Loren P. Cole, attorney-at-law and farmer of Conesville, N. Y., was born in this town, May 31, 1852, son of Elder Loren P. and Charlotte (Weed) Cole. He is a grandson of Avery Cole, who moved with his family from Vermont to that part of Blenheim which is now Gilboa, Schoharie County, and was engaged in farming for the rest of his life, his death occurring at the age of seventy years.
Avery Cole was an active member of the Baptist church. He was a Whig in politics, and held some of the town offices. The maiden name of his wife was Polly Blair, and their children were: Suel, Ambrose, Loren P., Anson, Barnard, Ahaz, Rosetta, Mary, and Esther. Of these Ambrose, who resided in Indiana, and Rosetta, who married Patrick Van Dyke, are the only survivors. Mary married Warren W. Parsons; Esther married Daniel C. Leonard; Suel and Barnard died in Gilboa; Anson died in Western New York; and Ahaz died in Windham, this State. All except Suel lived to be sixty-three years old.
Elder Loren P. Cole, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Vermont in 1808, and came to Schoharie County when he was four years old. He resided in Gilboa until 1845, when he came to Conesville and became an extensive farmer, owning some three hundred acres of land. He was an ordained minister of the Baptist denomination. He supplied pulpits in this section for many years, and also taught school. He served as Supervisor for the years 1853-59, 1864, and 1879, being in the latter year the oldest man on the board. He also served as Highway Commissioner, Superintendent of Schools, and General Inspector. Elder Cole died in 1886. He was twice married. His first wife, Phoebe M. Pierce, died two years after marriage, leaving one daughter, Phoebe Ann, who married E. G. Case. For his second wife he married Charlotte Weed, whose ancestors came from Connecticut. Seven children were born of this union, namely: Alzina, who married W. H. Braman; Pluma, who married Bartholomew Becker; Julia E., wife of James A. Bouck; Ianthe, wife of George W. Gurnsey [editorial note: probably Guernsey, as in next entry]; Charlotte, who married Giles P. Guernsey; Leander, a farmer of Conesville; and Loren P., the subject of this sketch. The mother's death occurred a few weeks prior to that of her husband.
Loren P. Cole was given the advantages of a good education, and after the completion of his studies he taught seven terms of school in winter, and worked summers on a farm of his father's. Purchasing the home farm in 1876, he carried it on until 1889, when he sold the property to his brother Leander, and bought a residence in the village. His law studies were pursued in the office of Le Grand Van Tyle, now District Attorney; and since establishing himself in practice he has built up a large business both in Conesville and Gilboa. In public affairs he has rendered able services to the town and county as Supervisor for eight years, acting as chairman of some of the most important committees. In politics he is a Democrat.
Mr. Cole married in 1873 Martha Leonard, daughter of Peter H. Leonard, formerly of Prattsville, and now of Bainbridge, N. Y. Mr. and Mrs. Cole have no children. They attend the Methodist Episcopal church.