My Genealogy Hound

HENRY A. COLE, ex-county treasurer, and president of the Royersford National Bank, is one of the best known residents of that section of Montgomery county. He is the son of Abraham C. and Mary (Longaker) Cole. He is a native of Limerick township, where he was born January 22, 1838. He was educated in the public schools of Limerick township, to which his parents removed, and afterwards entered as a student at Washington Hall Collegiate Institute, at Trappe, conducted by County Superintendent Abel Rambo for many years, many of Mr. Cole’s contemporaries being educated there. On relinquishing his studies at that institution, Mr. Cole engaged in the occupation of teaching school, in connection with farming, which he pursued with success for a period of fifteen years, in Limerick township, Upper Providence and Pottsgrove. Many of the leading men and women of that community owe their superior education and practical business methods to his instruction and example.

Mr. Cole is a Democrat in politics, being actively interested in the success of its principles and candidates in the county, state and nation. In 1883 he secured the party nomination for county treasurer, and was elected to the position in November of that year. He filled the position for three years with satisfaction to the public and credit to himself. The finances of Montgomery county were never in better condition than they were at the end of his term as treasurer.

Mr. Cole resides on a fine farm of forty acres in Limerick township, and devotes much of his time to farming, although he is occupied with banking and other outside business. Whatever he undertakes to do receives such intelligent consideration and effort as guarantees its proper accomplishment. He has served for three terms, nine years, in the school board of Limerick township, and is actively interested in educational matters generally, being an advocate of progress in methods and equipment. He has been occasionally suggested as the candidate of his party for the position of representative in Congress from the district. He is manager of the Perkiomen Valley Fire Insurance Company, and holds other positions in which his ability is needed, being concerned in the settlement of estates and other business of that character. Mr. Cole married, in 1874, Miss Jennie W. Arnold, daughter of Dr. Samuel Arnold, of Plymouth township. They have no children. He and Mrs. Cole attend the Reformed church.

Mr. Cole is president of the Royersford National Bank, which was organized September 16, 1886, with a capital of $100,000. A handsome building was erected on the main street of that borough, in which the bank commenced business with Joseph Keely, of Spring City, as its president. He died, and Ephraim Keely was elected to the position. On the death of Mr. Keely, Henry A. Cole was chosen to succeed him, and under his management as president the bank is one of the strongest financial institutions of Montgomery county. Since Mr. Cole became its president the capital of the bank has been increased to $150,000, and it has surplus and undivided profits of more than $50,000, and deposits of $250,000. Mr. Cole is assisted by the following board of directors: Philip Williard, C. R. Hunsicker, Jared W. Evans, Horace Ashenfelter, H. R. Thomas, A. F. Tyson, P. W. Reifsnyder, William P. Fenton, Samuel B. Latshaw and Allen T. Keely. The bank has a large number of depositors, and transacts much business.

The Cole family has long been domiciled in that section of Montgomery county. Henry Cole, grandfather of Henry A. Cole, was a native of Perkiomen township. He was a man of intelligence, who received his education through the medium of neighborhood schools, and he was engaged all his life in agricultural pursuits. He was honored and respected by the community in which he lived. He married Barbara Eichelberger, also of that township, and they had a large family of children, among the number being Abraham C. (father).

Abraham C. Cole was born on the homestead in Perkiomen township, in 1805. He was educated in the schools of Perkiomen, and was for some years engaged in farming in that township, but removed to Limerick where he spent many years of his life. He died in 1871, being one of its most prominent citizens. He was a Democrat in politics, and was elected by that party to the office of county commissioner in 1863, filling the position during war times in a most acceptable manner. He was a friend of the taxpayer, and was deservedly popular. He served in the position of school director for many years. He married Mary Longaker (died in 1876), daughter of Peter Longaker, and a sister of Rufus B. Longaker. They had two children, Louisa F., who married John S. Hunsicker of Perkiomen township, and Henry A. Cole.

Mrs. Henry A. Cole’s father, Samuel Arnold, was born in Plymouth township and studied for his profession under Dr. Fronefield, and opened an office in Chester county, and later in Bucks county, where he died in 1848. He married Margaret Brownback in 1841. She died in 1848, leaving two children-Mrs. Cole, and one son, Granville. He died in the army of fever. He was a member of Rush’s Regiment of Cavalry and of Captain Starr’s Company. He was unmarried.