My Genealogy Hound

A. LEROY COLE. This leading and representative citizen of Cortland, now retired from active business pursuits, built up during his active mercantile life by strict principles of integrity and honor a splendid reputation as a man of push and energy, and amassed a comfortable fortune, that is of service to him when he needs it. He was born in Cortland County at a place known as Lime Hollow, August 13, 1828, and is a son of John C. and Betsey (McNish) Cole, and grandson of Azor Cole, who fought in the Revolutionary War as a general of a regiment of colonial troops. By trade he was a mason. He came from New England and stopped in Cooperstown, Otsego County, N. Y., where our subject’s father, John C., was born. From there the family removed to Cortland County. Azor Cole came first on horseback, arriving here when three houses constituted Cortland; he at once introduced himself as looking for a suitable tract of land, where he could clear away the forest growth and establish a home. While conversing with one of the residents he chanced to remark on his advanced age, and at once made the statement that he was seventy-five years old, but could throw any man square-hold; it was not an idle boast either, for he suited the action to the word, leaped off his horse, and proved his assertion beyond a doubt so far as that man was concerned. He was indeed an athlete after Nature’s own heart, tall and strong, and was accustomed to exhibit his strength in a rather boisterous fashion, but with all his eccentricity in that way he was one of the kindest of neighbors, and the very best friend the poor of the community had. Hearty and perhaps a little rough at times, yet he had the deep, tender sympathy of a woman, and no one ever lived to regret it. He lived to be one hundred years old, lacking three months. His wife died in middle age, leaving only two children, Azor L., and John C. The old gentleman seemed to be pleased with the land he found in the county, for he very soon purchased a tract of land in Lime Hollow, where he built a log house, and whither he brought his family by trail and marked trees. He cleared a large farm, being assisted in this work by his two sons. He made the first quick lime in the county on his farm, and ever afterwards the locality was known as Lime Hollow.

John C. Cole, the father of our subject, learned the trade of a mason from his parent, but did not follow it up very much, being chiefly engaged in carrying on farming. Rather late in life he sold his property in Lime Hollow and moved to Potter County, Pa., where he bought and cleared another new farm. He broke his leg when advanced in years, and the subsequent sickness, for the bone refused to set, resulted in his death at the age of eighty-eight, in 1850. After the death of his first wife, Joanna Edgecomb, he married Betsey McNish, who lived to be forty-six years old, and bore him these children: Azor Leroy, our subject; Nancy; Martha; Elizabeth; Harrison D.; Albertus; and James H. John C. Cole, with the example of his father before him, enlisted and served in the War of 1812. Of his sons three served through the late Rebellion, and the other, the subject of this sketch, gave valuable assistance in fitting out and organizing the 76th Reg. N. Y. Vol. Inf.

Mr. A. L. Cole, at the death of his mother, went to live with his uncle, James McNish, for he was still a lad in years. His education was received in the district schools, and was very limited in character and quantity. The first money he saved after commencing to earn wages he employed in buying a cow for himself, but he let his father have the keeping of the animal, while he himself was to get all the increase. He was of a very sympathetic nature, glad to be able to do a good turn, and so when he was entitled to four cows he gave up all ownership in them, in that way assisting in the support of the family. After leaving home he worked seven years for himself, making lime, and also driving a team for Swain & Crandall; later he was employed in a sash and blind factory for one year. He then accepted a position as baggage-master for the D., L. & W. R. R., with whom he remained in trusted service for three years. After working one year as a clerk in the hardware store of S. D. Freer, he embarked in mercantile pursuits for himself, going into partnership with G. N. Copeland and James A. Schermerhorn, under the firm name of Copeland & Co.; they did a very successful grocery business for a period extending over six years. He then became manager of the large real estate firm of William R. Randall, which position he filled for twenty-nine years with credit to himself and satisfaction to all concerned. He was still performing valuable service, when his health began to fail and forced him to retire from active work. He has built a number of residences, but his own beautiful home is located at 146 Main Street, where he is enjoying the sunset of life in a simple, unostentatious manner, untroubled by serious thought of the morrow, and blessed by the love and respect of many friends.

Mr. Cole was formerly a Democrat, but since the formation of the Republican party he has kept himself in close touch with the party whose watchword is “protection and prosperity.” In 1861 he was elected a trustee of the village of Cortland and served three terms. He is one of the trustees of the Cortland Rural Cemetery, and is president of the Cortland County Bible Society; he became a member of the M. E. Church in 1854, was usher for many years, and superintendent of the M. E. Sabbath School, besides being an ardent worker in the cause of sabbath schools, whatever the denomination.

Mr. Cole married Miss Pamelia Richardson, daughter of James Richardson. She was born in Saratoga County, and afterwards lived in Upper Lisle, N. Y. Her mother died young, and she was brought up and educated by William Randall. Mr. and Mrs. Cole’s nuptials were consummated March 8, 1854, and they have been blessed with two children: George L., who died aged two years; and William Randall, who is a bookkeeper in the Cortland Savings Bank. William Randall Cole married Lillian Smith, daughter of F. F. Smith, and they have lost one child. A portrait* of our subject appears on a preceding page, for Mr. Cole ranks among the most prominent men of the county, and holds a position in the esteem of his fellow-citizens of which he may well be proud.

*A portrait was included in the original printed volume.