Ephraim and his family moved to Mason county Kentucky in 1793, and in 1794 again removed to near West Union, Ohio. They settled on the old Manchester Road, just east of West Union, Ohio. He built a residence near the Trotter residence [1890] on a one hundred and forty acre tract of land he purchased of General Darlinton. He also owned one hundred acres north of the town [West Union] which he purchased in the Ashmore Survey, from Richard Woods. His deeds are dated 1802.

A History of Adams County, Ohio
by Nelson W. Evans and Emmons B. Stivers
West Union, Ohio
Published by E. B. Stivers, 1900

Ephraim Cole was a Revolutionary War veteran (purchase records at: DAR Ancestor #A024138). He enlisted on November 16, 1777 in Captain Jonathan Drown(e)'s Company, Captain William Lee's Regiment of Maryland troops, for three years. During his service he undertook to act as a spy, and got inside the British lines. He accomplished his errand and was leaving, when he was arrested. He managed to create doubt in the minds of his captors as to his real character, and showed up his masonry. There being Free Masons among his captors, he was given the benefit of the doubt, and he was released and sent out of the lines. So we are spared a Capt. Nathan Hale's story, which, but for his masonry, Ephraim Cole's would have been.

PLEASE NOTE: We have been unable to document any of the above information about Ephraim Cole's Revolutionary War service. If anyone has any information that they would be willing to share with us on this matter, please email either Eric Davis or Carol Gillespie.

Children of Ephraim Cole and Sophia (Ada) Mitchell:

B1 Zilla (Lillian) Cole, born 1783 in Maryland, died August 5, 1864; married November 4, 1805 John Baldridge, born April 1, 1780 in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, died November 12, 1851 in Adams county, Ohio.

B2 Elizabeth Cole, died 1863; married January 20, 1805 John Philips.

B3 James Mitchell Cole, born August 26, 1789, died August 16, 1860 in Lewis County, Kentucky; married 1809 Nancy Coolings, born March 16, 1794 in Manchester, Adams County, Ohio; died March 26, 1861 in Lewis, Kentucky; both are buried in West Union, Adams County, Ohio. Nancy was the daughter of James Collings and Christian Turner Davis.

B4 Alleniah Cole, born 1800, died 1866; married (1) 1828 Nancy Steese, born ca. 1810, died 1845, three or four children; married (2) 1842 Louisa Paul; three children.

B_ Ephraim Cole, married Mary A. ____.

C1 Nancy Ellen Cole, born December 27, 1845, died February 28, 1847.

B_ Leonard Cole, married Nancy Collings.
C1 Mary A. Cole, born June 11, 1824, died September 18, 1885; married Rev. E. M. Cole of the Cincinnati Conference.
D1 Leonard Wayne Cole, born September 25, 1854.

B_ Ada Cole, married ______ Balldridge.

The Cole Family History is a project of Carol M. Gillespie, D.D.S. You can contact Carol at: CGillespi2@aol.comCGillespi2@aol.com. Please enter a Subject of Cole Genealogy, to help us separate your message from spam. The HTML version was created by Eric Davis.