Bio: Cole, Alson (1923)

Contact: Stan

Surnames: Cole, James, Heathcote

----Source: History of Wood County, Wis. (1923) pages 549-550

Alson Cole, an early settler in Sigel Township, of which he was for 20 years a well known and esteemed citizen, was born in Starksboro, Addison County, Vt., Jan. 17, 1845, son of Amos and Sarah (James) Cole. When he was eight years ,old he was brought by his parents to Wis., the family locating in Dodge Co., and there he acquired his education. At the age of 17 years he enlisted at Stevens Point, Wis., in Company K, 39th Wis. Volunteer Infantry, with which organization he served 90 days, when he was discharged. From that time up to the year 1877 he followed various occupations. In the year last mentioned he came to Wood County and purchased a farm of 80 acres in Sections 7 and 8, Sigel Township, and to this he later added three more forties in Section 8, making a total of 200 acres. This was all wild land when he bought it and was largely covered with heavy timber. He began improvements by building a house, then cut the timber, grubbed the stumps, broke the land and from time to time erected other buildings, developing a fine farm. He followed diversified farming with good success and was prominent among the representative citizens of his community. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, also of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and his public activities included service on the school board. He died Dec. 18, 1897. Mr. Cole was married Dec. 16, 1873, to Margaret J. Heathcote, who was born near Brooklyn, N. Y., June 9, 1851, a daughter of William A. and Jane Marie (Wherry) Heathcote, the father being a native of England and the mother of New York. Mr. Heathcote was a contractor and builder. He and his wife in 1856 settled in Fond du Lac, Wis., where they resided for the rest of their lives. After the death of Mr. Cole his wife remained on the farm until 1912, when she removed to Vesper village, where she now resides. In 1908, when she was 56 years old, she went to Perkins County, South Dakota, where she took a homestead of 160 acres and proved up by staying on it 18 months. Mr. and Mrs. Cole had two children: William Alson of Vesper, and Harry Victor of Nekoosa.