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Frank Cole July 1, 1837- April 6, 1917
My biggest and longest standing brick wall is my Cole family. My gggrandfather, Benjamin Franklin Cole (he always went by Frank) truely seems to have been brought by the stork! I have not been able to find parents or siblings for him.
Frank was born July 1, 1837 somewhere in Penna. His obit says he was born in Huntingdon County but I have done enough searching there to be fairly sure that is incorrect.
Family story has that he ran away from home and his obit says "His younger days were spent in the "Wild West" where he saw service as a mail carrier for several years". and another obit says "Deceased went west as a young man and drove overland stage on the old Santa Fe trail from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas to the Pacific coast". The Santa Fe trail didn't go to the Pacific coast so that much is inaccurate. There was also the family story that he rode for the pony express.
I did find a Frank Cole on a 1859 Kansas state census living in the County of Leavenworth, township of Delaware but there isn't enough information to tell if this is "my" Frank Cole. I found Frank on the 1860 census for Independence, Jackson County, Missouri. He was living with 8 other men in their 20's in what I assume was a boarding house headed by E A Cox and his family. Frank was listed as a mail conducter and two of the other men were stage drivers.
I also found a Frank Cole that joined the Union army in Missouri in 1861 but again I haven't found enough information to know if it's my ancester.
His obit did say he returned east after the civil war and married, Jan. 1865 to Miss Harriet Giles of Johnstown, Cambria County. That's back again in Pa. However, I don't believe they got married in Johnstown because Frank was not listed on the yearly tax rolls for that county anywhere around those years.
Even if I found where they got married, I may not find any records. I'm sure they wouldn't have gotten married in a church because Harriet was Catholic and Frank was not.
After I first found them in Tyrone, Blair County on the 1870 census (with their name spelled Coal) and on the tax rolls from 1868- 1873 for there, I was able to follow them around central Pa.most of the time after that.
Harriet died in Jan. 1888 after she and Frank had had 13 children, 10 of which lived to adulthood. That was before county death records were kept so I only have her tombstone and Frank's obit. that records her death.
Frank died April 16, 1917 at the home of his daughter, in Clearfield, Pa. I have his death certificate and two obits but there is no mention of parents or siblings. And though Harriet died so much earlier than Frank, he never remarried.
Frank was born July 1, 1837 somewhere in Penna. His obit says he was born in Huntingdon County but I have done enough searching there to be fairly sure that is incorrect.
Family story has that he ran away from home and his obit says "His younger days were spent in the "Wild West" where he saw service as a mail carrier for several years". and another obit says "Deceased went west as a young man and drove overland stage on the old Santa Fe trail from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas to the Pacific coast". The Santa Fe trail didn't go to the Pacific coast so that much is inaccurate. There was also the family story that he rode for the pony express.
I did find a Frank Cole on a 1859 Kansas state census living in the County of Leavenworth, township of Delaware but there isn't enough information to tell if this is "my" Frank Cole. I found Frank on the 1860 census for Independence, Jackson County, Missouri. He was living with 8 other men in their 20's in what I assume was a boarding house headed by E A Cox and his family. Frank was listed as a mail conducter and two of the other men were stage drivers.
I also found a Frank Cole that joined the Union army in Missouri in 1861 but again I haven't found enough information to know if it's my ancester.
His obit did say he returned east after the civil war and married, Jan. 1865 to Miss Harriet Giles of Johnstown, Cambria County. That's back again in Pa. However, I don't believe they got married in Johnstown because Frank was not listed on the yearly tax rolls for that county anywhere around those years.
Even if I found where they got married, I may not find any records. I'm sure they wouldn't have gotten married in a church because Harriet was Catholic and Frank was not.
After I first found them in Tyrone, Blair County on the 1870 census (with their name spelled Coal) and on the tax rolls from 1868- 1873 for there, I was able to follow them around central Pa.most of the time after that.
Harriet died in Jan. 1888 after she and Frank had had 13 children, 10 of which lived to adulthood. That was before county death records were kept so I only have her tombstone and Frank's obit. that records her death.
Frank died April 16, 1917 at the home of his daughter, in Clearfield, Pa. I have his death certificate and two obits but there is no mention of parents or siblings. And though Harriet died so much earlier than Frank, he never remarried.
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Permalink Reply by Lydia McVay on
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I had not thought of looking at the FHL records for Muskogee which is embarrassing since I volunteer once a week in the local family History Center. When I go in on Wed. I'll take a look and order some film. I do have obituaries for all the brothers and sisters and I wanted to put them on my ancestry.com tree but it said the notes couldn't be seen by anyone so it didn't seem worthwhile to put them on there. I need to find out how you post that kind of information. Ancestry has changed their site and I haven't done much with it lately and don't know how to navigate around it.
I have not found a probate file for Paul. I have been thinking of making a trip to Pittsburgh to do some research. that's my biggest problem with doing Pa. research. I don't live there. Though most of my family still lives there so I try to do research during family visits. -
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That is me on WeRelate. I didn't even know they were still up and running. I should go back and see what I have there.
I can post the obits on here. Where do I post them? Should I put them here in a reply or on my home page or some other way all together? -
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When I tried to upload the file it was going to upload my whole family History program. So I'm going to just cut and paste the old fashioned way!!
Oh and I don't know how to do permalinks. I'm not very computor savvy. I'll do a permalink to the Cole family site after you explain how. -
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obituaries for Benjamin Franklin Cole:
1917 obituary:
Benjamin Franklin Cole died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. L. E. Rowles of Ogden Ave. Friday, April 6, 1917, after a lingering illness. He was born in Huntingdon County July 1, 1838. His younger days were spent in the "Wild West" where he saw service as a mail carrier for several years. He returned east after the Civil War and was married Jan. 16, 1865 to Miss Harriet Giles of Johnstown, Cambria County. They resided in Tyrone until the early '70's when he moved to Clearfield. He has been a good citizen and a kind neighbor since then until his death. His wife passed away in January of 1888.
He is survived by the following sons and daughters: Mrs. Gertrude Rowles, Mrs. Harriet Poole and B Frank of Clearfield; Burton, William M., and Charles of Pittsburgh; Clarence and Malcolm of Chicago, Ill. and Paul and Guy, location unknown.
The funeral took place at the residence of his daughter Mrs. Rowles, Monday at 10 A.M. The services were conducted by Rev. Allenbach. Internment at Hillcrest.
1917, Friday April 13 obituray from the Clearfield Republican:
Benjamin Franklin Cole died at his home on Ogden Avenue Driday, April 6th aged 73 years. He had been failing for several months.
Deceased was a native of Pennsylvania, went west when a young man and drove overland stage on the old Santa Fe trail from Fort Leavenworth, Kansas to the Pacific coast. He came back east in the sixties and married. He came to Clearfield with the extension of the Pennsylvania railroad to Curwensville in 1873, and has resided here ever since. He was a hard working, quiet, upright citizen of excellent character and much respected in the community. His wife died thirty years ago. They had ten children of whom Frank JR, the oldest, Mrs. Gertrude Rowles, and Mrs. Isaac Poole, JR, reside in Clearfield; William the second son is a member of the Pittsburgh fire department. The other boys are Burton and Charles of Pittsburgh, Clarence and Malcolm of Chicago, Ill; Paul and Guy, location unknown.
The funeral took place from his late residence Monday afternoon. Rev. Allenbach conducted the services.
From a letter from St. John Luthern Church: "I did indeed find record that Benjamin Franklin Cole died on April 6, 1917, and that Rev. Allenbach officiated at his funeral on April 9, 1917. I can find no record of his being a member, of communion records, or of his wife Harriet Cole. I found no other Cole members listed at all." (His daughter was Gertrude Rowles which is why no Coles were found) -
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Looked through the 1861- 1867 tax books in Johnston for Frank Cole and there was no record. There wasn't a record of their marriage in the 1865, Jan. Johnstown Tribune. Didn't get a chance to check the Johnstown Democrat.
1867, July 7 Mollie Cole was baptized at St. Matthew Roman Catholic Church in Tyrone, Blair County, Pa.
1868- 1873 tax rolls for Tyrone Borough, Blair County at the Blair County Genealogical Society in Hollidaysburg: Cole, Frank occ.- Saloon keeper for years 1868- 1872, in 1873 saloon keeper is crossed out and teamster is written in. ( in 1868 there is also a Cole, W. H. crossed out who is a saloon keeper) Frank's worth is 100 and his taxes are .70 for 1868 and 1869 then it is 75 with taxes of .53 for 1870 to 1872 and in 1873 it is 75 for Frank and 80 for 2 horses and taxes are .93. Frank is not on the 1874 tax rolls.
1868, September 12, In the records from the Grandview Cemetery;
Cole, Molly, lived in Tyrone. Interred on 09/12/1868. Age 2 yrs 9 mo. Parents: D/O Cole, Frank and Harriet. cause of death: brain fever
1870 Federal census, Tyrone Borough, Blair County, Pa.: Coal, Franklin (31/ saloon keeper), Mary (19), Franklin (2), and William (11/12)
1872, Dec. 14 Frank, William, and Charles are baptized at St. Matthew Roman Catholic Church in Tyrone, Blair County, Pa.
1877- 1879 Frank Cole is listed on the tax rolls for Lawrence township, Clearfield County as a miner and in 1878 he has 1 cow. In 1879 he is crossed out.
1880 Federal census, Pike township (in or near Curwensville) enumeration district 261 in Clearfield County, Pa. on pages 11 and 12. There was Frank, 41 and a coal miner; Harriet, 30 and keeping house; Frank- 12; William- 10; Charles- 8; Eggbert- 6 with a check mark under crippled, etc; Paul- 4; Guy- 2 and Gertrude- 6/12 and it looks like Dec in column 'if born within the year'.
1881 & 1882 Frank was on the tax rolls in Pike Township ( in and around Curwensville), Clearfield County, he's a miner and in 1882 he has one horse and his occupation is coal digger.
1883 tax rolls in Pike township, Frank is crossed off and it is written in that he has moved away.
1883- 1884 Frank shows up on Lawrence township, Clearfield County tax rolls as a miner with 2 horses and one cow. There is also a John H Cole that shows up for the first time with a lot and house and he's a laborer.
1884, July 3 at Hillcrest Cemetery, Frank bought lot 18, sec. 9 from George N. Colborn (who is buried next to Frank) for $20. Deed No. 34 size 11 1/2 X 16, Grave No. 1 Cole, Mollie Age 3/ grave No. 2 Cole, Claudie age 5/ grave no. 3 Cole, Leo age 6/ grave no. 4 Cole, Harriet/ grave no. 5 Cole, B. F.
1885- 1891 Cole, Frank is listed on the Lawrence township, Clearfield County tax rolls as a farmer with varying amounts of horses, cows, 2 male dogs.
1888, Jan. Harriet Giles Cole died
1892- 1893 Cole Frank becomes Sr. as a farmer with 3 horses, 3 cows, 1 male dog and 1 female dog and Cole, Frank Jr. is on the list as a miner and then crossed out in 1893
1894- 1897 Frank is listed on the Lawrence township, Clearfield County tax rolls as a farmer
1898 Frank is listed on the Lawrence township, Clearfield County tax rolls but there is nothing assessed.
1899 Frank is listed on the Lawrence township, Clearfield County tax rolls as a Farmer but no animals are listed or assessed.
1900 federal census in Clearfield, Clearfield County, Pa. Ward 2 roll # 1396: Frank Cole is living at 733 Fourth St. He is head of household (and living alone). His date of birth is July 1837 and he was 62 at his last birthday (the census was done June 22). He is a widower and his occupation is coal miner. His residence is owned/ mortgaged/ and he has a house.
1900 tax rolls for the 2nd ward of Clearfield borough, Frank has a lot
1901 tax rolls for the 2nd ward of Clearfield borough, Frank sold his lot to G L Reed.
1902 and 1903 Frank is not on the tax rolls for the 2nd ward of Clearfield borough.
1904 Frank is on the tax rolls for the 2nd ward of Clearfield Borough with a house and a lot.
1905 & 1906 Frank and Frank Jr., are both on the tax rolls for 2nd ward of Clearfield borough. both are miners and both have a lot and house.
1905, Dec. 27 deed recorded in the Clearfield county courthouse B. F. Cole is buying lot 27 of the Betts addition to the borough of Clearfield from Margaret J. Betts, the widow, and other Hiers of W. W. Betts.
1910 Federal Census for borough of Clearfield, Clearfield County, Pa.: Frank, 72 is living on Ogden Ave and Egbert, 32 is living with him. They are both coal miners.
1915, Aug. 15 Deed recorded in the Clearfield County courthouse book 215/ pg 598, Benjamin F Cole of the borough of Clearfield is selling lot 56 of the Betts addition to the borough of Clearfield for $1 to his daughter, Gertrude Rowles.
1917, April 6 death certificate from the Pennsylvania division of Vital records- Clearfield County 2nd ward
address: 518 Ogden Ave./ full name: Benjamin Franklin Cole/ date of birth: is illegible except for year- 1838 but age is 78yr 9m 7d/ occupation: coal miner/ birthplace: Huntingdon County, Pa/ father's and Mother's names and birth places are unknown/ signed by G. Rowles/ Date of death: April 6, 1917/ cause of death was carcinomia oesophigur/ signed by Ward Nelson/ buried at Hillcrest on 4/9/1917 -
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Obituary for the oldest of Frank's sons- Benjamin Franklin Cole:
1920, February 20, Friday Obituary in the Progress (Clearfield, Pa.):
RESPECTED RESIDENT DIED AT NOON
B. F. Cole died at his home on Ogden Ave. about 12:30 o'clock today, of pneumonia, following an attack of influenza.
The deceased was a son of the late B. F. Cole, Sr., and had been a resident of this community practically all his life. He lived for a few years in Patton.
He was an upright, industrious man, respected by all who knew him and had been a valued employee of the Clearfield Foundry for several years. He leaves a widow, two sons, and a daughter. His eldest son, the late Elmer Cole, died in France, where he was serving with the A. E. F.
Proper obituary and funeral notice later.
If there was a proper obituary later, I never found it. This was during the flu epidemic and the page where this obit was was full of people in the hospital and having died. the paper or his wife may have been too overwhelmed to do a proper obit.
From an interview with Irene (Cole) McVay:
"My Dad lived for a year after Elmer died. My Mother said he just grieved. That was the oldest son. He just seemed to go downhill from then on and he died of the flu. I was 15 when he died." -
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Obituary for Frank's son William:
1927, January 17 Obituary:
William Cole. a former resident of Clearfield, died at his home on Perrysville, Ave., North Side, Pittsburgh, Monday Jan. 17, 1927 aged 57 years.
The deceased, who was a son of the late Mr. & Mrs. B. F. Cole, spent his early days in Clearfield, locating in Pittsburgh about thirty years ago, where he was connected with the bureau of fire for the past 23 years. Ill health caused him to retire from active service on Nov. 1, 1926. He is a charter member of Pittsburgh Aerie, F. O. E. and was respected by all who knew him.
His widow, Mrs. Mary Evans Cole, and one son Christie, 14 years of age, survive him. He is also survived by two sisters and six brothers, as follows; Mrs. L. E. Rowles, Mrs. Isaac Poole, of Clearfield; Charles and Burton of Pittsburgh, Paul, Clarence and Malcolm of Chicago, and Guy, address unknown.
The funeral took place from the Catholic Church of the Nativity, Franklin road, at 9:00 Jan. 21. Internment in Calvary Cemetery, Pittsburgh. -
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obituary for Frank's son Charles:
1928, February 14 obituary in the Clearfield Progress, pg. 1:
Charles Cole was killed by a hit- and- run driver at Washington, Pa.
Charles Cole died in Washington, Pa. hospital Sun. morning Feb. 12, 1928 at 12:10 from injuries received when he was run down by a hit and run motorist near Washington late Saturday night. Mr. Cole was walking from Washington to the farm of R. Taylor, where he was employed, about 11:30 at night when he was injured. A bus driver found him and took him to the hospital, where he died as a result of injuries to his skull, a fractured jaw, and crushed chest.
Born in Clearfield 56 years ago, he was the son of B. F. and Harriet Cole and is survived by five children: Clarence, Frank, Christy, and Virginia all of McKees Rocks, and Alice of Cleveland, six brothers and sisters also survive: Burton of Pittsburgh, Paul and Malcolm of Chicago, Clarence of Richmond, Virginia, and Mrs. L. E. Rowles and Mrs. Isaac Poole of Clearfield.
Remains will be brought to Clearfield this evening on the 6:45 train and taken to the Rowles home on Ogden Ave. Funeral services at the home Wed. afternoon at 2:00 in charge of Rev. Roy Hauser of the Luthern Church. Internment will be a Hillcrest. -
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Obituary for Frank's son Egbert (Burton):
1961, Oct. 6, Friday obituary in the Clearfield Progress:
PITTSBURGH - Burton Cole of 5611 Keefe St., Lincoln Place, Pittsburgh, died at his home Wednesday. He was a former resident of Clearfield.
Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Della Cole of Pittsburgh; three daughters and one son; Miss Helen at home- Mrs Lorraine Carr, Akron Ohio; Mrs Beulah Murphy, Hazelwood; Arnold Cole, Pittsburgh; two grandchildren, two great-grandchildren, and one brother, Malcolm Cole of Chicago, Ill.
Funeral services will be held Saturday morning at 9 o'clock from the Howard J. Skelton /Funeral Home, 1222 Muldowney Ave., Lincoln Place, Pittsburgh.
Internment will be in the Owens cemetery at Clearfield Saturday at approximately 12:45 p. m. -
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Obituary for Frank's son Paul:
1939, May 15 obituary in the Clearfield Progress, Clearfield, Pa.:
Paul Cole, Formerly of Clearfield, died from an illness lasting only a few days, in the Allegheny General Hospital, Pittsburgh, Sunday, May 14 at 11:20 a. m.
Born July 1, 1877, he spent the early years of his life in Clearfield. For several years, he served as an iron workeron various construction projects throughout South and Central America. He made his home in Pittsburgh during the last four years.
He is survived by the following sisters and brothers, his wife having passed away several years ago: Mrs Isaac Poole and Mrs L. E. Rowles, both of Clearfield; Bert of Pittsburgh; Clarence of Hammond, Ind.; and Malcolm of Chicago, Ill.
He will be brought by train from Pittsburgh on Tuesday, May 16, to the home of his sister, Mrs. Isaac Pool of 501 West Front street.
Funeral services will be conducted by the Rev. R. A. Zimmerman at the Pool home on Tuesday at 4:00 p. m. Internment wll by made in Hillcrest Cemetery -
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Obituary for Frank's daughter Gertrude Rowles:
1959, May 13, Wednesday obituary in the Progress:
Mrs. Gertrude Rowles
Grove city- Mrs. Rowles, 78, former resident of Clearfield, and more recently of Grove City, died Tuesday afternoon at 3:40 following a brief illness, May 12, 1959.
Mrs. Rowles was born in Clearfield County, Dec. 3, 1880, a daughter of the late Mr. and Mrs. Franklin cole. She was married to Lorrin Rowles who preceeded her in death in August of 1937.
Mrs. Rowles was a member of the St. John's Luthern Church of Clearfield. She is survivied by two daughters, Mrs. Esther Read of Tallmadge, Ohio and Mrs. Evelyn Fare, Philadelphia. Two grandchildren and eight great grandchildren also survive as does a brother.
Funeral services will be held from the Leavy Funeral Home Friday morning at 10:30 o'clock with the Rev. E. Roy Hauser, D.D. and the Rev. Vernon Miller officiating. Burial will be in the Hillcrest Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home Thursday afternoon and evening and until the hour of service Friday. -
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Obituary for Frank's son Clarence:
1940, Nov. 4, Monday Obituary in the Clearfield Progress
Clarence Cole, former Clearfield resident, died in St. Catherine Hospital, East Chicago, Ind. Saturday evening. He was 56 years, eight months, and 21 days old.
The body will arrive in Clearfield Tuesday morning at 10:45 and will be taken to the home of his sister, Mrs. Isaac Poole on W. Front St. where services will be held at 3 PM.
Surviving are three daughters, Mrs. Sarah Jacobs of Pittsburgh; Mrs. Harriet Neff of New York and Lelia at home. Two sister and two brothers, Mrs. Gertrude Rowles and Mrs. Harriet Poole of Clearfield, Bert of Pittsburgh, and Malcolm of Chicago, Ill. also survice. Internment will be made in Hillcrest Cemetary. -
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