NameWilliam Kohl
BirthApr 1, 1830, Hesse, Germany
DeathNov 13, 1909, Patton, Pa.
BurialSt. Benedict Church Cemetery, Carrolltown, Pa.
FatherHenry Kohl (1796-1875)
Spouses
BirthSep 6, 1836, Susquehanna Township, Cambria County, Pa.
DeathApr 13, 1863
BurialSt. Benedict Church Cemetery, Carrolltown, Pa.
FatherAugustin Fehrenbacher (1800-1874)
MotherMaria Anna Kienz (1805-1866)
MarriageNov 22, 1853, St. Benedict's Church, Carrolltown, Pa.
ChildrenMary Elizabeth (1854-1934)
 Sarah Ann (1856-1939)
 Augustine Bernard (1858-1929)
 Elmira Frances (1861-1925)
 George Vincent (1862-1949)
2Mary A. Dietrich
Birth1839/40, Pa.
DeathAug 14, 1911, Patton, Pa.
BurialSt. Benedict's Church Cemetery, Carrolltown, Pa.
FatherJohn Dietrich
MotherElizabeth Shirdon
MarriageAug 30, 1863, St. Benedict's Church, Carrolltown, Pa.
ChildrenPeter A. (1864-)
 Michael
 William A.
 Henry F.
 Francis A.
 Joseph
 Clara
 Barbara
 Catherine
 Flora
Notes for William Kohl
On July 5, 1832, a two-year-old William Kohl arrived in Philadelphia on the 413 ton ship Alleghany, from Bremen, Germany. The manifest also lists his parents and two older brothers Thomas and Joseph. It is asserted that William also had twin brother named John J. Cole, who died at the age of 5. The family established a farm in Carroll Township, Cambria Co., Pa., by 1850.

Following his marriage to Mary Farabaugh in 1853, William established a farm adjacent to his parents in Carroll Township. It was located on the south side of the Dutch Road, one-half mile west of the Chest Creek and railroad crossing. According to a 1983 interview of the couple’s grandchild, Sr. Sara Ann Lauer, Mary’s early death was caused by typhoid fever, possibly contracted from William, who had brought the disease home from his early river logging work. Now a widower, henry was advised by a priest that “since he was a man, he should get a housekeeper and marry her.”

William followed this advice. His second marriage was to Mary A. Dietrich, just a few months after Mary's death. They had thirteen children together, and remained in Carroll Township and nearby Chest Township for several decades.

By 1880, William was active in his own lumber business. He owned and operated various sawmills in his lifetime. He also had a farm implements store in Carrolltown, Pa., for 5 years, until it was destroyed by fire. He then established a sawmill and planing mill in Ebensburg. After the Johnstown Flood in 1889, William engaged in moving houses, contracting and building. For one year he owned a sawmill in Condon, from where he moved the business to Dean for two years, and then Ashville for another two years. William then went to Albion and at the end of 7 years in 1903 settled the business in Patton, where his sons established a machine shop and planing mill under the name of "Cole Brothers."

The Cole family anglicized their name from the original, "Kohl." William died of stomach cancer in 1909.
Notes for Mary Helen (Spouse 1)
Mary was raised in Allegheny Township, Cambria County, Pa. Although most vital records relating to Mary indicate that her middle name was Helen, there are many sources, including her gravestone in Carrolltown, Pa., that adopted Ann or Anna as her middle name.
Notes for Mary A. (Spouse 2)
Mary died of typhoid fever.
Last Modified Feb 17, 2015Created Sep 1, 2022 using Reunion for Macintosh