Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 02.djvu/336

 COLES

COLES

reads: " Having with a full hand continuously and pleasurably aided many public and private charities, gratuities, reliefs, promotions and benefactions, I think I have done my full duty in all of that regard also, and should now devote the remainder of my holdings exclusivel}' to the support and uses of my wife and children." For Mr. Coleman's part in the vigilance committee .see Annals of San Francisco (1855) ; Tuthill's Histoi-y of California (1866); and Hittell's History of San Francisco (1878). He died in San Fran- cisco. Cal., Nov. 23, 1893.

COLES, Abraham, author, physician and surgeon, was born in Scotch Plains, N.J., Dec. 26, 1813; son of Dennis and Catherine (Van Deursen) Coles; grandson of James (born 1744) and Elizabeth (Frazee) Coles, and a descendant on his mother's side of Everardus Bogardus and liis wife, Anneke Jans. Until the age of twelve he was educated by his parents, and in 1828 became a clerk in a New York dry goods store. In 1830 he taught Latin and Greek at Plainfield, N.J., for a few months, and in 1831 began to study law, which profession he subsequently relinquished as his vocation in life for the study of medicine. He attended the University of the City of New York, and the College of physicians and sur- geons. New York, and in 1835 received his M.D. degree from Jefferson medical college, Philadelphia. In 1836 he began practice at Newark, N.J., and in 1842 was married to Caro- line Elizabeth, eldest daughter of Jonathan ■Combs and Maria (Smith) Ackerman of New Brunswick, N.J. He several times visited Europe for study and travel, giving especial attention to languages, both ancient and modern. He was one of the founders of the Newark library and of the New Jersey historical society, and a member ■of the board of education and other organiza- tions. He owned a valuable collection of books, paintings and statuary gathered during his life- time. A colossal bronze bust of Abraham Coles by J. Q. A. Ward, with its pedestal of stones quarried for the purpose in Galilee, Bethlehem, Jerusalein, and on the Mount of Olives, Palestine, was unveiled in Washington Park, Newark, N.J. , July 5, 1897. The pedestal is founded on a rock M^eighing about seven tons, which was trans- ported with much difficulty from a grove near the landing place of the pilgrim fathers at Plymouth, Mass. He received from Rutgers college the degree of A.M. ; from Lewisburg uni- versity that of Ph. D. in 1860; and from the ■College of New Jersey, Princeton, that of LL.D. in 1871. In 1847 appeared in the Newark Daily Advertiser his first translation of the ' ' Dies Irag. ' ' This was extensively copied and made him famous throughout the literary world. In 1859 he published a volume comprising thirteen origi-

nal translations of Dies Irm (6th edition, 1892), to which he subsequently added five other translations. He also published a translation of Stabat Mater Dolorosa (1865, 3d edition, 1892); a translation of Stabat Mater Speciosa (1867, 2d edition, 1892) ; Old Gems in Xeiv Settings (1866, 3d 3dition, 1892) ; Man, the Microcosm (1866, 5th edition, 1892); The Evangel (1874, 2d edition, 1884); The Light of the World (1884); and A New Bendering of the Hebrew Psalms Into English Verse (1887). He was the author of many patriotic and devotional hymns. See Abraham Coles; Bi- ographical Sketch, Memorial Tributes, Selections from his Works, edited by J. Ackerman Coles (1892). He died at Hotel Del Monte, near Mon- terey, Cal, May 3, 1891.

COLES, Edward, governor of Illinois, was born in Albemarle county, Va., Dec. 15, 1786; son of Col. John and Rebecca (Tucker) Coles. His father was a Revolutionary officer. He was educated at Hampden -Sidney college and at Wil- liam and Mary college, finishing the prescribed course at the latter in 1807, but not graduating on account of illness. In 1809 he was appointed pri- vate secretary to President Madison and he re- mained in that position until 1815, when the President sent him to Russia to settle a misunder- standing between the Emperor and the U. S. gov- ernment, in which undertaking he was successful. In 1819 he removed with his negroes to Edwards- ville, 111., where he freed them and gave to the head of each family 160 acres of land. He was appointed by President Monroe registrar of the land oflSce at Edwardsville, and in 1822 he was elected governor of Illinois and .served until 1826. About 1832 he removed to Philadelphia, Pa. Coles county, 111., was named in his honor. He was married in 1833 to Sally Logan, daughter of Hugh and Sarah (Smith) Roberts, and his son Edward was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1856 and became a lawyer in Philadelphia. See Sketch of Edward Coles, Second Governor of Ulinois (1882), by E. B. Washburne. He died in Philadelphia, Pa., July 7, 1868.

COLES, Jonathan Ackerman, physician and surgeon, was born in Newark, N.J., May 6, 1843; only son of Abraham and Caroline (Ackerman) Coles ; grandson of Dennis Coles and of Jonathan Combs Ackerman, and a descendant of Dominie Everardus Bogardus and his wife, Anneke Jans. He was graduated at Columbia college in 1864, and from the College of physicians and sur- geons in New York city in 1868. He began the practice of his profession in New York city, spending the years 1877-78 in Europe in the medical schools and hospitals of London, Paris, Heidelberg, Berlin and Vienna. He ti'avelled throughout Europe and the East and on his return joined his father in the practice of medicine and