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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Cross County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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William H. Cole, one of the genial members of the enterprising firm of Smith, Cole & Davis, also the general manager of the three mills owned by this firm, is a Pennsylvanian by birth, being a son of Joseph and Ellen (Yost) Cole, of German descent, the paternal grandfather, Joseph Cole, was a hotel keeper and also owned an interest in a lumber business. He moved to Iowa, living in this State about four years, then in 1870 came to Mississippi County, Ark., where he busied himself in farming until his death, which occurred in 1872. To the parents were given seven children, five of whom are still living: William H., Clemenza E. (the wife of John J. Merrison), J. C, James R. and Edward F. William H. Cole (whose biography is here given) was born in 1852, and lived at home with his mother until 1875, when he started in the mercantile business at Richardson’s Landing, Tenn., which he followed for four years, losing in this business some $10,000, after which he went into the lumber business, being very successful. In October, 1888, he removed his mill and family to this county and located near Bay Village, erected a saw-mill in charge of the firm of Cole & Davis, which was moved from Tipton County, Tenn., where it had been operated six or seven years by said firm. They bought 260 acres of timber land and erected their first mill, which turns out annually about 1,500,000 feet of lumber, the capacity of this mill being 20,000 to 22,000 feet daily. In June, 1889, they bought the mill at Levesque, of John N. White, which has been improved and now turns out 2,000,000 feet annually. Messrs. Smith, Cole & Davis have now under lease another mill, which has about the same capacity as the one at Levesque. They also have a planing-mill connected with one of their mills. Mr. Cole was married on September 25, 1877, to Miss Martha Isabelle Davis, and they are the parents of four children, two of whom are living: Elizabeth and John. Mrs. Cole is a member of the Old School Presbyterian Church. Mr. Cole is one of the prominent men of his county, known and respected by all.

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This family biography is one of 103 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Cross County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Cross County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

View additional Cross County, Arkansas family biographies here: Cross County, Arkansas Biographies

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