- "Colby Phonograph", Colby, Clark Co., WI, published 29 Jan1920 Thursday evening, Jan. 22, 1920, long to be rememberedand looked back upon as one of the most enjoyable events inthe lives of Mr. and Mrs. Charles R. Cole of this city(Colby, Wis.), it being the date of the fiftiethanniversary of their marriage. A reception, planned by numerous friends of thisestimable couple, was held in Umhoefer's hall in theevening. About eight o'clock the invited guests began toarrive and within a short time nearly three hundred peoplehad assembled to help them celebrate the occasion. One of the features of the evening was the weddingceremony performed by attorney George B. Parkhill ofAbbotsford, Mr. and Mrs. John J. Grimes acting aswitnesses. After the wedding ceremony dancing was indulgedin a real merry and social good time was enjoyed by all. Afine lunch, which was served by the ladies, was also one ofthe outstanding features of the evening. As a matter offact, everyone was having such a good time that the hoursslipped by almost unnoticed until the folks from thecountry began to realize that it was almost milking time.Accordingly, a halt was called and the guests departed fortheir respective homes, declaring that it was one of thegrandest social gatherings they had ever attended andwishing Mr. and Mrs. Cole another fifty years more ofhappiness and contentment. The guests presented the couplewith $25 in gold coins as a remembrance of the occasion. Accompanying this announcement is a cut which is anexcellent likeness of Mr. and Mrs. Cole, and, as thephotograph from which it was made was taken but a few daysago, a first glance would satisfy one that they are bothenjoying good health, which is true, we are pleased to say. It is needless to add that they are among the oldest andmost respected of the remaining pioneers who played such animportant part in the history and up-building of thiscommunity. The following short sketch of incidents andexperiences during their lives will prove interesting. Charles Rodney Cole was born in the town of Milford,Defiance Co., Ohio, on October 5, 1847. His wife, whosemaiden name was Sevilla Clark Smith, was born at Southport(now Kenosha, Wis.) on Feb. 18, 1846. They were married onJan. 22, 1870, at Milford and lived there twelve years,coming to Wisconsin in April 1882, settling in the town ofWein, Marathon Co., 10 miles east and 2 miles north ofColby. The last two miles leading to their new home had tobe made on foot as there was no road, save a lonely trailthrough the woods. Owing to the lack of educationaladvantages of that section in those days, Mr. Cole soondecided to move to Colby, where he and his brother, I. K.Cole, who had just a short time before came from Brewster,Minn., went to work together doing carpenter work. In the month of Sept. 1882, Mr. and Mrs. Colepurchased of L. D. Reynolds a house and two acres of landwhere now stands the residence of Frank Sill and GustFranz. In May 1898 they sold to W. D. Bartell and boughtthe Bunnell farm two miles south of Colby, where they livedduring the following nineteen years, until they tradedtheir farm to Charles Schultz for his residence in the cityan a money consideration. They made this place their homeuntil last September, when they sold the property to E. O.Witt, manager of the Colby Cheese Box Company, and thenpurchased of Herman Wiedenhoeft what is known as theCharles Friday residence on 4th Street, where they nowreside. Of the three children born to them only one survives,Mrs. Fred Hutton of this city. The others, Frances ColeCowan and Arthur M., have gone before. Those from out of town who were present at the goldenwedding were: Mr. and Mrs. Walter Cook, Unity, Mr. and Mrs.Niles Parkhill and Mr. and Mrs. George B. Parkhill,Abbotsford.
From Lois Yeomans, believed to have been published in the"Colby Phonograph." Charles Rodney Cole and Sevilla Clara Smith weremarried on January 22, 1870 at Milford (Ohio) and livedthere twelve years, coming to Wisconsin in April, 1882,settling in the town of Wein, 10 miles east and 2 milesnorth of Colby. The last two miles leading to their newhome had to be made on foot as there was no road save alonely trail through the woods. Owing to the lack ofeducational advantage of that section in those days, Mr.Cole soon decided to move to Colby where he and his brotherI. K. Cole, who had just a short time before come fromBrewster, Minn., went to work together doing carpenterwork. In the Month of September, 1882, Mr. and Mrs. Colepurchased of L. D. Reynolds a house and two acres of landwhere now stands the residence of Frank Sill and GustFranz. In May, 1898, they sold to W. D. Bartell and boughtthe Bunnell farm two miles south of Colby where they livedduring the following nineteen years until they traded theirfarm to Chas. Schultz for his residence in the city and amoney consideration. They made this place their home untillast September when they sold the property to E. O. Witt,manager of the Colby Cheese Box company, and then purchasedof Herman Wiedenhoeft what is known as the Chas. Fridayresidence on the 4th street where they now reside.
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Children |
+ | 1. Luella Diana Cole, b. 11 Nov 1870, Milford Twp., Defiance Co., OH, USA , d. 21 Dec 1953, Colby, Clark Co., WI, USA (Age 83 years) |
+ | 2. Francis Belle Cole, b. 27 Sep 1872, Milford Twp., Defiance Co., OH, USA , d. 7 Feb 1905, Battle Creek, Calhoun Co., MI, USA (Age 32 years) |
+ | 3. Arthur M. Cole, b. 5 Mar 1874, Milford Twp., Defiance Co., OH, USA , d. 21 Mar 1914, Hull (Hull's Crossing), Sheboygan Co., WI, USA (Age 40 years) |
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