Stephen Adolphus Cole
8 Jun 1836 - 25 Nov 1911
 
Vitals

Stephen A. Cole was born 8 Jun 1836 in the Territory of Detroit. He was the son of Stephen and Polly B. (Atkins) Cole. He married first Olive E. Backenstoes. They had a son, Charles (1859-).

While in Detroit he married Adelaide E. Sardeson on 13 Jan 1865. She was born 25 Mar 1840 in Lincolnshire, England, to Robert and Eleanor (Grasswell) Sardeson. They came to Montcalm county in the summer of 1879. In the 1880 census Addie and the six children are in Grand Ledge, Eaton County, MI, without Stephen.

They had these children: William S. (1867-1939) husband of Laura Fry; Albert/Bertie Steven (1868-1945) husband of Orinda Evenson; Nellie B. (1870-1933) wife of Richard James Loughin; George Frederick (1871-1939) husband of Elizabeth R. Sexton; Homer Alvin (1873-1935) husband of Lucinda B. Depew and Sadie Sexton; and Stephen Asa (1874-1925) husband to Carrie Washburn.

Adelade E. Cole died 10 Mar 1895 in Montcalm County and she is also buried in Hillcrest Cemetery.

On the first of January 1896, Stephen was married to Nancy (Boyer) Stevens in Roxand Township, Eaton County, MI. She was born in Michigan, 2 Apr 1837 and died 7 Jun 1916. She was the daughter of Joseph Boyer and Nancy Shell. She is buried with her first husband, Dwight Stevens, in Meadowbrook Cemetery, Eaton County, MI.

Mr. Cole was a shipbuilder before entering the service. He was also known to be a carpenter and artificer. He has held the office of Highway Commisioner in Belvidere and Holmes townships.

Stephen died of pneumonia in 1911.
Service Stephen enlisted at the age of 25 years on 22 Oct 1861 as a private in Company I, 1st Michigan Engineers and Mechanics Independent Company. In August of 1862 he was badly injured at Cowen Stantion by a bridge falling on him. He was sent to the hospital at Nashville, TN, transferred to Louisville, KY, and then to Camp Dennison, OH. In all he spent 9 months away from his command. Cole was the only man of his regiment who fought at Pittsburg Landing, having been for a time detailed to silence a sharpshooter. Several times he was detailed to dangerous duty and was engaged in the battles of Stone River, Lavergne and Siege of Corinth. He was given an honorable discharge 21 Oct 1863 at Camp Dennison, OH. He was pensioned.
GAR J. W. Doxie Post #441
Siblings Three brothers were in the army. Harmon was in Company A, 5th MI Volunteer Infantry. George W. and Shadrach were in the 1st MI Cavalry. George was shot through the body at the Wilderness, but survived.
Records 1850 Census Springwells Township, Wayne County, MI  
  1860 Census Springwells Township, Wayne County, MI Capenter, with wife Olive E. and Charles
  1870 Census Bloomfield Township, Oakland County, MI with Adelaide and 3 children
  1880 Census    
  1884 MI Census    
  1890 Veteran Census Belvidere Township, Montcalm County, MI Six Lakes, 3 hernias
  1894 MI Census Belvidere Township, Montcalm County, MI  
  1900 Census Belvidere Township, Montcalm County, MI  
  1910 Census Grand Ledge, Eaton County, MI with Nancy and grandson Stephen Jr.
Obit  
Death
Burial Hillcrest Cemetery
Six Lakes, Montcalm County, MI
Find A Grave #43385081
  Some biographical information from Presidents, Soldiers, Statesmen Vol II, 1892.
contributed by Paula Johnson