Indian Wars and Pioneers of Texas Page: 221 of 894
This book is part of the collection entitled: Rare Book and Texana Collections and was provided to The Portal to Texas History by the UNT Libraries.
IND1
NAND PIONEERS OF TEXAS.
1'3 t
While Dr. Westfall has e d far out of
the beaten path of his p has never lost
sight of its claims upon Wceased to feel an
abiding interest in it. (Fining his attention
mainly to surgery, for which branch he has special
inclination, he responds promptly to all calls for his
services and follows up his duties in this connection
with zeal and efficiency. He has served as president
of the examining boards of the three judicial
districts in which he has lived, and not only with
the laity but with his medical brethren he stands
among the first.
Dr. Westfall is a zealous Mason, having been
made a member of the order more than forty years
ago. He belongs to Ben Hur Shrine and Colorado
Commandery, both of Austin.
A wife and widowed daughter constitute his
family. Not the least of the many creditable
things that can be truthfully said of him is that he
makes grateful acknowledgment for what he is and
what he has to the good wife, who, joining her fortunes
with his more tlan forty years ago, has
shared in all his triumphs and reverses, counseling
with him, applauding and encouraging his efforts,
and rejoicing more than any one else in his
success.
THE COLE FAMILY.
BRYAN.
The permanent settlement of the late venerable
Ransom Cole in Texas dates back to the
year 1850, when he established himself in Cass
County, in the eastern part of the State. lie had
lived, however, a short time during 1849, just over
the State line in Western Louisiana. He was a
native of South Carolina and was born in E Igefield
district, that State, June 11, 1800. The family
history, so far as traceable, seems to be one of
pioneer record.
Daniel Cole, the father of Ransom Cole, was
among the early settlers of Virginia and as that
country became settled pushed on to the frontier
of South Carolina, and later advanced with the
progress of settlement into Georgia and later into
Alabama. Thus it was that Ransom Cole, born
and reared in a then new country, became imbued
with the genuine pioneer instinct and preferred and
during his active years lead a typical pioneer life.
He had Texas in his mind long years before his
final location in Cass County in 1850. Fifteen
years prior to that date (1835) he explored the
Brazos valley as far north as Waco springs and
there selected lands which he purchased.
Complications arose, however, touching land
titles in that vicinity, covering the tract lie had
selected. The trouble ycry likely occurred with
the Indians, as the Wacos were still at that time
in almost absolute possession of the upper Brazos
valley and held sway for several years later and
relinquished their final hold not without contest and
even bloodshed.
Mr. Cole finally perfected his title to the land,
but never lived thereon, preferring to remain at his
Cass county home.
I)aniel Cole, a younger brother of Ransom, also
came to Texas and located in Cass County in 1853.
Iie there pursued farming and lived until his death,
leaving a family, some of whom still reside there.
Ransom Cole early suffered the loss of his wife,
Agatha (ne,
Bostwick) Cole, I)ecember 1, 1851, in
her forty-eighth year. She was born in 180(. She
was the mother of nine cllildren and of these three
sons settled at Bryan in the infancy of the thrifty
county seat of 1Brazos Coulnty, and as merchants
and esteenmed citizens have become conspicuous in
the business development and growth of the city,
stan(ling as they do at the head of its mercantile
interests. The firm name of the house, Cole
Brothers, has become a household word throughout
the Brazos valley region. Ransom Cole remained
on his Cass County estate until, advanced in years,
he relinquished the cares of business to spen(l the
declining years of his life with his children at Bryan
and vicinity and there died in the year 1887, at
eighty-seven years of age. lie was favorably known
as a man of quiet and unpretentious manners and a
kind, warm heart.
In view of the foregoing facts, space cannot be
more becomingly utilized than to recite the following
brief biographical facts touching the Bryan members
of this pioneer family, all of whom have seen
and taken an aggressive part in the growth of the
richest and most promising valley country in Texas.
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Brown, John Henry. Indian Wars and Pioneers of Texas, book, 1880~; Austin, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth6725/m1/221/ocr/: accessed March 18, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu; .