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| pg. 193, 194 Elijah Cole, farmer on sec. 23, Hinton Tp., was born in New York, Feb. 18, 1832. He is son of George and Catherine (Westbrook) Cole. The parents were both natives of New York, where the mother died. The father came to Morley, Mich., in 1877. Mr. Cole passed his early life under the paternal roof, and until 16 was sent to school. He entered the employ of his uncle and was engaged two years in lumbering; going thence to Pennsylvania, he was there engaged in the same occupation ten years. Two years thereafter he was variously occupied, and in July, 1862, he enlisted in the 107th N. Y. Vol. Inf., serving three years lacking 16 days. At the battle of Antietam he was shot through the ankle. Eleven months after he was transferred to the Veteran Corps, there remaining until he received honorable discharge. In August, 1865, he came to Michigan and joined his family in Hinton Tp. Shortly after he went to Isabella County, and bought 249 acres of land and homesteaded 80 acres, making a farm of 329 acres. He built a log house, and cleared 20 acres of land and resided there until 1875, when he exchanged his property for a farm in Mecosta County, containing 80 acres of partly improved land, the place being known as the David Moulton Farm. This he sold in 1880 and purchased 40 acres of land styled the George Campbell Farm, now in his possession and to which he has added 80 acres. Our subject is a Republican in political belief and action, and is a member of the Prohibition element. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace, Township Treasurer.., Highway Commissioner and was Constable while resident in Isabella County. He was married in Chemung Co., N. Y., Feb. 2, 1857, to Betsey, daughter of David and Sally (Bennett) Moulton. The father of Mrs. Cole died in Mecosta County, and the mother lives with her children. Mr. and Mrs. Cole have nine children, born as follows; Laura J., July 24, 1858; Alvina C., Jan. 18, 1861; Elijah B., Oct. 30, 1862; James H. T., Feb. 16, 1867; George E. E., June 12, 1869; Annie M., Feb. 13, 1871; Hattie B., Dec. 9, 1875; Mabel M., Aug. 14, 1877; Ernest F., April 27, 1879. The family circle is intact, and long may it be before a single early tie is sundered. |