The family is of the Reformed Church of Holland from its very start in that country. It was identified with the organization of the first Reformed Church in New Amsterdam (the " Church in the Fort ") and subsequently with the organization of the Reformed Churches of Kingston, Tappan, Clarkstown and West Hempstead (or Kakiat), and it also, before 1800, founded a Reformed Church in Fondabush, Fulton County, which, however, was changed to a Presbyterian Church in 1825. Rev. Dr. Cole is thus, through his father, of strictest Holland descent. He I'eels the derivation of liis name irom so historic a stock and is equally alive to the character for simplicity and spotless business integrity which has been handed down through the American generations. With the exception of the first member of the line, who was a government ofl5cer, all the generations, down to his father, were farmers. All of them were continuously, and many of them ofiicially, connected with the life and work of the Reformed Churches. Purity of life, probity in dealing, steadiness of aim and purpose have been the heritage handed down to him, and this heritage he cherishes with the most

HISTORY OF WESTCHESTER COTOTY.

sacred reverence and would not exchange for any other form of inheritance whatever.

Rev. Dr. Cole was born at Spring Valley September 22, 1822, during a brief summer visit of his parents, then residents of New York City, to the old family homestead. Being the first child of a conscientious and gifted teacher, his training naturally engaged his fathei''s close thought. The course taken with him was such as to give to his mind an early and strong bias for the study of languages, without, however, impairing his education in other branches. But his father's view of the importance of languages was such that he was started in Latin at four, in Greek at six and in Hebrew at nine, and was prepared for college at twelve years of age.