Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1889

Source: Portrait and Biographical Album, Muscatine County, Iowa, 1889, page 170
JOHN H. COLE, a retired farmer and prominent citizen of Bloomington Township, residing in section 28, was born in Massachusetts in 1820. His parents Leander and Huldah ( Beach) Cole, who were also natives of Massachusetts, had a family of three children, of whom he was the youngest. The father was a wagon-maker by trade and resided in his native State until called from this earth by death in 1822. His wife survived him many years, coming to Iowa with our subject, with whom she resided until her death in 1868, at the advanced age of nine-two years. Both parents were religious, God-fearing prople, and were greatly beloved by all who knew them.

Our subject was reared to manhood upon his father's farm, receiving his education in the district schools of Massachusetts. In 1843, when twenty-three years of age, he left the parental roof and went to Ohio, where he engaged as traveling salesman, his route being through Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa and parts of Michigan, which was then a wild country. At Zanesville Muskingum County, in 1851, he was united in the holy bonds of matrimony with Martha T. Merriam, who was born in Ohio, and is the daughter of Cyrus and Catherine ( Tupper ) Merriam, who were natives of Vermont, but who removed to Ohio at an early day. In that State the death of the father occurred in 1876, and the mother, too, was called to her final home about six years later.

After his marriage Mr. Cole accompanied by his young bride, removed to Bloomington Township, Muscatine County, where the same year he purchased a farm of wild and unimproved land. This he later sold, and in 1852 bought twenty-four acres of wild timber land then two miles from Muscatine, which he immediately began to improve and cultivate. He the engaged quite extensively in stock-raising, buying the stock, then feeding and shipping to market. By frugality and enterprise he was able to add to his original purchase until his farm comprised 700 acres of prairie land, part of which he used for pasturage, the remainder being planted in grain. After several years spent in stock-raising he sold that farm and bought his present residence. Although having given up the harder labors connected with general farming his activity and energy would not permit him to wholly retire from active life, and now he gives his attention to the raising of such small fruits as are adapted to this climate.

In 1887 Mr. Cole was called upon to mourn the death of his wife, who departed from this life on the 9th of August, at the age of fifty-five years. She was well known for her many good works, her generosity, her kind-heartedness and Christian manner of living, and her death proved a sad affliction not only to her immediate family but to a large circle of friends as well. By their union two children were born: Julia A., who died at the age of two years, and Edward L., who married Ida B. Failing, a native of LaSalle County, Ill., in 1874. Four children grace their union---Gertrude A., William H., Charlotte Jane, and Fay. Edward is a carpenter and joiner by trade, which occupation he is now following. Politically, Mr. Cole is a Democrat. As one of the early settlers he has witnessed the important changes which have transformed Muscatine County from a wild and unsettled region into one of the richest cultivated portions of the State. He has always performed his share in developing the county, and much praise is due him for his unceasing efforts. He divided his 700-acre tract of land into small farms, building eight residences thereon, and has dealt quite extensively in city property. To every enterprise of the public welfare he has given his earnest support, and is numbered among the leading citizens of the community of which he resides.

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