Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 664
DR. JOHN SIDNEY COLE

The pioneer physician of Woodbine, Iowa, and vicinity, Dr. J. S. COLE, though deceased since 1881, still lives in the memory of many of the people of the community in which he practiced so successfully for a quarter of a century. He was a native of Pennsylvania, born in Troy, Bradford county, January 3, 1820, son of Jeremiah and Hannah COLE. At the age of fourteen years he went to Indiana, where he remained three years, at the end of which time he went back to Pennsylvania and attended school, afterwards returning to Indiana, where during a period of ten years' residence at Indianapolis, he studied medicine. He first located in Peru, Indiana, where he followed his profession ten years. In the spring of 1855, accompanied by Hiram MOORE, he emigrated to Harrison county, Iowa, purchasing at the government land office the homestead, just to the north of Woodbine, where he ever afterwards resided and practiced his profession. He made two trips to this county during 1855. This was more than ten years before the first railroad entered the Missouri slope. Doctor COLE, with a dozen other families, permanently located in this township, where he at once set about making substantial improvements, breaking, fencing and building. The "Doctor COLE place" is an old land-mark and is the property of the PUGSLEYs.

Doctor COLE was a man of great influence in Harrison county for many years. When he came here with his family there were but few settlers in his portion of the county, and all soon became much attached to one another. His counsel, both as a physician and citizen, was sought by many, and his advice was usually in the right direction. While he owned an excellent farm, the work of which his sons usually carried on, he continued in the practice of medicine, and was known far and near as the "family physician" in many a Harrison county home, as well as in adjoining counties. Many of the pioneers recall the good doctor, as one who usually (in early days) went on horseback to visit his patients, and was never hindered by storm or flood, but bravely faced the elements, believing it his duty to look well to the interests of those who called him, regardless of the sacrifice he must make to perform such duty.

Doctor COLE was a firm, uncompromising Democrat and held numerous township and county offices, including six terms as member of the board of county supervisors, at a date when the county government was being formed, and the foundation stones laid for the future. In religious faith he was a Methodist. He was just and generous to all, and was possessed of an excellent judgment. He was a friend of the poor and distressed and hence was beloved by many.

Doctor COLE was twice married, first on February 28, 1839, to Mary A. GAVER, a native of Maryland, who bore him six children, three of whom survived until after the death of their father. The mother died when these children were all young, and the doctor married, second, April 7, 1853, Dianna WERLEY, a native of Ohio, the daughter of John Jacob and Mary (PHILLIPS) WERLEY. She was born August 18, 1834, and is still living in Woodbine where the entire community love and respect her for her many womanly, Christian graces. She was a charter member of the First Methodist Episcopal church of Woodbine, and has ever been loyal to her church vows. Her father was a native of Germany, who came to Pennsylvania when sixteen years of age, married in 1838 and moved to Montgomery county, Ohio, where he was a successful farmer. Both Mr. and Mrs. WERLEY died in Ohio. They were the parents of nine children- Margaret, Susan, Elizabeth, Michael, Dianna, Mary, Rebecca, Caroline and Jacob.

Doctor COLE was the father of seven children by his first marriage, Julia, Norman, John Victor, George, Mary and two infants who died. Norman, the last survivor of these children, died in Missouri Valley February 28, 1915. By his second marriage Doctor COLE had six children, as follows: Edgar C., born in Indiana, died at the age of three months; Oscar M., of Colorado; Orin D., of Idaho; Emma, who married Harris GIDDINGS, of Woodbine, this county; Elmer J., a physician of Woodbine, whose biographical sketch appears elsewhere in this work; and Edwin, a druggist of Woodbine.

Doctor COLE died on the evening of August 1, 1881, at his home near Woodbine, of paralysis, aged sixty-one years and seven months, after two attacks, the first of which was about two years prior to his death. The years of his life were well rounded out, had been full of rich experiences and good deeds to his fellow men. He was laid to rest in the Woodbine cemetery. His death was deeply felt in the community where he had lived and labored so long.

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