U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: --------------------------------------------------------------------- Cole, Benjamin F. (b. 1875) --------------------------------------------------------------------- A History of Preston County West Virginia Biographical Department, Supplied by J. R. Cole Kingwood, W. Va., The Journal Publishing Company, 1914 by H. S. Whetsell Pages 747-750, BENJAMIN F. COLE. The Cole family, like that of the Smith, is a numerous one. It has its root in Welch history, where from the time of King Caractacus, King Cole, branches have formed until the progeny has greatly increased from the first century of that period in South Wales. During the sixteenth century emigration commenced. Some went to Ireland and some came to America and from these forbears separate lineages of the family originated, and so numerous in English times, that thirty different coats of arms have been resurrected by the antiquarian belonging to the tribe. First came emigrants to the Jamestown colony, as early as 1609, and then from different ancestral heads, other lineages have been forming from that time to this. Settlements were made in Boston as early as 1630. A John Cole became the head of the Cowles in Connecticut, and in 1660 a John Cole landed in Rhode Island, from whom a multitude of Coles in that state can be found now. In the state of Michigan there are probably five thousand Cole's, having no close kinship to those above mentioned. Captain B. F. Cole is a descendant of the Delaware branch of the Cole family. Henson Cole, his grandfather, was a native of that state, but it is not known who was the first of his line to emigrate to this country, nor where he landed in America. When he arrived Henson Cole moved on a farm at Cassville near Morgantown, W. Va. His family is an interesting one. Draper was the eldest, Joseph and William caught the gold fever in 1849, went to California and came back rich. During the Civil War they purchased large tracts of land around Cassville and ended their days there. John H. was a trader in horses and cattle, and Amasa, the father of B. F. Cole, was a farmer. He was born in 1829, and is still living. His wife was a Miss Rachel Morris, daughter of Ezekiel and Miss Hayhurst Morris, very influential and very highly cultured people. Both sides of that family belonged to that highly polished citizenship of the old school of Virginia aristocracy. The children of Amasa and Rachel Morris Cole were thirteen in all. Of this number three died in infancy. Alice was scalded to death. Anna Maria married Louis Wildman; Joseph married Mattie Dusenberry; Henson, Hurley, Sarah, Dora, Carrie B., Ida B., and Nora B., are still living; Spencer A. died at the age of 41 years, after having traveled the wide world almost all over. His history in particular is worthy of mention. He was the foreign representative of the Keystone Drilling Company at Beaver Falls, Pa., a company that drilled wells in arid deserts as well as in other places in different parts of the whole world. Mr. Cole's first trip abroad for this concern was made to an oasis of the great Sahara Desert in Africa. It was two hundred miles inland, to which point of destination engines and machinery for drilling wells had to be transported on backs of camels. Subsequently other trips were made by him to South Africa and to the West India Islands. On his second trip to Peru, South America, he was taken ill with the smallpox, and had to ride on a mule to Lima, seventy miles distant, to reach his hospital where he died February 12, 1911. Captain Benjamin F. Cole was born February 4, 1875. Like his brother before mentioned, his chief characteristic is grit, and the record he has left behind him is a good one. At ten years of age he left home going to Iowa four years. He worked on a ranch two years, then took up paper-hanging. He then returned home and had a job with the Standard Oil Company, where he remained eight years, and after that he took a course in horology and optometry at a college in Philadelphia. In 1901, he came to Kingwood and bought out the jewelry store of W. J. Jenkins, which he still operates under the management of a competent and skillful superintendent. Having succeeded in business affairs and proven himself worthy of the confidence of the public, he has been advanced to offices of trust in the interests of the people as necessity required. He has been School Commissioner of Kingwood two terms, and is still a member of that board, and is now also serving his second term on the Town Council. He has been Captain of the Ordinance Department six years, having had a membership with the National Guards seven years. Socially he is represented in various societies, being a Master Mason, a member of the Knights of Pythias and is connected otherwise. In politics, he is a staunch Republican and has the courage of his convictions. In 1905, Mr. Cole enlisted in Company G, Kingwood National Guards, and became "high" in that team. At the first shoot given at Parkersburg he took a medal, and in all has now fifteen medals as laurels to his marksmanship. That same year Captain Cole's Company went to Sea Girt, New Jersey, and took part in the national matches there, and has been on the rifle team of the state every year from that meeting to the present time. In 1907, he was commissioned Captain and has been Instructor of the Range and in charge of the State Farm ever since. As an instructor, Captain Cole has done much to make his team the unerring marksmen that they are. The following letter speaks for itself: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - WAR DEPARTMENT National Board for Promotion of Rifle Practice. September 22, 1913. Captain B. F. Cole, Kingwood, West Virginia. Dear Sir: — I take pleasure in enclosing herewith government voucher for $51.67, as 7th prize, kneeling position, in the International Match, No. 10, won by you at the late Camp Perry matches. Yours very truly, ALBERT S. JONES, First Lieut., and Financial Officer Camp Perry Matches. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - At these matches the best marksmen competed and different governments participated, but the United States carried off her share, Captain Cole saving the honor on several occasions. He held first place in the Hale Match, 436 entries made, winning the cup and $30.00. He won the beautiful silver plaque given by Austria also, and a number of other prizes. In February, 1896, Captain Cole was married to Miss Nera Fox, daughter of Andrew J. Fox of Indian Creek, West Virginia. Her grandfather, Martin Fox, of Winchester, Virginia, was with Washington on his trip over the mountains to the battle of Fort Duquesne. Mr. and Mrs. Cole are the parents of three children: Edna, born in March, 1897; Edith, February, 1899; Pearl in March, 1903. --------------------------------------------------------------------- (wife of Benjamin F. Cole) From Death Certificate, Preston County, WV #16238 FULL-NAME: Nerea G. Cole BIRTH-DATE: May 22, 1875 BIRTH-PLACE: near Hagans, W.Va. DEATH-DATE: August 17, 1943 DEATH-PLACE: Kingwood, Kingwood District, Preston County, WV MARITAL-STATUS: Widowed (Benjamin F. Cole) FATHER: Andrew Fox (born in W.Va.) MOTHER: Casandra Tennant (born in W.Va.) CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Cardiac failure / Carcinoma BURIAL: East Oak Grove, Morgantown, W.Va. --------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Preston County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/preston/bios.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------