History of Warren County, Iowa; From Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by W. C. Martin, 1908,
p.320
During one period of high waters caused by the excessive spring rains, the settlers on Otter Creek were without meal for six weeks, and lived mainly on “hominy” or boiled corn. Of course there was plenty of wild game. A mill was soon after contrived by James and Benjamin Coles, which proved to be a great convenience for the settlers.
p.321
When the war for the preservation of the Union came on, Liberty township did her full duty in sending men to the front. Nearly every family was represented by enlistments for their country’s service. The following are those who were either killed in battle or died in the service during the war: Joshua Coles, David Coles, Benjamin Coles, Barton Coles.
p.320
James Coles, who named the township [i.e. Liberty Township], was known to be very much opposed to the fugitive slave law and assisted more than one slave to escape into Canada.
History of Warren County, Iowa, containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns, & etc., by Union Historical Company, Des Moines, 1879, p. 619
James Coles, farmer, Sec. 30; P. O. Madora; born November 28, 1805, in Berks county Pa.; moved with his parents to Belmont county, Ohio, in 1807; came to this county in the fall of 1852, and settled on his present home, where he owns 120 acres of land; is one of the oldest settlers in the township; he helped to organize the first township and voted at the first election held in it; sent four sons to the army, two of them dying in the service of their country; named the township in which he lives, Liberty; married, January 6, 1831, Mary Pierson, a native of Pennsylvania; had eleven children: W. B., Amos, Jesse, Levi, Lydia J., Benj. P., Barton, Elizabeth E., and Phebe A.; Benj. and Barton are dead; the last two died in the army.
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