This
file part of www.watertownhistory.org
website
Cole Family
John and Luther Cole [ brothers ]
Watertown
Daily Times, 08 17 2000
The Cole
family name is not heard of much in Watertown these days, although members had
a prominent hand in city development. Longtime residents recall the origins of
Cole
family members will hold a reunion in the city this weekend to see and hear
some of the accomplishments of their forebears, although family ties to the
city are a bit of a stretch.
John
and Luther Cole were prominent city pioneers and businessmen, but other members
of their family are less well known. The Cole family members attending the
reunion this weekend are descendants of Zenas Cole, brother of John and Luther.
Foster
Cole of Minneapolis, Minn., has organized the gathering here, although he said
he really doesn't know much about Zenas.
"John
and Luther were my great- great-great uncles," he said, in a telephone
conversation from his home. "Zenas was my great-great-great-grandfather
but I'm not prepared to give any background on him."
Noting
that he has never been to Watertown, Foster said he was encouraged to visit the
city by a favorite aunt related to the Coles by marriage. She died last year,
but her inspiration has remained.
Foster
said, "Aunt Norma Cole suggested that we find out more about our
ancestors. She lived in Michigan for many years and was a retired school
teacher. She moved to Kentucky where she built a log cabin and was always
telling old stories about the area. She was a local historian who connected
people back to their roots."
Norma
was also an author of children's books, and in appreciation of her inspiration,
Foster Cole is donating a set of her books to the Watertown Public Library.
"She was a Cole by marriage, and she and her husband were divorced.
However, they remained close and her ex-husband, Harold, who lives in Kentucky,
is coming to the reunion," Foster said, noting that the event will be
attended by about 17 family members.
In
addition to Harold, Foster and his wife Elaine will attend the reunion with
Foster's parents, Ann and Jack Cole of Minneapolis, two of Foster's three
sisters, two cousins from Michigan and other family members.
Cole Home
They will
meet Friday night at the Upper Krust restaurant where historian Bill Jannke
will regale them with tales of the Cole brothers and other family members. On
Saturday, they will tour the former Cole home at
"John
willed $86,000 to the city of Watertown when he died. Part of the money was used
to build Cole Hall at the library, part of it was put in a children's book
fund, and part was used to build the
Although
he claims that he is not a history buff, Foster has managed to trace the Cole
family back to the 1600s when members arrived in Massachusetts. "I don't
know the nationality or where they were from, but somehow the family went from
Massachusetts to Vermont. John, Luther, Zenas and another brother, Ebenezer,
came here from Vermont, but two sisters, Lucy and Persis, stayed in
Vermont," he said, relating information gathered from Mormon Church
genealogy records.
Jannke
will impart more history about the Coles in Watertown, and he will also show
some of the artifacts from the Cole family, such as old pictures of the inside
of the
"John
and his brother Luther opened the first general store on
John
Cole became owner of Tivoli Island for a
time. Jesse DeCoy told John's wife,
Elizabeth (Fisk) in the 1840s that if her first child was a boy, the Coles
would be given the deed to the island.
The child was indeed a boy and the Coles became owners of the
island. They sold it to the Concordia Opera Society sometime
between 1860 and 1870.
Jannke
will also be on hand for the tour of the former Cole home on Saturday where he
will relate more information to the descendants about their ancestors. "John
Cole built the house in 1854-1855, but the family only lived there a short
time. They lived there about five years and then lived separately in other
places," he said, adding that, "Elizabeth was a bit feisty and she
would ride down
John
and his wife are buried in Oak Hill
Cemetery.
John Cole
Derived from: The History of Jefferson County, Wisconsin by C. W. Butterfield, 1879
Ebenezer
John W. Cole, Watertown; is the third son of
Ebenezer Cole, and brother of Luther A. Cole, was born the 28th day of
December, 1814, in Charleston, Orleans Co., Vt.; until the age of 22, he worked
upon the farm of his parents, and with his father at his trade of carpenter and
joiner.
In the fall of 1836, he started West, and first came
to Milwaukee, where he remained until January, 1837, cutting timber on the
Milwaukee River, when he moved to Watertown, making the trip with ox-teams,
carrying flour and pork, and with his brother, Luther A., and five others, kept
what was called the “bachelor’s distress” for four years.
He engaged with his brother in the general
merchandise business, having built the first store in Watertown. Having dissolved partnership with his brother,
Mr. Cole built a store on the north corner of Second and Main streets, and
carried on a general merchandise business for about fifteen years, part of this
time being also engaged in the manufacture of saleratus and potash.
In 1854, he built the block of stores on the
southeast corner of Second and Main streets, since which time Mr. Cole has
lived retired from active business in Watertown. For two years he held, in Osage Co., while
living there, the office of County Commissioner.
In 1855, he held the office of Mayor of Watertown,
and has also been Supervisor of Jefferson Co.
He married Miss Eliza C. Fisk (daughter of James L.
and Laura Fisk, of the State of New York)
1894
John W Cole’s Will
(03
05) John W. Cole's will disposes of his property about as follows: The
executors and trustees named therein are Christian May, C. B. Skinner and Oscar Cole, to whom the
residence of the estate is given, and after paying expenses one third goes to
Mrs. Cole and two thirds to Oscar Cole. His residence is to be deeded to the
city for an old ladies' home at the discretion of the trustees. A farm at Lake
Mills and lots in the first ward go to Mrs. Cole and Oscar in fee simple. The
trust continues during the life of Mrs. Cole and son; after Oscar's death the
farm north of this city in Emmet is to be used as a city driving park. All the
property on the death of Mrs. Cole and son goes to the city for the purpose of
maintaining a public library, business men's club and
a home for aged and poor people. Should the city refuse to accept the property,
the next of kin are entitled to it.
1908
11 20 John
Habhegger's petition, 1908, that he be discharged as trustee of the John W
Cole estate.
Luther Cole
1860
07 05 General
L. A. Cole started for Pike’s Peak on the 3d inst. We wish him a pleasant journey to the land of
gold, disappointment, hard work and speculation, and hope those Denver City
lots have “gone up some” since he invested there, and his “pile” is ready for
him. WD
Following derived from: The History of Jefferson County, Wisconsin
by C. W. Butterfield, 1879
Luther A. Cole, Watertown, was born in West
Charleston, Orleans Co., Vt.,
At the age of 22, he started West, and landed at
Detroit in 1834; the following June he took passage in the schooner Supply, a
little craft of but fifty feet keel, for Green Bay and Grand River. The passage to Green Bay occupied twelve
days; after remaining there two days they started for Grand River, which they
reached the fourth day, making sixteen days’ sailing from Detroit. He remained at Grand River, and in its
vicinity, for about eleven months, being employed most of the time at building
saw-mills and log houses.
He then resolved upon visiting Wisconsin, and taking
passage at Grand Haven, at the mouth of Grand River, in the schooner White
Pigeon, in company with Philander Baldwin and Elisha M. Osborn, reached Chicago
after a sail of about twenty-four hours.
Two or three days afterward they started on foot for Milwaukee,
following Indian trails most of the way, and finding on the route but an
occasional settler.
They arrived at Milwaukee on the 10th day of May,
1836. There he worked at the carpenter
and joiner business until December, when, taking his blanket and provisions upon
his shoulder, he started for Johnson’s Rapids (now Watertown) passing over the
road which had been cut out by Mr. Johnson a few week’s previously, arriving on
the evening of Dec. 27, 1836. Amasa
Hyland accompanied him.
A few months before, Mr. Cole had, through the
agency of a friend, made two claims at the Rapids, one covering the farm now
owned by John W. Cole, and the other the farm now owned by heirs of Benj. A.
Morey. About the same time, he also made
a claim three miles south of Prairieville.
In January following, he purchased, at Milwaukee,
three barrels of flour, and three of pork.
He paid $20 a barrel for the flour, and $40 a barrel for the pork. Building a cabin, in company with Mr. Hyland,
and his brother, John W., they commenced keeping what they called “bachelor’s
distress,” which they continued for nearly four years.
In the season of 1837, Mr. Cole worked on the
saw-mill and dam of Charles F. H. Goodhue & Son, at Watertown. From that time, until the fall of 1839, he
was occupied mainly at lumbering and farming.
In November of the latter-named year, in company
with Mr. Hyland, John A. Chadwick, David Griffith, William P. Owen, William
Stanton, Jr., Brice Hall, John Dimick, he started for Arkansas for the purpose
of spending the winter in chopping steamboat wood. They floated down Rock River in skiffs, and
were eight days reaching the Mississippi.
They remained in Arkansas until the following spring, each making a
clever-sized “pile,” when they returned to Watertown.
The same season, Mr. Cole, in company with Mr.
Hyland, Mr. Stanton, Edmund S. Bailey and his brother, John W., purchased 400
acres of land on what is known as Hyland Prairie, in Dodge Co. There was then no inhabitant in the town of
Fairfield, in which that prairie is situated.
The only thing in the shape of a road, at that time leading north from
Watertown, was an Indian trail.
In 1841, he and his brother, John W., erected the
building on the corner of Main and Second streets (now occupied by August
Fuermann as a saloon and restaurant), and opened the first store in
Watertown. The next year, Mr. Bailey and
Mr. Cole purchased of Seeley Kidder 750 acres of land on the east side of the
river, at Watertown, including the present site of the village, as also the
mill and water-power. They were to pay
1,000,000 feet of lumber, to be delivered at Beloit within seven years. They associated with them the next year Linus
R. Cady and his brother, Ebenezer W., and in three years and a half from the
date of the purchase, made the last payment; since which time the general
business of Mr. Cole has been milling.
Selling out his interest in the mills at Watertown, in 1854, he carried
on the “Rough and Ready Mill,” one mile east of Watertown, up to 1865.
In 1866, he went to Nebraska with Mr. Lyons, and
built a saw and grist mill forty miles above Omaha, on the Missouri River. In 1867, he also built a mill on Platte
River, ten miles south of Denver. In
1869, he sold out his interest in milling, having engaged in it for twenty-eight
years of his life, since which time, having retired from active business, he
has resided at Watertown.
Mr. Cole married Miss Mary Jane Brackett (daughter
of Jerry C. and Uranah Brackett, of Vermont) Aug. 29, 1842, at Charleston,
Orleans Co., Vt.; they have four children, two living – Guy L. and Uranah B.
(now wife of F. L. Clark, of Watertown), and two deceased – Guy G. and Martha.
1859
03
17 Profile
of Luther Cole, Wisconsin legislature
WD
1876
Luther Cole was
president and orator for the day, U.S. Centennial observance
[yet to be abstracted]
MEMORIES OF EARLY WATERTOWN
Watertown
Daily Times, 01 20 2007, 01 27 2007 and 02 03 2007
Most residents know Timothy Johnson was Watertown's first white settler.
He came here in early 1836 and pitched his tent and later his first home on the
banks of the Rock River where County Highway Y bends just south of Highway 26.
It was in that general area that he first settled the community. It was
originally named Johnson Rapids, after the founder, and also the rapid fall in
the river in this area. It later received the name of Watertown.
Now, we'll move ahead to January of 1851 when Watertown was becoming a
bustling community and some of the early pioneers traveled to the Green
Mountain House in Fort Atkinson to convene the second annual pioneer festival,
a couple of days of socializing and some business. The festival brought some of
the earliest pioneers from the area and included in the gathering were two
incredible reports, one from Tim Johnson and the other from Luther A. Cole.
Those two narratives, which were put in written form in addition to
being presented orally at the festival, prompted the formation of a committee
from the surrounding townships to have one person from each community write an
early history. It was good that they did this because the reports are a
treasure trove of information.
Some time ago we published the narrative by Tim Johnson. We, like many
of our readers, found that early narrative quite interesting.
Today we want to publish the narrative by Luther A. Cole, one of
Watertown's leaders in its earliest years. It really gives a vivid report on
what life was like in Watertown a century and a half ago.
Here's the report he gave at the second annual Pioneer Festival in
January of 1851. It was later published in the Watertown Chronicle and is being reprinted here:
“Before entering upon a relation of my ‘experience' in this state, I ask
this audience to bear with me a few minutes while I refer to my still earlier
history.
“I was born in West Charleston, Orleans co., Vermont, on the 1st day of
November, 1812. My father (Ebenezer Cole) was the fourth settler in that town.
At the age of 22, I started for the west, and landed at Detroit in Dec. 1834.
The following June I took passage in the schooner Supply, a little craft of but
50 feet keel, for Green Bay and Grand River. Our passage to the Bay occupied
twelve days. After remaining there two days, we started for Grand River, which
we reached the fourth day thereafter - making sixteen days' sailing from
Detroit.
“I remained at Grand River and in its vicinity about eleven months,
being employed most of the time at building saw mills and log houses. For about
two months of this time, however, I was afflicted with the ague, ‘the old
fashioned way' - only as that complaint can develop itself in Michigan! I then
resolved upon visiting Wisconsin; and taking passage at Grand Haven, at the
mouth of Grand River, in the schooner White Pigeon, in company with Philander
Baldwin and Elisha M. Osborn, we reached Chicago after a sail of about
twenty-four hours. Two or three days afterward we started on foot for
Milwaukee, following Indian trails most of the way, and finding on the route
but an occasional settler. We arrived at Milwaukee on the 10th day of May,
1836.
“At that time Lake Michigan had been visited but two or three times by steamboats
- the object of these boats thus in straying so far from the usual channels of
commerce at that day, being to provision the U.S. troops at Green Bay, Mackinaw
and Chicago. There were a few schooners on the lake. During the season of
navigation, one of them may have passed from Grand River to Milwaukee, every
two weeks, on an average. They were principally engaged in the lumber trade.
“I worked at the carpenter and joiner business until December, with the
exception of about two months which I devoted exclusively to the ague. Taking
my blanket and provisions upon my shoulder, I then started for Johnson's
Rapids, (now Watertown,) passing over the road which had been cut out by Mr.
Johnson a few weeks previously -- Amasa Hyland accompanied me. A few months
before I had through the agency of a friend, made two claims at the Rapids, one
covering the farm now owned by John W. Cole, and the other the farm now owned
by the heirs of Benj. A. Morey. About the same time I also made a claim three
miles south of Prairieville.
“In January following, I purchased at Milwaukee three barrels of flour
and three of pork. I paid $50 for the flour, and $100 for the pork. Building a
cabin in company with Mr. Hyland and my brother John W. we commenced keeping
what we called ‘bachelors' distress,' which we continued a greater part of the
time for four years. The peculiar luxury of this method of living, can only be
appreciated by those who have enjoyed it. I will only say here, that we made it
a point not to wash our dishes until we could count the mice tracks upon
them!"
COLE MEMORIES CONTINUE
Last week we printed the first part of the early recollections of early
Watertown settler Luther A. Cole. The narrative was actually given in oral form
at the annual Pioneer Festival which was held in Fort Atkinson in January of
that year. The “old-timers” gathered once a year to reminisce and to preserve
their stories for future generations.
When we ended the column last week, Luther Cole was talking about his
initial years out in the wilderness we now call Watertown. We're resuming today
with Luther recalling the year 1837, just a year after Timothy Johnson was the
first white settler in Watertown.
His report continues:
“The season of 1837, I worked on the saw mill and dam of Charles F. H.
Goodhue & Son, at Watertown. From that time until the fall of 1839, I was
occupied mainly at lumbering and farming. In November of the latter named year,
eight of us - Mr. Hyland, John A. Chadwick, David Griffith, Wm. P. Owen, Wm.
Stanton, Jr., Brice Hall, John Dimmick and myself - started for Arkansas, for
the purpose of spending the winter at chopping steamboat wood. We floated down
Rock River in skiffs, and were eight days in reaching the Mississippi. The
weather was cold, and being obliged to camp out nights, our sufferings were
most severe.
“We remained in Arkansas until the following spring, each one of us
making a clever sized ‘pile,' when we returned to Watertown. The same season
Mr. Hyland, Mr. Stanton, Edmond S. Bailey, my brother John W. and myself,
purchased 400 acres of land on what is now known as Hyland Prairie, in Dodge
county. There was then no inhabitant in the town of Fairfield, in which that
prairie is situated. The only thing in the shape of a road at that time leading
north from Watertown was an Indian trail.
“In 1841, my brother John W. and myself erected the building on the
corner of Main and Second streets, (now occupied by Wm. V. Ament,) and opened
the first store in Watertown.
“The next year Mr. Bailey and myself purchased of Seley Kidder, (he
having previously purchased of the Goodhues,) 750 acres of land on the east
side of the river, at Watertown, including the present site of the village, as
also the saw mill and water power. We were to pay 1,000,000 feet of lumber, to
be delivered at Beloit within seven years. - We associated with us the next
year, Linus R. Cady and my brother Ebenezer W. and in three years and a half
from the date of the purchase, we made the last payment.
“My general business since then, as most of my acquaintances are aware,
has been milling.
“I will conclude this sketch by relating a few incidents connected with
the early history of Watertown:
“A few weeks after settling in that village, a man by the name of Thomas
Bass was burnt to death in a cabin standing near the present wagon shop of
Virgil D. Green. - He and two other men, Charles Seaton and Ezra Doliver, who
were in the employment of James Rogan, had passed a drunken afternoon and
evening, and in the morning Bass was found near the fire a corpse, one arm
being nearly burnt off, and other portions of his person badly charred. A
coffin from hewn pieces of basswood was prepared, and the remains interred a
short distance from where the old school house now stands. A prayer on the
occasion was made by Wm. Brayton, of Aztalan. Rumors of violence having been
the primary cause of the death, a coroner from Milwaukee was sent for, the
remains disinterred, an inquest held, Seaton and Doliver and arrested, tried at
Milwaukee, and finally acquitted.
“In June or July following, a company of about fifteen of us causewayed
Battletown marsh and other smaller marshes between Watertown and Summit, and
otherwise improved the road. We were thus employed eight days, ‘working for
nothing and boarding ourselves.' We camped at night in the open air. I have
read of mammoth mosquitoes, but never saw any equal in size and voracity to
those we encountered at Battletown. They ‘bit like a serpent, and stung like an
adder!'
“In the spring of 1838, provisions and money were scarce. We had but
little pork in the settlement, and subsisted mainly upon fresh fish, with which
the Rock abounded. Our flour having failed us at one time, we were nearly a
week without bread.
“The Winnebago Indians committed many petty thefts for some time after
Watertown was first settled. One of them having stolen a watch from Mr.
Griswold, a pair of mittens from Peter V. Brown, and a quantity of tobacco from
me, we thought it best to make an example of him. Forming a ring and stripping
him of his blanket, Griswold and I took turns in applying the lash to his back.
But we tempered justice with mercy. No blood was drawn. The expedient worked to
a charm. After that Indian thefts were hardly known in the settlement.
“The first frame barn in the county of Dodge, was erected in March,
1839, on the farm of my brother John W., a short distance north of the north
line of the village of Watertown. It was framed by Wm. H. Acker. It was raised
by 25 or 30 of us, and though it snowed hard all the while, we were only about
two hours in putting it up. Two gallons of high wines had been provided, and
many of the company not knowing the ‘bead' the liquor carried, soon found
themselves in the very best of spirits. After completing the task, about
one-half of us adjourned to the cabin near by, and had a right merry time of
it. When the party finally broke up, a tin cup full of the liquor remained
unappropriated.”
LUTHER COLE'S STORY ENDS
Last week Luther talked about a barn raising just north of the city
limits in 1839. From there he mentioned he had been asked about some
“adventures” he had while living in this community which was carved out of the
wilds. Here's what he had to say on that topic:
“I have frequently been asked, if in any of my adventures in this
country, when new, I ever came in contact with wild beasts. I never did. I may
say, however, that upon one occasion I was thrown into as close proximity with
them as was agreeable to me. About
That concluded the statement of Luther A. Cole at the Pioneer Festival.
Following his recollections, several others offered comments including one by
Jared Ostrandeer who said, “The Old Pioneers - may their last days be their
best!”
Then, a Mr. Noggle, who was a guest from Janesville, took the floor for
some brief comments. He said, “Ladies and Gentlemen: It is with difficulty I
can express my gratification at witnessing this large assemblage of the
pioneers of this county. The brief narratives of the old settlers which have
just been read, forcibly remind me of similar scenes which I have seen, but
with the relation of which I will not tax your patience.
“Though the call for this meeting was confined to the citizens of
Jefferson county, I will improve the invitation which has been extended to me,
to preface the toast I design offering by a few remarks.
“In the summer of 1836, I became a resident of the west. At that time
the country west of Chicago was new and uncultivated. I had heard much in favor
of our western prairies, openings and woods, and was induced to leave my
eastern home. I came to Michigan. I was there told that there was a better country
ahead, and I pushed on to Chicago. ‘A better country yet ahead,' was whispered
in my ears. I thought it was so, as I passed the Des Plaines, and found myself
in the Fox River country. ‘A little better country ahead,' was still the cry. -
I came to the Rock River valley, and found that ‘the half had not been told
me.' This is certainly the best country I ever saw. - The health and prosperity
of its people abundantly prove it.
“It cannot be disguised, however, that the first settlers here met with
privations and sickness. The narratives which have been read, show it. We were
few and scattered, and had it not in our power to render every needful
assistance to one another. But we were all friends. Though the nearest
neighbors of some of us lived at the distance of 10 or 12 miles, a kindly
feeling existed which many at this day cannot boast, having neighbors within a
stone's throw of their doors. The grand secret of our happiness might have been
found in the fact, that each strove to help his fellow. Those were happy days
to me, Mr. President, and I doubt not to most present, even though we subsisted
upon fish and prairie chickens, and had no better for gravy!”
That was an interesting report about the early days in Watertown. We're
sure glad that some of the original Watertown settlers had the foresight to
hold an annual “pioneer festival” before it was too late. Those who spoke at
the early ones were certainly living the history that we find so interesting
today.
TLS
