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John Higgs Cole

Jan 1827 — 1908

John H. COLE, a retired farmer of Dallas county, was born in Robertson county, Tennessee, in January, 1827, the fifth of ten children born to John and Mary (McDonald) Cole, natives of Virginia. The father moved to Tennessee in an early day, where he was a farmer and physician. He was one of the early practitioners of Dallas county, and in 1829 went to Arkansas, settling in Washington county, where he improved a farm, and in 1843 again came to Dallas County. He took up a claim of 640 acres, which now joins the city of Dallas. He took an active interest in politics, and also in the early history of the county, being the first Probate Judge of Dallas county. His death occurred in the spring of 1851, and the mother survived him many years, dying about 1865.

John H., our subject was reared to farm life and educated in the district schools of Washington county, Arkansas, also at Fayetteville, Arkansas. He came to this county at the age of seventeen years, and took up a claim, which he afterward sold. He then followed surveying for many years, being the first County Surveyor of this county, and prior to that was Deputy Surveyor.

In 1858 he moved to his present farm, where he erected a fine brick residence, and the whole place is now under a fine state of cultivation. Altogether he has in the county 5,000 acres, 400 acres at his residence.

In 1862 he enlisted in Captain William McKaney's regiment, in the State service, and later received a position in the supply department, where he remained until the close of the war. Mr. Cole has taken an active interest in politics, and was the first Notary Public and County Surveyor of Dallas. Socially he is a member of Tannehill Lodge, A. F. & A. M.; and religiously, both he and his wife are members of the Christian Church.

He was married in Dallas County, in 1856, to Elizabeth Preston, a native of Tennessee and granddaughter of Captain George Preston, an early pioneer of Tennessee and a soldier in the Creek war. She is a daughter of George and Anna (Body) Preston, natives of Tennessee. Mr. and Mrs. Cole have had seven children: George C., of Dallas; John D., Anna, Cora, at home; Margaret, wife of W. R. Myers, of Dallas; Walter and Hester.

Memorial and biographical history of Dallas County, Texas, page 464 Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1892
Transcribed by Robert Bennett