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
Jannke also related how 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.
Luther
Cole
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.
[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
