Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1907-11-08

Soon after his birth his parents
moved to West Springfield, where they
remained during the period of his boy
hood, after which they moved to Putney.
When Mr.. Cole was still in his teens he
entered the employ of the late John
Robertson of Bellows Falls. who at that
time owned the Eagle mill of Putney. one
Of the earliest established tissue mills of
the country. Here he remained until
1876, occupying every successive position
in the MILL when he moved to Holyoke
to manage the Manila mill, which Mr.
Robertson had recently bought. He re-
manned in charge of that mill until it
was sold in 1850, and at that time Mr..
Cole bought a half interest in the Eagle
mill and returned to Putney, where he
made his home until his death A little
later he bought out the remaining inter-
est in the Eagle mill and he was sole
owner until its destruction by fire in 1895.
Employing the late Ashley b. Tower as
his architect, Mr.. Cole rebuilt the mill
at once and a little later sold an inter-
est in the business to John Kimball of
Marlboro. n. H., and, they organized
corporation under the name of the Will
liam \. Cole Paper company, of which
Mr. Cole has since been treasurer and
manager and Mr.. Kimball president For
several years Mr.. Cole has been president
Of the Ashuelot Paper company of
Ashuelot, n. H.
While strongly averse to holding poll
teal office. he recognized his duty by
serving his town as first selectman and
oyorseer of the poor, and inaugurated
some needed reforms in these depart
ments. During his administration the
town hall was put in thorough repair and
new central school was erected
Mr.. Cole early in life became mem
Der of the order of Free Masons and
later of the order of Odd Fellows.
lo.l nil 10 1aai To f1nn Nsif
the business men of the cities and towns
Of the Connecticut river valley and was
highly esteemed for his sterling qualities
Of honesty, square dealing and his fearless,
0utspoken convictions. He was a type
of the old fashioned self-made man, and
had little sympathy for modern methods
as regards shorter hours of labor. He
believed that a man was better working
than idle and he practiced his belief.
Mr.. Cole was twice married. His first
wife was Lucy Ann Lamb. They were
married March rs, 1858. She died Dec.
o. 1897. BY this marriage they had
three daughters, two of whom, Mary,
wife of Reuben c. Winchester of Holy
oke, and Jennie, OF Putney, survive him.
One granddaughter Una, wife of Henry
c. Warnock of Holyoke, Mass, also sur
wives him. IN 1899 he married Mrs.
Flora p. Shelley who survives him
The funeral was held Wednesday after
noon at 2 o'clock and very largely at
tended by townspeople and many from
away, Bellows Falls Brattleboro, Hinsdale
Ashuelot, Boston and Holyohe being rep
resented. Rev. Francis Rowley OF the
Commonwealth Baptist church of Boston
who for many years had been member
of the fishing party of Mr.. Winchester
friends who have been entertained every
spring by Mr.. and Mrs. Cole, and Rev
Frederick b. Kellogg, pastor of the Con-
gregational church in Waterbury frlenc
of Mr.. Cole, officiated. There was nc
music The bearers were Henry j. Smith
William II. Dickinson, Ezra Pierce, DR.
George d. Wheat, Charles E. Robertson
of Bellows Falls and Harry II. Russell Of
Hmsdale. Burial was in the family lo
in Mt Pleasant cemetery. There were
many beautiful flowers