Montgomery County PA Archives Biographies.....Cole, Henry A. January 22, 1838 - 
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Source: Biographical Annals of Montgomery County Pennsylvania, T. S. Benham & Company and the Lewis Publishing Company, 1904
Author: Ellwood Roberts, Editor

HENRY A. COLE, ex-county treasurer, and president of the 
Royersford National Bank, is one of the best known residents 
of that section of Montgomery county. He is the son of 
Abraham C. and Mary (Longaker) Cole. He is a native of 
Limerick township, where he was born January 22, 1838. He 
was educated in the public schools of Limerick township, to 
which his parents removed, and afterwards entered as a 
student at Washington Hall Collegiate Institute, at Trappe, 
conducted by County Superintendent Abel Rambo for many 
years, many of Mr. Cole's contemporaries being educated 
there. On relinquishing his studies at that institution, Mr. 
Cole engaged in the occupation of teaching school, in 
connection with farming, which he pursued with success for a 
period of fifteen years, in Limerick township, Upper 
Providence and Pottsgrove. Many of the leading men and women 
of that community owe their superior education and practical 
business methods to his instruction and example.

Mr. Cole is a Democrat in politics, being actively 
interested in the success of its principles and candidates 
in the county, state and nation. In 1883 he secured the 
party nomination for county treasurer, and was elected to 
the position in November of that year. He filled the 
position for three years with satisfaction to the public and 
credit to himself. The finances of Montgomery county were 
never in better condition than they were at the end of his 
term as treasurer.

Mr. Cole resides on a fine farm of forty acres in Limerick 
township, and devotes much of his time to farming, although 
he is occupied with banking and other outside business. 
Whatever he undertakes to do receives such intelligent 
consideration and effort as guarantees its proper 
accomplishment. He has served for three terms, nine years, 
in the school board of Limerick township, and is actively 
interested in educational matters generally, being an 
advocate of progress in methods and equipment. He has been 
occasionally suggested as the candidate of his party for the 
position of representative in Congress from the district. He 
is manager of the Perkiomen Valley Fire Insurance Company, 
and holds other positions in which his ability is needed, 
being concerned in the settlement of estates and other 
business of that character. Mr. Cole married, in 1874, Miss 
Jennie W. Arnold, daughter of Dr. Samuel Arnold, of Plymouth 
township. They have no children. He and Mrs. Cole attend the 
Reformed church.
 
Mr. Cole is president of the Royersford National Bank, which 
was organized September 16, 1886, with a capital of 
$100,000. A handsome building was erected on the main street 
of that borough, in which the bank commenced business with 
Joseph Keely, of Spring City, as its president. He died, and 
Ephraim Keely was elected to the position. On the death of 
Mr. Keely, Henry A. Cole was chosen to succeed him, and 
under his management as president the bank is one of the 
strongest financial institutions of Montgomery county. Since 
Mr. Cole became its president the capital of the bank has 
been increased to $150,000, and it has surplus and undivided 
profits of more than $50,000, and deposits of $250,000. Mr. 
Cole is assisted by the following board of directors: Philip 
Williard, C. R. Hunsicker, Jared W. Evans, Horace 
Ashenfelter, H. R. Thomas, A. F. Tyson, P. W. Reifsnyder, 
William P. Fenton, Samuel B. Latshaw and Allen T. Keely. The 
bank has a large number of depositors, and transacts much 
business.

The Cole family has long been domiciled in that section of 
Montgomery county. Henry Cole, grandfather of Henry A. Cole, 
was a native of Perkiomen township. He was a man of 
intelligence, who received his education through the medium 
of neighborhood schools, and he was engaged all his life in 
agricultural pursuits. He was honored and respected by the 
community in which he lived. He married Barbara 
Eichelberger, also of that township, and they had a large 
family of children, among the number being Abraham C. 
(father).

Abraham C. Cole was born on the homestead in Perkiomen 
township, in 1805. He was educated in the schools of 
Perkiomen, and was for some years engaged in farming in that 
township, but removed to Limerick where he spent many years 
of his life. He died in 1871, being one of its most 
prominent citizens. He was a Democrat in politics, and was 
elected by that party to the office of county commissioner 
in 1863, filling the position during war times in a most 
acceptable manner. He was a friend of the taxpayer, and was 
deservedly popular. He served in the position of school 
director for many years. He married Mary Longaker (died in 
1876), daughter of Peter Longaker, and a sister of Rufus B. 
Longaker. They had two children, Louisa F., who married John 
S. Hunsicker of Perkiomen township, and Henry A. Cole.

Mrs. Henry A. Cole's father, Samuel Arnold, was born in 
Plymouth township and studied for his profession under Dr. 
Fronefield, and opened an office in Chester county, and 
later in Bucks county, where he died in 1848. He married 
Margaret Brownback in 1841. She died in 1848, leaving two 
children Mrs. Cole, and one son, Granville. He died in the 
army of fever. He was a member of Rush's Regiment of Cavalry 
and of Captain Starr's Company. He was unmarried.

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