Son of William Cole and Lupira Spaulding. He was the second born of their 10 children.
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CYRUS COLE, for many years one of
the prominent business men of Cum-
berland County, was born February
28, 1814, in Winthrop, Kennebec
County, this State, son of William Cole. He
spent his boyhood days in Buckfield, working
much of the time in his father's carding-mill.
When nineteen years of age, he went to Boston,
hoping to find some congenial employment;
but after a short stay in the metropolis he re-
turned to Maine, securing work at the Tontine
House in Brunswick, where as a clerk he
earned and saved some money, leaving the
place with a bank account of sixty dollars.
Going thence to Buckfield, Mr. Cole, with true
Yankee enterprise, established himself in
trade, entering into partnership in 1838 with
Mr. Ephraim Atwood, with whom, under the
firm name of Cole & Atwood, he carried on a
good business in general merchandise for two
or three years. Shortly after his marriage
Mr. Cole disposed of his interest in the store
to his partner, and removed to Turner village,
Androscoggin County. Forming a copartner-
ship with Washington Long, he began the
manufacture of woollen cloths and satinets,
also establishing a general store, besides carry-
ing on an extensive business in buying and
selling wool and in exchanging that com-
modity for woollen cloth.
In 1844 Mr. Cole sold out his share of the
business to Mr. Long, and changed his place
of residence to Freeport, where he operated
a grist and flour mill, conducted a general
store, managed a large farm, and in addition
to these varied industries built several vessels,
being prospered in each of his ventures. Ten
years later he, in company with Mr. Bibber,
started a wholesale grocery business in the
city of Portland, under the name of Cole &
Bibber, continuing five years, and also dealing
largely in real estate, having some heavy trans-
actions in Munjoy Hill property. Coming
thence to Cape Elizabeth, the northern part
of the town, since incorporated as South Port-
land, Mr. Cole purchased the homestead farm
at Pleasantdale, now occupied by Mrs. Cole,
residing here until his decease, December 2,
1892.
Cyrus Cole and Sarah A. DeCoster were
united in marriage on September 9, 1840.
Mrs. Cole was born at Buckfield, Me., on
January 18, 1817, being the youngest of a
family of eight children. Her parents were
Samuel and Sarah (Bacon) DeCoster. No
children were born to Mr. and Mrs. Cole, but
they adopted a boy whom they reared as their
own son; namely, Charles M. Cole, who still
lives to requite his foster-mother's care. Mrs.
Cole is sustained and cheered by strong relig-
ious faith, being a devout Universalist.
A man of much native ability and force of
character, a stanch Republican in politics, Mr.
Cole ever takes a leading part in local public
affairs, serving for several years as Selectman
and representing his district in the State
legislature. Religiously, he was an active
and conscientious member of the Universalist
church. Socially, he belonged to the Aged
Brotherhood, or Society of Old Men.