From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 552.

Following this he had a varied experience, for the young man was ambitious and endeavored to find the work for which he was best suited. In the fall of 1882, he located in Olin, where he purchased a furniture store and conducted it for several years. In the meanwhile he studied law, and in October, 1900, he passed the examination before the supreme court of Iowa And was admitted to the bar, since which nine he has been in active practice. His inclinations, however, had always led him toward newspaper work and in 1896 he formed a partnership with his youngest brother, John L. Cole. and they bought the Olin Recorder. This association continued until February 28, 1907, when the junior member retired, and A. A. Cole has since continued alone, owning the printing plant and the building in which it is located, and acting as editor. Mr. Cole is a fearless writer and never hesitates to take a decided stand upon public matters, and his paper is regarded as an authority upon all subjects which he discusses.

On September 23, 1883, Mr. Cole married Miss Nancy Elizabeth Coleman and they have had seven children as follows: Raymond, who married Grace Switzer, lives in Olin and is foreman of his father's printing office: Clarence C. who married Hallie Clancey, lives at Coggon, Iowa, and is editor and proprietor of the Coggon Monitor; Glen F., Letha M., Ruth M., Esther M. and Frances L. are at home. Clarence C. has a school record of which his parents are very proud as he entered the Olin school when five years old and completed the entire course in twelve years without being absent or tardy.

Mr. Cole has often been called upon to represent the republican party in town and township offices and for fifteen years he has served faithfully on the school board of the independent school district of Olin, and his experience as an educator has been of considerable benefit to his people. In 1900 he joined the United Brethren church of Olin and was made superintendent of the Sunday school and with the exception of two years has given the church his services in this capacity ever since. Prominent in so many other ways, Mr. Cole also takes an interest in fraternal matters and is a member of the Ancient Landmark Lodge, No. 200, A.F.&A.M., of which he is secretary; also Meridian Lodge, NO. 245, Knights of Pythias, of which he is chancellor commander, Big Wood Camp, No. 526, M.W.A. of which he is venerable consul; Olin Company, No. 9, Uniform Rank Knights of Pythias, of which he is captain; Hyacinth Temple, No. 72, Pythian Sisters, all of Olin; and of Ben De Meer Temple, No. 12, D.0., K. of Maquoketa. In legal circles, in newspaper work, socially, fraternally and in his church Mr. Cole easily dominates by reason of his personality and energy, and he is extremely popular, winning and retaining friends everywhere, so that there are few men of Jones county who are more widely known or who are better liked than he.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 198.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Western Historical Company, Chicago, 1879, page 638.

Hearing of the advantages offered by the rich Iowa lands, he came to this state in 1851 and, locating near Tipton, Cedar county, lived on a farm for thirteen years. He then spent a short time at Red Oak, after which he settled on a farm in Hale township, buying eighty acres of the one hundred and sixty acre farm he owned at the time of his death and was then operating. All his interests were centered in his farming and although he had begun with nothing, he died well-to-do owing to his industry, perseverance and thrift.

On April 11, 1851, Mr. Coleman married Sarah A. Simmons, who was to be his helpmate and the guiding star of his useful life. She was born in Butler, Richland county, Ohio, February 15, 1829, and she was brought to Tipton, Cedar county, Iowa, by her parents, Richard and Mary (Myers) Simmons. They were natives of Richland county, Ohio, and died in Cedar county, Iowa, Mrs. Cole man was one in a family of eleven children. She and her husband also had a family of eleven children, as follows: Amanda S., who lives at Tacoma, Washington; Mary S., who married George Lane, of Olin; Lewis K., who died at the age of two years, Ida B., who married T. Gordon, of Olin; George W., who lives in Hale township; Nancy, who married A. A. Cole, attorney and editor; Adney Allen, who lives in Hale township; and Edward Lee of Stanwood, Cedar county, who is a twin of Adney; William R., who died at the age of seventeen years, in 1885; Franklin B., who died at the age of seventeen years, in 1886; and Minnie A., who married Irvin Hart, of Olin. Mrs. Coleman has resided in Olin since 1899, having disposed of the farm.

During a revival held at the Pleasant Hill Free Will Baptist church about twenty-five years before his death, Mr. Coleman became converted and soon thereafter joined that denomination and continued faithful to its creed until his demise. The funeral services were held in the United Brethren church in Olin, the Rev. A. B. Statton officiating, and the remains were interred in Olin cemetery. Mr. Statton was assisted by Rev. Nathan Potter and the services were very affecting. Although never aspiring to public office or high places, Mr. Coleman influenced many by his gentle personality and kindly love of his fellowman. He was devoted to his family, faithful to his church, always anxious to see his community progress, and few men were more missed than he when his accustomed place was made vacant by his death.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 456.

In 1864 George W. Coleman was brought to Jones county by his parents and it has since been his home, and he is proud of it and of the changes he has seen take place. Until he was twenty-two years old he remained with his parents and then worked out by the month among the different farmers for some twelve years. He afterward rented the home place, buying his present farm from his father's estate in 1898 and it is now one of the best managed in the township. He has eighty-five acres of rich farming land on section 8, Hale township, and he has found that general farming and stock raising pay him best.

On February 17, 1904, Mr. Coleman married Elizabeth R. Devol, of Olin, the widow of Frederick Devol, and a daughter of Albert and Sarah Clymer. By her first marriage, Mrs. Coleman had one son, Irving, and she has borne Mr. Coleman a daughter, Laura Margaret. The home life of Mr. and Mrs. Coleman is delightful and they welcome their many friends to their hospitable board upon numerous occasions.

Fraternally Mr. Coleman belongs to the Olin Lodge, No. 245, K.P. He is a member of the Free Will Baptist church at Pleasant Hill. In political matters he is a republican but has devoted his time to his farming and so has not been active in public matters. He understands his work, makes it pay and is not only successful but also commands the respect of his neighbors because of his straight, honorable methods of doing business.

From History of Jones County, Iowa, Past and Present, R. M. Corbitt, S. J. Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, 1910, p. 420.