William Washington Cole Explained

William Washington Cole (1847 – March 10, 1915), was part owner of the Barnum & Bailey Circus.

Biography

He was born in 1847 in New York City to the contortionist William H. Cole and wire walker Mary Ann Cooke.^[1] In 1884, he established "W.W. Cole’s New Colossal Shows", which survives to this day, as the Cole Bros. Circus.^{[2] [3]}

He died on March 10, 1915.^[1] He left an estate in excess of $5,000,000.^[4]

Notes and References

1. Encyclopedia: William Lawrence Slout . William Lawrence Slout . Olympians of the Sawdust Circle . William Washington Cole . Cole, William W. (1847-March 10, 1915) Born in NYC, the son of contortionist William H. Cole and high school rider and wire walker Mary Ann Cooke. His sister Florence Cole married Maximilian Schumann of the Circus Schumann. First year in the business, H. Buckley & Co., 1857. Four years after his father died his mother married Miles Orton of Orton Bros. Young Cole learned the circus business growing up on the show, beginning as ticket seller and general helper and progressing to side-show spieler, layer-out, ringmaster, bill-poster and advance agent. Became a sideshow proprietor, 1867. ... .
2. Web site: Atwell, Harry A. . 1935 . [{{wdl|10699}} Cole Bros. Circus ]. World Digital Library .
3. Web site: Cole Bros. History: W.W. Cole's Legacy Lives On. Cole Bros. Circus of Stars. 22 January 2014.
4. News: W.W. Cole left $5,000,000. . The will of William Washington Cole, part owner of the Barnum Bailey Circus, disposing of an estate in excess of $5,000,000, was filed for probate yesterday. There were bequests aggregating $100,000 to religious and charitable institutions. The widow, Mrs. Margaret C. Cole, will receive $200,000, all household and personal effects, pictures, books, jewelry, and one-fourth of the residuary estate. . . March 20, 1915 . 2009-10-17 .