History of Fulton County, Illinois; together with
Sketches of its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious,
Civil, Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons
and Biographies of Representative Citizens. Chas. C. Chapman & Co.,
Peoria, Illinois, 1879, page 751-752, Kerton Township
Wm. Cole, deceased, was born in Chicago, Ill., a son to Dr.
Cameron Cole. The Doctor settled on the present site of Chicago when
there were but two buildings there (log cabins). He came from Scotland,
taking to himself a wife on ship-board. They had 5 children, of whom
Wm. is the oldest. When but two years of age William was stolen by the
Indians; every white inhabitant rushing to the rescue, he was found and
brought back. He subsequently obtained a liberal education, came to
Fulton Co., and followed farming during life. Nov. 2, 1832, he married
Mary Seehorn of Kentucky, by whom he had 7 children: Lucy, who married
John H. Aswell; Thomas, who married Alice Cullen; James B., who married
Sarah E. Cluney; Henry C., Clara, Elmira and Nancy J. At the first call
Mr. Cole enlisted in the 2d Ill. Cav., obtained through meritorious
conduct the rank of Sergeant, and was honorably discharged at the close
of the Rebellion. He died at his home in this tp. Mrs. C. died in 1878.
Thomas and James B. are the only children now residing in this tp. the
latter was born in this Co. in 1856, and in May, 1878, he was married.
Republican.
