Harrison County Iowa Genealogy

HISTORY OF HARRISON COUNTY, IOWA, 1915
BIOGRAPHIES
Page 493
E. J. COLE, M.D.

The attention of the reader is now directed to a short sketch of the career of Dr. E. J. Cole, a native of Woodbine, Harrison county, Iowa, and for many years one of the leading physicians of this section. He is a man of fine professional and intellectual attainments, of broad sympathies and kindly feelings, who has labored earnestly and sincerely to alleviate the sufferings of mankind. He has lent dignity and honor to his chosen profession and is filling a useful and important part in the world's plan.

Doctor COLE is a son of Dr. John S. and Diana (WORLEY) COLE and was born in Woodbine, Iowa, on January 24, 1865. Dr. John S. COLE (a sketch of whose career will be found elsewhere in this volume), had the distinction of being the first physician to locate at Woodbine and throughout the years of his residence there he became much honored and his death, which occurred in 1881, was deplored by a large circle of warm-hearted friends. The subject of this biography attended the common schools of Woodbine when a youth, later completing the high school work in his home town. He then entered Iowa State College at Ames, where he devoted three years to the study of literature and then matriculated at Rush Medical College, Chicago, Illinois, there to receive instruction in his chosen profession, having elected to follow in the footsteps of his honored father. In 1889 he was graduated from that institution and the same year commenced to practice in Woodbine, where he has since remained.

Doctor COLE was united in marriage on June 18, 1891, with Maude E. ALLEN, daughter of Frank and Anna (TORGESON) ALLEN, who came to this section of Iowa from Wisconsin. Mrs. COLE's father died in Wisconsin and after his death, the mother came with her family to Harrison county and for some time made her home with Doctor COLE and family and there her death occurred in April, 1913.

Doctor and Mrs. COLE have an interesting family of four children, the eldest of whom, Clement A., is at present studying in Iowa State University at Iowa City, while the others, Bernice, Anita and Helen, are still at home. Through close and conscientious application to his profession and careful attention to modern progress therein, Doctor COLE has attained to a pleasing degree of honor and prominence in his chosen means of service to mankind. He is a member of the Harrison County Medical Association, the Iowa State Medical Association and the American Medical Association. He has always evinced a warm interest in local affairs, particularly along the lines of education, and for a number of years has been a member of the school board. His fraternal affiliation is with the Knights of Pythias through the local organization and in politics he is a Democrat, although he has never devoted much time to political affairs.

A high order of skill in his calling, a broad-minded sympathy with the sick and suffering, and an earnest desire to help others have combined to make him unusually successful and he is held in the highest esteem by his brother physicians because of his genuine worth. He is a welcome visitor in any company which he choses to enter, for he possesses those attributes which enable him to be agreeable and win the good will of others.

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