton Silas Cole, Albert Evans Cole, Hester Sophrona Cole May and a daughter who died in infancy (a twin of Albert). Albert never married.

Newton Silas (1838-1923) was well educated for his time. He attended the Academy at Maumee, a school of higher learning at that time. He taught school both before and after the Civil War. In 1861, he enlisted in the 68th Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He was in active service three years, the last two of which he was in the Signal Corps. He served in many battles under General Grant and General Mcpherson. After his service he returned to Henry County where he farmed as well as taught school. In 1866, he married Julia Parker (1841-1885) also a teacher whose home had been Colton, Ohio. His second wife was Nora Fisher of Holgate.

In 1876, he was attracted to thenewly established village of Holgate which had come into existence two years before when the B&O Railway was built through that section of the country. He was the first hardware dealer in the little community where he operated his store for 27 years. He served a number of years as councilman and 2 years as mayor. He had previously served as a justice of the peace in Flatrock Township.

"Newt" and Julia had three sons, Claude Bertram, Allen Eugene and Guy Otis.

Claude B. (Bert) became a physician. He opened his practice at Grand Rapids, Ohio, where he met and married Florence Housley. They had one daughter, Helen Cole Lewis. They later moved to Toledo.

Allen Eugene (Gene) studied dentistry. He first practiced in Leipsic, Ohio, and later moved to Toledo. His wife was Bessie Fribley of Holgate. They had no children.

Guy Otis was also a dentist. He practiced in Holgate. He was active in community affairs, served on the council and on the school board. He married Clara Bortz. They had one daughter, Gladys Cole Greenler Troeger, teacher and artist.

Gladys Troeger is at the present time living in Defiance County about seven miles west of Holgate. She has one daughter, Sharon Greenler Healy, an art teacher and four grandchildren, Steve, Phil, Dale and Diana Jo Healy living in Defiance County and one granddaughter, Colleen Healy in Columbus, Ohio.

Bert, Gene, and Guy Cole and their wives, all taught at least one term of school. All had worked in the hardware store before furthering their education. Bert acquired his medical education at Ohio State, Columbus Medical, Brooklyn College Hospital, and the University of Pennsylvania. Gene and Guy both attended college at Ada and graduated in dental surgery from Ohio Medical, now a part of Ohio State.

Submitted by Gladys Troeger