COLE, James Washington - Putnam

Illustrated 1910: B. F. Bowen & Company, Publishers Indianapolis, Indiana Author: Jesse W. Weik

Page: 607

This name recalls an honored and venerable citizen who in his active years was known throughout the state. At the time of his death he was one of the oldest native-born Indianans and few men used so long a life to so good a purpose. James Washington Cole was born in Dearborn County, Indiana, February 2. 1820, the eldest son of Solomon and Sarah (Remy) Cole, the former born in Maryland, near Philadelphia August 11, 1784, and the latter born near Winchester Virginia, January 1797. Their marriage occurred  April 29, 1819 in Indiana, to which state they came about the time the state was admitted to the Union. The Coles were of English origin and among the earliest of those who came and conquered the forests of Indiana.

James W. Cole, the eldest of nine children, was reared to a life of toil. He came to Putnam county, Indiana, in the spring of 1863 and engaged in the pump manufacturing business. In 1865 James W., Robert S., William R. and John J. Cole organized a company, incorporated for ten years under the laws of Iowa, at Mt. Pleasant, that state, with a capital of thirty thousand dollars, for the manufacture of lightning rods and pumps. In 1875 they were able to reorganize with a paid-up capital of two hundred thousand dollars. They eventually gave up pump manufacturing.

In 1863 James W. Cole came to Putnam county, and became president of the company, which did a large and lucrative business. Mr. Cole was in many ways a notable man. He was very philanthropic and took a broad and liberal stand in favor of all movements for the social and moral uplift of the community. Full of energy, and of good business judgment, he usually pushed to success whatever he undertook. Fraternally, he was a Knight Templar Mason and an Odd Fellow. He was a Republican of very decided views and enthusiastic in supporting the party ticket, but he never sought office. He died June 5, 1907, at his home in Greencastle.

On December 24, 1853, Mr. Cole married Susan Olivia Mathers, who died March 30, 1891, without issue. September 21, 1892, Mr. Cole married Phila Olds, of Erie, Pennsylvania, a lady of distinguished ancestry. Her parents were Lewis Wilson and Louisa E. (Ackerly) Olds, the former born in East Mill Creek, Erie county, Pennsylvania, July 21, 1822, and the latter at Middletown, New York, March 11, 1826.

Lewis W. Olds was a son of Asa Gilbert Olds, a native of Alstead, New Hampshire (born November 15, 1877), and Lucy Church, a native of Winsted. Connecticut. John Church, father of Lucy Church Olds, enlisted, when eighteen years of age, in the patriot army at Saybrook, Connecticut, and was with Arnold at the siege of Quebec in 1776.

Lewis W. Olds and Louisa E. Ackerly were married May 9, 1848. To them came seven children, viz: Inez, Clark, Nettie, Phila, William C, Florence and Charlotte Marian. Mr. Olds was a man of great ingenuity and large business capacity. He was engaged in the pump manufacturing business in Erie, Pennsylvania, for many years and was one of that city's leading and influential citizens. It is claimed that he was the first man in the United States, if not in the world, to reduce the old log pump to an article of commerce. He died June 25, 1908.

Mrs. Cole, the fourth of the children, was born at Erie, Pennsylvania, and is a graduate of the high school of that city. She was regent of Washburn Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, for four years, and is a member of the Century Club, of which she was also president for one year. She is a member of the Episcopalian church. One child, James Gilbert, born September 20, 1894, is now in school.