Monday, November 23, 2015

Susan Hindman Cole... Grandma Unknown

Like many female ancestors I have – Susan Hindman is pretty much a mystery.

Susan (Susannah) Hindman was born ca 1816, possibly in Pennsylvania. She was married to William W. Cole on ­­8 June 1839 in Sandusky, Ohio. 

Marriage record for William Cole & Susannah Hindman

I’m not sure if Susan was a resident here prior to her marriage... And I’m not even sure about the spelling of her first or last names! Some records show her as Susan vs Susannah and her surname as Hineman vs Hindman/Hindeman.

I have not been able to locate William Cole in the 1840 census yet. Or any Hindman families that could be connected. By 1850 they are living in Steuben County, Indiana. Though according to birthplaces for their children, it seems they lived in Michigan before returning to Indiana, before returning back to Hudson, Michigan by 1854 for the birth of my Great-Great Grandfather.


In 1861, eldest son Byron enlisted in the Civil War, a resident of Lenawee County. I can't locate the family in the 1860 census, but assume they are still there. 

By 1870, the whole Cole family have moved to what is now Kandiyohi County, Minnesota with their families.

William & Susan Cole had at least 5 children: 
Byron A. Cole born 1842- Indiana
Jennet Finn Welliver born 1845- Michigan
Anna Marie Randall born 1847- Michigan
Martha Gay born 1849- Michigan
Delivan W. Cole born 1854- Hudson, Michigan

 —but it is possible that there were other children, though no others show up in any census records, and at the time of William’s 1902 death, these were the only listed as survivors.


Death Record
Susan died on 12 April 1889, at age 73. She is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery in New London, Minnesota. Her grave is unmarked.



There appear to be a number of descendants interested in the Cole family—you will stumble upon many trees on Ancestry…  and I have been in contact with different ‘cousins’ over the years. No one seems to know anything of Susan’s early life.         


Family of William & Susan Cole
Susan is in the middle row

I’d love to connect with any Cole descendants or Hindman researchers who might be able to shed some light on this mysterious Grandma and who she was prior to her marriage!



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