Written by Sandy Kinter, from Waterford Genealogical Society E-Newsletter Volume 14 Number 1
Section 19 is bounded on the west by Williams Lake Road, on the south by Elizabeth Lake Road, and on the east by Hospital Road. Pontiac Lake Road angles diagonally across the northern half of the section, from Williams Lake Road to Hospital Road. Today is it still largely residential and quiet, except for the occasional roar of a jet plane taking off from Oakland County International Airport, just to
the north.
Smith William Cole
Dyantha Olmstead
On page 591 of the 1870 Waterford Township census is recorded, Smith Cole, age 33, born in New York, Diantha, age 26, born in Michigan, and baby Linus, age three months, born in Michigan. Although the census records show that Smith Cole owned $400 worth of real estate, he is not on the 1872 plat map of Waterford.
Smith W. Cole was born about 1834, in New York (1), the son of Abram and Jemima Cole. (2) He died 9 July 1896, in Detroit, Michigan. (1) Smith Cole married first, Dyantha Olmstead, 22 February 1866, in Oakland County. (3) After Dyantha’s death in 1872 (4), he married secondly, Sarah A. (Clark) McCann, 21 August 1873, in Linden, Genesee County, Michigan. (3) Sarah A. Clark was born August 1842, in Clarkston, Michigan, the daughter of Ebenezer Clark and Sarah A. Wood. (5) She died 8 April 1918, in Detroit, Michigan. (5) Her death certificate is indexed under the name of Mrs. Sarah Pole.
Abram and Jemima Cole first appear in Michigan in the 1850 census, page 114, Waterford Township. The youngest child, Junius, was five years old and born in New York, so the family had moved to Oakland County between 1845 and 1850. (2) Abram was born about 1800, in New York. (6) He died 18 March 1873, in Genesee County, Michigan and is buried in the Fairview Cemetery, Linden, Genesee County. (7) According to
the death certificate of their son James M. Cole, his mother’s maiden name was Jemima Hopper. (8) Jemima was born 3 June 1802, (7) in New York (9), and died 8 December 1886, in Fenton, Genesee County. (7)(9) Both Abram and Jemima are buried in the Fairview Cemetery, Linden, Genesee County. (7)
The first wife of Smith W. Cole was Dyantha Olmstead. She was the daughter of Harley Olmstead and Rachel Taylor, born 7 March 1844. (4) Dyantha Cole died 13 December 1872. (4) She is buried in the Four Towns Cemetery, Waterford. (4) Dyantha’s father, Harley Olmstead, acquired property in White Lake Township, Oakland County, in September 1832. (10) The land record says that Harley Olmstead was of Monroe County, New York. The tombstone for Harley says that he was born 19 June 1803, in Pittstown, Rensselaer County, New York. (4) He died 2 October 1885, in White Lake Township, Oakland County. (11) Harley’s parents have not been confirmed. He is possibly the son of James Olmstead found in 1810, page 47, Pittstown, Rensselaer County, New York, 1830, page 322, Wheatland, Monroe County, New York, and 1840, page 38, Commerce Township, Oakland County, age 60-70. Harley and Rachel did name their oldest son James.
Rachel Ann Taylor was born 14 December 1820, in Dutchess County, New York. (4)(12) She died 27 October 1893 and is buried in the Four Towns Cemetery. (4) The date and place of the marriage of Harley Olmstead and Rachel Taylor was not found. The parents of Rachel Taylor are unknown. A good candidate for Rachel’s father is the Thomas Taylor, age 83, born in New York, who is residing with Harley and Rachel in the 1860 census. (13)
Sources
- Michigan Deaths, 1867-1897, FamilySearch, www.familysearch.org
- 1850 Census, page 114, Waterford Township, Oakland County, Michigan,
Ancestry, www.ancestry.com - Michigan Marriages, 1822-1995, FamilySearch, www.familysearch.org
- Four Towns Cemetery, Waterford, Michigan, Find A Grave, www.findagrave.com
- Death Certificate, Mrs. Sarah Cole, Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1950,
Certificates, 1897-1920, 267: Detroit, 1918, Indexed as Mrs. Sarah Pole,
Ancestry, www.ancestry.com - 1870 Census, page 67, Township of Fenton, Genesee County, Michigan,
Ancestry, www.ancestry.com - Fairview Cemetery, Linden, Genesee County, Michigan, Find A Grave,
www.findagrave.com - Death Certificate, James M. Cole, Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1950,
Certificates, 1897-1920, 238: Clare-Genesee, 1916-1917,
Ancestry, www.ancestry.com - Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1950, Registers, 1867-1897, 23: Wayne-
Manitou, 1879-1887, Genesee County, page 240, Ancestry, www.ancestry.com - Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office Records, www.glorecords,blm.gov
- Michigan Deaths and Burials, 1800-1995, FamilySearch, www.familysearch.org
- Death Certificate, Charles H. Olmsted, Michigan, Death Records, 1867-1950,
Certificates, 1921-1941, 372: Highland Park, 1923-1927, Ancestry,
www.ancestry.com - 1860 Census, page 195, White Lak