Gilbert L. Cole (1828-1910), Builder & Architect
Gilbert L. Cole was born in Ontario, Canada in July 22, 1828 to Levi and Lygusta Cole. The family had 17th century roots in colonial Massachusetts and Revolutionary War ancestry in New Hampshire.[2][10][c] Gilbert married Fredericka Wurtsmith, a native of Bavaria, around 1850 and they had ten children, of whom three sons and four daughters survived their father.[1][2] Gilbert enlisted in the Union Army while living in Iowa in 1862 and served as a sergeant in an Iowa regiment. In 1863 he transferred to become a 2nd Lieutenant of the 124th U. S. Colored Troops, a regiment formed with Black enlisted men and White officers.[9]. The Cole family moved to Beatrice, Nebraska by 1880 where Gilbert was a builder and architect.[1] He died in Beatrice, Nebraska on August 28, 1910.[4][15]
This page is a contribution to the publication, Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. See the format and contents page for more information on the compilation and page organization.
Contents
Compiled Nebraska Directory Listings
Beatrice, Nebraska, 1882-1883, 1886-1887, 1890, 1894-1896, 1898, 1900, 1902-1903
Educational & Professional Associations
1850: carpenter, Anderson County, Kentucky.[5]
1852-1854: miner, Placerville, California.[15]
1860: carpenter, Sidney, Iowa.[6]
1870: builder, Sidney, Iowa.[7]
1878: Cole begins Beatrice residency.[12][15]
1880: carpenter, Beatrice, Nebraska.[1]
1886: began advertising as "Architect and Builder"
1887: advertised as "Architect and Superintendent"
1888: architect, Beatrice, Nebraska.[a]
1888: travel to British Isles, Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy, Greece, Switzerland and France.[11][19]
1889-1892: No Beatrice Directories.[b]
1893-1896: architect, 7-9 Masonic Temple, Beatrice, Nebraska.
1898-1900: architect, Beatrice, Nebraska.
1901: No Beatrice directory.
1902: architect & superintendent, Beatrice, Nebraska.
1903: No Beatrice directory.
1904: occupation not listed, Beatrice, Nebraska.
Other Associations
Member of Beatrice City Council, president of the Beatrice board of education, leader in securing pure water supply for Beatrice.[12]
Buildings & Projects
Dated Projects
Opera house (1878), Beatrice, Nebraska.[12][d]
Buildings of Messrs. Kees and Forbes, Armacost & Co. (1886), Beatrice, Nebraska.[16]
Masonic Temple (1886-1887), corner of Court and Sixth Streets, Beatrice, Nebraska.[12][15][18][e]
Plans and specs for removing and rebuilding brick residence (1887), from Lot 2, Block 45 to Lot 1, Block 58, Beatrice, Nebraska.[17]
Central School (1889), Beatrice, Nebraska.[15][20]
William Atwater residence (1890), north La Selle Street, Beatrice, Nebraska.[21]
Cole family residence (c. 1890), 809 South Sixth Street, Beatrice, Nebraska.[15]
Soldiers' Monument (c. 1901-1904), Beatrice, Nebraska.[13]
Undated
Notes
a. First Beatrice directory listing, 1888.
b. Is listed on page 4 of the Omaha Daily Bee on July 14, 1890 as “G. S. Cole, architect and builder,” in list of Beatrice businessmen who opposed prohibition amendments due to economic reasons.[3]
c. There is a discrepancy between the 1880 and 1900 federal censuses concerning Cole's birthplace. Whereas the 1880 census says he was born in Canada, the 1900 census says he was born at sea. His gravestone in Beatrice gives birth and death dates of 1828-1910. Cole applied for a U. S. Passport in 1888, noting that while born in Canada, he was a U. S. citizen by virtue of his parents having been U. S. citizens. His 1891 application to Sons of the American Revolution Society provided additional family genealogy.[1][2][4]10][11]
d. In 1893, Beatrice Daily Express published a long column in effusive praise of Cole, soon after he had led efforts to establish an improved water supply for the town. Among the projects it credited to Cole: "He had not been in the city three weeks before he had conceived and inaugurated a plan for building an opera house...He drew its plans, interested the public in the enterprise, and within 6 weeks...the building was inaugurated..."[12]
e. According to Beatrice Daily Express, "As an architect and builder he [Cole] is possessed of rare and excellent qualifications. The Masonic temple is one of his architectural creations."[12]
f. A Beatrice newspaper published a series of long columns by Cole in early 1905, writing on his experiences traveling by wagon across Nebraska in 1852. In September the paper noted that Cole had authored a book entitled "In the Early Days Along the Overland Trail in Nebraska Territory in 1852" which was being published by a Kansas City company. By year's end, the book was available at Beatrice bookstores.[14]
References
1. 1880 United States Census, s.v. “G. L. Cole,” Beatrice, Gage County, Nebraska, accessed through HeritageQuestOnline.com.
2. 1900 United States Census, s.v. “Gilbert L. Cole,” Beatrice, Gage County, Nebraska, accessed through HeritageQuestOnline.com.
3. Patrick Haynes, email to D. Murphy, December 27, 2012.
4. Ancestry.com. U.S., Find a Grave® Index, 1600s-Current, s.v. "Gilbert L. Cole," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2012.
5. Ancestry.com. 1850 United States Federal Census, s.v. "Gilbert Cole," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009.
6. Ancestry.com. 1860 United States Federal Census, s.v. "Gilbert L. Cole," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009.
7. Ancestry.com. 1870 United States Federal Census, s.v. "Gilbert Cole," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2009.
8. Ancestry.com. 1910 United States Federal Census," s.v. "Gilbert Cole," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
9. Historical Data Systems, comp. U.S., Civil War Soldier Records and Profiles, 1861-1865, s.v. "Gilbert L. Cole, [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2009.
10. Ancestry.com. U.S., Sons of the American Revolution Membership Applications, 1889-1970, s.v. "Gilbert L. Cole, [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
11. Ancestry.com. U.S., Passport Applications, 1795-1925, s.v. "Gilbert L. Cole," [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2007.
12. "Colonel G. L. Cole," Beatrice (Nebraska) Daily Express (March 21, 1893), 4.
13. "The Soldiers' Monument," Beatrice (Nebraska) Daily Express (August 23, 1904), 1 (illustrated with photo).
14. "To Publish Book--G. L. Cole, the Author of an Historical Work on Early Nebraska Which Will Make a Hit," Beatrice (Nebraska) Daily Express (September 14, 1905), 1; "A Valuable Work," Beatrice (Nebraska) Daily Sun (December 23, 1905), 1.
15. "Pioneer Citizen Passes Away--Gilbert L. Cole Died Sunday Morning After Illness of Two Months," Beatrice (Nebraska) Daily Express (August 29, 1910), 1.
16. "Mr. G. L. Cole has just been appointed superintendent of the new buildings of Messrs. Kees and Forbes, Armacost & Co., now underway," Beatrice (Nebraska) Daily Express (July 7, 1886), 4.
17. "To Contractors and Builders," The Daily Democrat (Beatrice, Nebraska) (March 18, 1887), 4.
18. "[Complet?]e In Its Detail Was the Dedication of the Great Masonic Temple," Beatrice (Nebraska) Daily Express (April 19, 1887), 4.
19. Announcement of Cole's departure to visit "all the points of interest in Europe," Beatrice (Nebraska) Republican (May 19, 1888), 3 (col. 3).
20. "Notice to Contractors" (for bids on school), Daily Democrat (Beatrice, Nebraska) (March 30, 1889), 2.
21. "Wm. Atwater...on north La Selle street...expects to build a new residence," Beatrice (Nebraska) Republican (February 8, 1890), 5.
Page Citation
E. F. Zimmer & D. Murphy, “Gilbert L. Cole (1828-1910), Builder & Architect,” in David Murphy, Edward F. Zimmer, and Lynn Meyer, comps. Place Makers of Nebraska: The Architects. Lincoln: Nebraska State Historical Society, July 7, 2023. http://www.e-nebraskahistory.org/index.php?title=Place_Makers_of_Nebraska:_The_Architects Accessed, November 24, 2024.
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