My Genealogy Hound

A. H. COLE is a well-known citizen, throughout southern Nebraska being among the first settlers of Harlan county and having gained considerable distinction as a buffalo hunter. He hunted buffalo when they roamed the prairies in herds of many thousands and when it was not an uncommon thing to drop from twenty-five to fifty at a stand. He has watched their numbers grow less from year to year until they have entirely disappeared from the territory once known as the Great American Desert. A few years ago he killed one of a herd found near the head of the Republican river in Colorado, and estimates that he has killed fully one thousand since 1872. Mr. Cole has the distinction of being the only man in the state, and, with perhaps one or two exceptions, the only one in the United States, who has a herd of tame buffalo. His herd is increasing each year, and he has succeeded in raising three half-breeds, which are indeed a real curiosity.

A. H. Cole is a native of New York and was born in Putnam county, January 28, 1838. He is a son of Horace and Betsey Cole, both natives of New York. They were married in York State and soon afterwards removed to Ohio, but returned to Putnam county, N. Y., where he died in 1842. The mother of our subject came West and died in Wyoming in 1887. The boyhood days of A. H. Cole were passed on a farm in Ashtabula county, Ohio, where he obtained as good a common-school education as the times afforded. He remained at home farming the old homestead till 1864, when he came West, locating in Boone county, Iowa. In 1868 he moved to Wyoming, and after shifting about for a few years finally located in Harlan county, Nebr., in the spring of 1873. He located a homestead on sections 7 and 8 in Emerson township and is now pleasantly located near the thriving little city of Oxford. He built a sod house and prepared to live in true pioneer style passed safely through the grasshopper time, and has lived and prospered until he has become one of the well-to-do citizens of the county.

Mr. Cole was married November 28, 1872, the lady of his choice being Miss Nancy Dale, a native of Hart county, Ky., and born March 20, 1851. Her parents are Abraham and Martha (Master) Dale, both natives of Kentucky. They settled in Harrison county. Mo., in 1853, where they still live. Three children grace the household of our subject, namely — Jay, born April 24, 1874; Ray, born September 18, 1878, and May, born May 3, 1880. Mr. Cole has three hundred and twenty acres of fine land bordering on the Republican river, most of which is in a high state of cultivation. He is a republican in politics and a man who stands high in the estimation of all who know him.