---

Thomas Cole, Sen., was born in Baltimore County, Maryland, March 20, 1796.  His grandfather, Aquilla Cole, came from England and settled near Baltimore about 1760.  After the close of the Revolutionary War, when the lands of Kentucky came into market, he started on a journey to that region with the intention of purchasing a large tract of land and finally locating there.  On his way through Ohio, while traveling along "Zane's Trace", from Wheeling to the present site of Zanesville, in crossing the main stream of Willis Creek, his horse became entangled in drift wood, the stream being full and deep, and he was drowned.  His traveling comrades all escaped and recovered and buried his remains near where he met his melancholy death.  

His estate, under the old English law fell to his oldest son.  His sons were Thomas, Elijah, Aquilla, Salathiel, Myeagy [sic.] and Stephen.  They all removed to Kentucky but Thomas and Stephen.  Thomas finally located in Washington County, Pa., while Stephen removed to Fairfield County, Ohio, about the year 1809.  

Stephen was twice married in Maryland, prior to his removal.  He died in Fairfield County, leaving the following family:  Stephen;  Salathiel;  Thomas;  Charles, who died in infancy;  Abraham;  Mycagy [sic.], John;  Eleanor;  Mary;  Richard;  Charles;  Wesley;  Elijah and Eliza.  Stephen and Thomas came to Jackson Township, Wayne (now Ashland) County, in August, 1819.  Thomas had married in 1816 and had one child at the time of his removal.  On his route from Fairfield, he came by Newark, Mt. Vernon, Bellville, Greentown, Jeromesville and over the east part of Montgomery Twp. to the forest home of William Bryan south of the present site of Polk, where he remained until he and his brother cut a path to section 8 southeast and southwest quarters.

When they selected the site for a cabin their wives stitched a number of linen sheets together and a tent was erected in which they lived until the cabin could be erected and prepared for occupation.  The third day was Sunday, and with the night came a heavy rain.  His child was sick, and the rain beat through the tent.  The bed became wet, and Mr. Cole sat upright with the quilt over his head to protect his sick child.  Fortunately, the next morning the child was better.  He retains a vivid recollection of that introductory storm, and his attitude as "center-pole".  

Salathiel, with a team, accompanied them to their wilderness home, and returned to Fairfield by the path he came.  When the cabin was raised, Mr. Cole states, that most of the hands were from the present vicinity of the village of Orange.  He squared the house to the meridian by observing the section line, setting up and plumbing a stake and watching when the sun shadow pointed due north.  Upon his arrival he found the following families in the north half of the township:  Rev. John Hazzard, John Mason, Mr. Morton, Thomas Green, Josiah Lee, Jesse Matthews, Laffler and James Durfee, and in the south half, Noah Long, Jonas H. Gierhart, James A. Dinsmore, John Jackson, Michael and Mathias Rickel, William Bryan, Charles Hoy and John Davault.  A number of other families arrived during the fall of 1819.  Stephen and Thomas Cole brought a number of milch cows and young cattle and to or three head of horses.  A favorite mare escaped and attempted to return to Fairfield, but was pursued and captured, after a lively chase of several hours in the south part of the township.  

Wild grass was abundant in the forest and cattle thrived upon it.  Mr. Cole, by industry and the assistance of his pioneer neighbors soon prepared fields for culture.  There were no schools or churches at his arrival in the township.  Rev. Mr. Hazzard was a gentleman of good English education and soon volunteered to instruct the children of the pioneers.  He resided in the north-east part of the township on section 11.  

In 1822-3 Mr. Hazzard also established the first class of the M.E. Church, of which he was leader and teacher.  He became a local preacher of the M.E. Church.  The class was established in what has since become the village of Perrysburg -- known sometimes as Albion, the name of its post office.  The first class contained about ten members:  Josiah Lee was at one time a leader.  Mr. Cole became a member in 1825, and about 1830, a leader and exhorter, and in 1840 was licensed a local preacher and still retains his license.  The Rev. Mr. Hazzard died in 1870 and was buried on his homestead.  

Mr. Cole, and we believe, Mr. Hazzard also, was licensed by that venerable and much loved pioneer minister, Rev. Elmer Yocum.  Mr. Cole, is now, 1876, deprived of his vision, having been afflicted some years with opacity of the crystalline lens or cataract.  His general health is good and his disposition quite cheerful.  

Mrs. Cole, his excellent wife, who shared his pioneer toils, deceased May 8, 1870, aged 74.  His children are:  Thomas Cole Jr.;  Elizabeth, wife of Chester C. Matthews;  Rebecca, wife of Joseph C. Bolles;  Mary, wife of Jacob Plice;  Rachel, wife of Isaac Gordon, deceased;  and Ruth, wife of James Campbell, of Iowa.  Mr. Cole has 46 grandchildren and 25 great-grandchildren.  Most of his children reside in Ashland County.  --H.