BIOGRAPHY OF CAPTAIN CAIUS MARICUS COLE

Includes some history about Caius' Father (Sardis), Grandfather (Asa), and
Great-Grandfather (John). 
Also information about Caius' 4th Great-Grandfather, Hugh Cole

History of Washington County, Ohio 1788-1881
By H. Z. Williams & Bros.
Pgs. 488-490

CAPTAIN CAIUS MARCIUS COLE
The earliest account we have of the Cole family of which the subject of this
sketch is a representative, shows that in the past century three brothers,
Englishmen, settled on Long Island. They were attacked by Indians and fled
to save their lives, one of them being killed by the pursuing Savages. The
two who was spared did not return to the dangerous locality they had
originally chose for a home but settled in New York State upon the Hudson
river. John Cole was the son of one of these brothers. His son Asa was the
father of Sardis, who was the father of Captain Cole of Harmar.
(NOTE BY DEBBIE NOLAND NITSCHE: The information above is not totally
correct. See my notes below for the CORRECT information about this.)

Sardis Cole was born upon the Hoosac river, January 26, 1795. In 1799 his
parents emigrated to the western frontier and locating at Wheeling,
Virginia, were for two years or thereabouts residents of the historical old
block-house at that place. The father, Asa, was during this period engaged
in packing salt from the Atlantic seaboard over the mountains to Wheeling
for Zane, the founder of the settlement. In the spring of 1801 the family
became settlers on Indian Wheeling creek within the present limits of
Belmont county, Ohio, and in 1806 they removed to Warren township,
Washington county, where the father pursued the avocations of farming and
keel-boating for a number of years. He finally returned to Belmont count,
where he died. John Cole, the father of Asa, also settled in Warren township
in 1806, and kept the tavern at the roadside on the river bank known as 'the
Half Way house," because about equidistant from Marietta and Belpre. Here he
entertained the wayfarer and the stranger, and as was the universal custom
in this time set forth the "gigger" of whisky to his guest, until he passed
away at the ripe age of ninety-five year, about 1817.

His [John's] grandson, the young Sardis Cole, who was eleven years of age
when the family came into Washington county, upon coming of sufficient age
to care for himself, entered the then very common, popular and then
lucrative occupation of keel-boating. He made trips up the Ohio to
Pittsburgh and as far down generally as Cincinnati, and also engaged in the
navigation of the Big Kanawha, plying between the salt works on that stream
and the best markets on the Ohio. He finally located on the Kanawha, engaged
in salt manufacture, and remained there until 1827 having a full experience
of that peculiar phase of pioneer life. On leaving the Kanawha salt works
Mr. Cole located at Briscoe run in Wood county, Virginia, five miles below
Marietta, a locality settled principally by Germans and a place of
considerable note on the river, though seemingly without cause. Briscoe Run
post office was established in 1838 and Mr. Cole was commissioned at the
first postmaster, and held the office as long as he lived. By occupation he
was a cooper, but he combined with his trade several other kinds of
employment such as there was need for in the little community where he
dwelt. He is described as a very clever, social man, and on who, despite the
rough surroundings amid which his early life was passed as a keel-boatman
and a resident of the isolated salt-making colony on the Kanawha, he was not
only noted for his strict integrity but for a correctness of deportment and
a freedom from the small vices and careless habits of life which it might
naturally be supposed he would possess. He died in the spring of 1871,
having passed through the allotted three score years and ten, loved and
respected by all who knew him. Sardis Cole married, in 1817, Mary Uhl, of
Briscoe Run, who died at the age of sixty-one years, in 1858.

They resided for a few years after their marriage in Warren township,
Washington county, in the immediate neighborhood of Ephraim Cutler's
homestead, and it was there that their second child, the subject of this
sketch, was born, January 6, 1821. A sister, older, Jane Ann (Webb) and a
brother younger, Arius Nye, are now living at Briscoe Run.

Caius Marcus Cole was in his seventh year when his parents removed to the
little village which was to be their permanent home. When he was about
eleven years old his father began the business of keeping a wood yard for
the steamers plying up and down the river. He made some money at this
business and invested most of it in land, the sterile, rough, rocky bank
along the Ohio, valuable for little else than it's stone and the timber it
bore. The business of wood steamers increased, and Briscoe Run became a
favorite station among the river men. Before the subject of out sketch was
twenty-one his father had practically turned over his business to him, and
its prosperity was not abated under his management. He had become well
aquainted with nearly all of the captains or pilots on the river, and was
much liked by them. He slipped off occasionally upon boating trips 'learned
the river" easily, and at thirty years of age was a skillful pilot, (though
he was never licensed to act regularly in that capacity until 1862.) It was
natural that he should have a fondness for the water, and that he should
take to it to gain a livelihood, for many of the Cole family before him had
been watermen. Nevertheless, his whole attention was not given to river
navigation. He became a jobber, and for years did a large business in
furnishing, from his own land at Briscoe Run, building stone, to be used in
Parkersburgh and Marietta. Among other extensive works, he built the fine
landing at Marietta. Among other extensive works, he built the fine landing
at Marietta.

Stone quarrying and boating were alternately or jointly his occupation.
Since 1866 he has been a government contractor, and during a period of
fourteen years has completed twenty-five contracts, of from five to
twenty-five thousand dollars each, and he has now on hand two contracts on
the Ohio, which amount to one hundred thousand dollars. The scene of the
work is eighteen miles above the mouth of the river. Large dykes are there
being constructed for the improvement of what is known to river men at the
'grand chain," by turning the current from some very dangerous rocks to the
smooth side of the bed. These dykes are to be each three thousand feet in
length, and eight feet above low water. Mr. Cole's contracts have been both
for construction and improvement of navigation through the removal of
obstructions, such as snags, wrecks and rocks. This work, whether of one
kind or the other, has always been done thoroughly, conscientiously, and to
the complete satisfaction of the Government, and has made him an enviable
reputation as a contractor. While the promptness and reliability which
characterize the captain in his business affairs, have won for him the
confidence of the government officials on the one hand, and the
sub-contractors, furnishers of material and employees, upon the other, his
strict probity of character has made him universally respected by those who
know him simply as the man.

He has been uncompromising in his devotion to principle, even when, by
violating the rigid dictates of conscience, he might very largely have
advanced his own monetary interest. As an example of his strictness in this
respect, we may state that he does not believe it right to do any work upon
Sunday, and when that day comes his boats and men must lie still. Even
should he be journeying down the river to engage in the prosecution of some
large and important work, the boat must be tied up at the shore before the
last house of Saturday night are gone, and the line not loosed until Monday
morning. As it would be impossible to carry out so literal and rigid a
Sunday law in the passenger traffic, the captain has always refused to enter
into that branch of business, and for the same reason would not become the
owner of the Marietta and Williamstown ferry. Something of the same
inflexibility of principle is shown in his attitude upon temperance.

He is himself a total abstinence man, and he will not employ men who are
addicted to the drink habit, even though their indulgence might be only what
would ordinarily be termed moderate drinking. It is probable that the
influence of his example and counsel has done much good upon the river in
his matter. Captain Cole became in early years a member of the Methodist
Episcopal church. For the past eight years he has resided in Harmar, and
during the greater portion of that term has been connected with the First
Congregational church, of which he is now a deacon.

Captain Cole had the misfortune of losing his life companion and help mate
upon the twelfth of November, 1880. She was a lady of most rare and
estimable qualities, and her death was a sad loss to her husband and
children. Her maiden name was Nancy Scott, who came from the vicinity of
Wheeling, West Virginia to Warren township, Washington county in 1839. She
was born in the eleventh of December, 1815, and was consequently nearly
sixty-five years of age when she died. Her marriage to Captain Cole took
place in 1842. Eight children blessed their union. Nancy, the eldest, born
November 20, 1842, married Leonard H. Robbins, and is now living in Lincoln,
Nebraska; John Sardis, born December 31, 1843, was one of the many
thousands of his generation who fell as victims to the civil war. He
enlisted in the eleventh regiment, Virginia infantry, and was killed March
30, 1865, at Fort Baldwin on Hatchers run, re-named by the Federals Fort
Harris, and his remains line in the soldier's burial ground at Petersburgh;
the third child and second son, C. Mark, born January 2, 1846, lives in
Warren township; Mary Ann, born November 6, 1847, married Thomas Tyrrell,
and now resides in Nebraska; James Franklin, born June 16, 1849, and Amanda
Jane, born December 27, 1850, are in Harmar; Horace Dryden, born May 4,
1853, is a resident of Lincoln, Nebraska; and Charles Arthur, born December
20, 1857, is a citizen of Harmar.


Extracted by Debbie Noland Nitsche
Diamonddeb2comcast.net
November 2005


NOTES CONCERING THE FIRST PARAGRAPH:
It reads in the 1st paragraph of this biography that John Cole was the son
of one of these brothers. This is not correct. John Cole was the GRANDSON
of one of the 3 brothers. This all took place during King Philips War, in
June of 1675. with Hugh Cole, who was the Great-Grandfather of John Cole,
and the 4th Gr. Grandfather of Caius Cole.

Chronological order of desendancy from Hugh Cole to Caius Marcius Cole:
Hugh Cole and Mary Foxwell
John Cole and Susannah Gray (One of the 3 brothers. John Cole's Grandfather)
John Cole and Abigail Butts
John Cole and Mercy Wood
Asa Cole and Susannah Cole
Sardis Cole and Mary Uhl
Caius Cole and Nancy Scott

The below information is written is many history books about Plymouth, MA
and King Philips War, including Hugh Cole's friendship with King Philip and
what happened when his son's were taken by the Indians. I will give some
information from Salvage's History and from Ernest Byron Cole's book below
about HUGH COLE:

A Genealogical Dictionary of The First Settlers of New England, Before 1692
By James Savage
Volume #1, Pgs 416 - 429
    COLE, HUGH, Plymouth 1653, shipwright, perhaps s. of James the first,
rem. to Swanzey, m. 8 Jan. 1655, Mary, d. of Richard Foxwell of Scituate,
had James, b. 3, or (by ano. page on the same Col. Rec.) 8, Nov. 1655;
[[vol. 1, p. 427]] Hugh, 8, or 15, Mar. 1658; John, 15 May 1660;
Martha, 16 Apr. 1662; Ann, 14 Oct. 1664; Ruth, 8, or 17, Jan. 1666; and
Joseph, 15 May 1668, was rep. 1673, 80, 3-6.
     He had sec. w. Elizabeth wid. of Jacob Cook, m. 1 Jan. 1689, of wh. he
was third h. and in 1698 took third w. the wid. Mary Morton. ISAAC,
Charlestown, came from Sandwich, Co. Kent, 1633, in the Hercules, with w.
Joanna, and two ch. and h. and w. join. the ch. in Sept. 1638, had, here,
Abraham, b. 3 Oct. 1636, bapt. Sept. 1638; Isaac, 1637 Mary, bapt. 20 Jan.
1639; Jacob, 16, bapt. 18 July 1641; and Elizabeth b. 26 Sept. 1643. He
was adm. freem. 14 Mar. 1639, and d. 10 June 1674.
================================================

"The descendants of James Cole of Plymouth 1633" Written by Ernest Byron
Cole., New York: Grafton Press, 1908"

     HUGH COLE was the 2nd son of James Cole. He was born in London,
England, 1627; he came with his father to Plymouth, Mass, in 1633, and was
admitted as a freeman of Plymouth in 1657. He m. 1. Jan. 8, 1654, Mary
Foxwell, d/o Richard and Ann (Shelly) Foxwell of Barnstable Mass. She was
b. in Scituate, Aug. 17, 1635, and died in Swansea, Mass. (Her father,
Richard Foxwell came from England with Governor Winthrop in 1631, and the
same year removed to Scituate and was admitted as freeman. He removed to
Barnstable, and was a member of the Barnstable Milita in 1643.) He m. 2.
Elizabeth, widow of Jacob Cook, former widow of William Shurtiffe, and d/o
Thomas and Ann Lettuce of Plymouth. She died in Swansea, Mass., on Oct. 31,
1693. He m. 3. January 30, 1694, Mary, widow of Deacon Ephraim Morton,
former widow of William Harlow, and d/o Robert and Judith Shelly, a cousin
of his first wife.
     The following appears upon the Plymouth records: "Apl 8, 1634. It was
agreed with James Cole that his son Hugh shall keep the Cowes from Aprl. 15
to November, and shall have for his pay fifty bushels of corn. He shall
bring them up every morning to be milked and then carry back to feed and
bring them home at night."
     He was made surveyor of highways at Barnstable, and granted 100 acres
of land at Acushauett. In 1669 with others he purchased of King Phillip 500
acres of land on the west bank of what was named for him Coles River. He
was a shipwright and civil engineer, and many of the tracts of land of
Swansea were surveyed by him. He was a selectman of Swansea for many years,
and was representative and deputy to the general court in the years, 1773,
'74, '75, '80, ''83, '84, '85, '86, 'and '89. He was for years the friend of
King Phillip, the Indian Chief. Having been requested by the Plymouth
Colony Council to visit King Phillip and report the conditions made the
following report:

"Swansea, Apl. 1, 1671. Most Honorable Sirs:--Yours I received this day
whereby I perceive you desire to know that posture the Indians are in. I do
not find them to continue in a posture of war as they have been. I went to
Mount Home last second day on purpose to see their porceedings and was in
many of their houses, but saw notheing as intending to war. But asking them
of their reason of continuing together at Mt. Hope, they answered, it was to
see Phillip's child buried, and I have seen some return, but the greater
part of them are together. And they gave as the reason, because the wind
does so blow against them that they cannot go home with their canoes--not
else. Rest assured I am yours to command what I am able. "HUGH COLE"

"Oct. 27, 1669"
     Hugh Cole was granted 50 acres of land lying between Manneonest Point
and the Salt March with all the appurtenances thereunto belonging, unto him
and his heirs forever. (pg. 149, vol. 3, Plymouth Records.) He was granted
by the court respecting his father's grant, he being an ancient freemen.
Six score acres of land between the Mattapoiset River and the bounds of
Acushassett.
     In June, 1675, at the commencement of the war with King Phillip, two of
Hugh Cole's sons were made prisoners by the Indians and taken to Phillip at
Mount Hope. Phillip ordered them set at liberty, because, as he said, Hugh
Cole had always been his friend. He sent word to Hugh that he would no
longer restrain his warriors, and for him to take his family and immediately
remove to Rhode Island. This he did, and one hour afterward his home was in
flames. While he had been on such friendly terms with Phillip, his was the
first house burned, and Gershom Cole was the first person killed. After
leaving his home, Hugh Cole located at Portsmouth, R.I. The town records of
Portsmouth show that, Oct. 12, 1675, Hugh Cole was granted liberty to use
some of the windfalls that are down to build a small frame, and to make
wheels for the use of the townsmen for thier money.
     Savage says: "Hugh was a sergeant in the war against King Phillip." 
After the war in his election as representative he is always spoken of as 
sergeant. After the close of the war, 1677, he retured to Swansea and built
a house a few rods from where Miss Abby Cole now lives. The well walled by 
him on the bank of the Kickemuit River is still there. This part of the 
land has descended by will, no deed having been made for it; it has never 
passed out of possession of the Cole family and is now owned by Miss Abby 
Cole. Part of the land owned by him in Swansea is now a part of Warren, R.I.
     He died in Swansea, Jan. 22, 1699, and was buried in the southern
extream of Meadow Neck, now known as Howland Meadow in Barrington, in what
is known at the Tyler Point Cemetery. He had ten children, the first seven
were born in Plymouth, the other three in Swansea.