John W. Cole, b. 16 Nov 1837 (1) in Prince George County, VA (2), son of John R. and Unconfirmed Mother Cole. Either he or his father acquired a land patent in Saline County, Arkansas, on 01 Jun 1859 (3), which establishes residency in the area of recruitment. The original certificate reads, “John Cole of Pulaski County, Arkansas.” John married 11 Dec 1860 in Saline County, to Mahala Ann Brents (4), daughter of William and Mahala (Ewing) Brents (5). He enlisted 20 Feb 1862 at Benton, Saline County, in Company E, 1st Arkansas Infantry, CSA, and he received a disability discharge 01 Nov 1862. He returned to Saline County and began practicing medicine (6). Mahala apparently died before 01 Feb 1866, because John married on that date in Saline County to Sarah E. Allen, daughter of William D. and Rhoda (Ramsey) Allen (7). John died 14 Dec 1909, and Sarah died 19 Dec 1925, burials in New Friendship Cemetery, Benton, Saline County (8).

(1) Birth date from the gravestone of Dr. J.W. Cole, New Friendship Cemetery, Benton, Saline County, Arkansas; Find-A-Grave.
(2) Nativity is listed in his CSR.
(3) BLM-GLO, Little Rock Land Office, 01 Jun 1859, Documents 8211 and 8924, Accession and Serial # AR0160_083 and AR0170_022,
(4) Saline County Marriage Book C, County Clerk’s Office, Saline County Courthouse, Benton, Arkansas; Arkansas, County Marriages Index, 1857-1957, Ancestry.com.
(5)“Thomas Family Rings and Circles,” Ancestry.com; William Brents Household, 1850 U.S. Census, Saline District, Saline County, Arkansas Population Schedule, Page 90B, Lines 1-9, Dwelling 92, Family 102, National Archives Micropublication m432, Roll 30, Ancestry.com Image 14; William Brents Household, 1860 U.S. Census, Saline TWP, Saline County, Arkansas Population Schedule, Page 694, Lines 34-42, Dwelling 925, Family 925, National Archives Micropublication M653, Roll 50, Ancestry.com Image 18.
(6) John W. Cole Household, 1870 U.S. Census, Dyer TWP, Saline County, Arkansas Population Schedule, Page 517B, Lines 8-12, Dwelling 24, Family 24, National Archives Micropublication M593, Roll 63, Ancestry.com Image 4.
(7) Arkansas Marriage Index, 1820-1949, Ancesty.com; Sarah in parent’s home in1860: William D. Allen Household, 1860 U.S. Census, Saline TWP, Saline County, Arkansas Population Schedule, Page 700, Lines 22-33, Dwelling 966, Family 966, National Archives Micropublication M653, Roll 50, Ancestry.com Image 24.
(8) Find-A-Grave.