Among the leading stockmen and agriculturists of Malheur County, and a man of great energy and executive force, the subject of this sketch is properly accorded a place in the volume of our County’s History, and since, also, he is one of the principal land owners of the section, and is, withal, a man of good ability, sound principles, and integrity. Emory was born in Scott County, Minnesota, on December 2, 1862, being the son of Joshua L. and Malinda (Wise) Cole. In the spring of 1864 the family crossed the plains with ox teams to Boise, consuming six months in the trip and having no serious trouble except the general hardships and deprivations of such an arduous undertaking. Settlement was made at Boise, which was then but a hamlet of a few cabins, and there they remained until 1868, when another move brought them to the vicinity of Malheur, where mining was the industry followed until 1872. Then a move was made to upper Willow creek and the father took up stock raising, and later the advantages of the present home place of our subject, live miles northwest from Dell, became evident, and accordingly they came there. Our subject continued to work with his father until December 2o. 1883, when the happy event of the marriage of Mr. Cole and Miss Elizabeth, daughter of Benjamin F. and Lucy J. (Russell) Kendall, a native of the Grande Ronde Valley, Oregon, was celebrated. But then on March 23, 1891, death came and took thence the wife, and Mr. Cole was alone.
On December 23, 1895, Mr. Cole contracted a second marriage, Miss Barbara, daughter of William and Isabell (Russell) Kennedy, and a native of Malheur County, then becoming his wife. Two children have been born to them, Rag and Clifford. Mr. Cole now Owns the old home place of his father, which originally was two hundred acres, but now is two thousand and forty acres. This mammoth estate is productive of lucrative returns to its owner. He raises great quantities of alfalfa hay, has an orchard of fine selected fruits of all varieties known to this climate and handles a large band of cattle. In addition Mr. Cole handles about five hundred swarms of bees. The forty acres’ orchard and the fields of alfalfa make abundant feeding ground for these honey makers, so that they are a source of revenue. The home is a comfortable residence of eight rooms, while a commodious barn, good outbuildings and tasty and substantial improvements add heath and comfort to the rural abode. Mr. Cole manifests the part of an intelligent citizen in his activity in the realm of politics, being allied with the Republican party and always laboring for those measures which conserve the best interests of the people. Mr. Cole’s mother died in 1896, and the father is now residing in Vale said is president of the First Bank in Vale. Our subject is rightly ranked with the prominent men of the County, and his standing is an enviable one, being held in esteem and admiration by all, both for his worth and real integrity.