Claude W. Cole, 67, Dies Suddenly Friday

Owner of Main Ducks, Prominent Fisherman, Suffers Heart Attack And Expires At Railroad Dock.

Cape Vincent Eagle, 19 May 1938

Captain Claude W. Cole, 67, owner of the 1,135 acres that comprise the Main Ducks and Yorkshire Islands, 22 miles from Cape Vincent in Lake Ontario, died suddenly at about 9:15 last Friday morning while driving his automobile on the dock in the rear of the Davidson Fish company, near the railroad station here, Mr, Cole, who resided on a farm about a mile from this village on the road to the Tibbett’s Point lighthouse, had driven his car from his home to this village. He had been in the habit of driving his car to this village practically every day.

As he drove along the dock he was suddenly stricken with a heart attack and lost control of the car. The car, out of control, started for the river but was stopped as it hit a post about three feet from the edge of the dock, Had it not struck the post, the car would have plunged into the river. Employees of the Davidson Fish. company, hearing the noise, hurried to the scene and found Mr. Cole slumped over the wheel of his car. He was removed from the car and taken by one of the employees to the home of Mr. Cole's son, Cecil A, Cole, of this village. Dr. W. N. Maloney, who was summoned, said death was caused by angina pectoris and that evidently Mr. Cole had died instantly. For the past two years Mr. Cole had been in failing health and had been subject to severe heart attacks.

Claude Wilmot Cole, more familiarly known as “King” Cole, was born at Big Island, Ont, near Belleville, October 14, 1870, a son of the late Simon A. and Sarah Bolter Cole. He married Sarah Ann Dodge, of Milford, Ont., at Milford on December 11, 1890. About 37 years ago he came to the United States and during the greater part of that time resided in this village. In the spring of 1926 he purchased the 257-acre farm where he resided at the time of his death and he established his residence there in 1927.

Long a commercial fisherman, Mr. Cole had made a fortune from the fishing about his islands, located at the foot of Lake Ontario in Canadian waters. THe had also been an experimenter in wild animal breeding, particularly bison, for many years. He owned Main Ducks and Yorkshire Islands by a crown grant from the Canadian government and on that land he developed a fine farm with blooded stock, thoroughbred cattle and a fine stable of racing horses.

Mr, Cole was a member of Cape Vincent Lodge, No, 298, F. & A. M.; Cape Vincent Chapter, No. 96, Royal Arch Masons; Watertown Commandery, No. 11, Knights Templar, and Media Temple, A.A.O.N.MNS., of Watertown. He was also a member of the Picton, Ont., Lodge of Odd Fellows. Surviving him are his wife; two sons, Wilmot H. Cole, Port Erie, Ont.. and Ceci] A. Cole, this village; two grandchildren, Mrs. George Russell, of Watertown, and Donna Cole, of Fort Erie, Ont.; two brothers, Arthur B. Cole, British Columbia, and Aylsworth Cole, Amherst Island, Ont., and several nephews and nieces.

Masonic funeral services were held Sunday afternoon at 3 o’clock at the home of his son, Cecil, with Rev. N. A, Darling, pastor of the Methodist Episcopal church, officiating. The remains were taken to Picton, Ont., where burial was made Monday.