William Washington Cole (1847 – March 10, 1915), was part owner of the Barnum & Bailey Circus.[1]
Biography
editHe was born in 1847 in New York City to the contortionist William H. Cole and wire walker Mary Ann Cooke.[2] In 1884, he established "W.W. Cole’s New Colossal Shows", which survives to this day, as the Cole Bros. Circus.[3][4]
He died on March 10, 1915.[2] He left an estate in excess of $5,000,000.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b "W.W. Cole left $5,000,000". New York Times. March 20, 1915. Retrieved 2009-10-17.
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.
- ^ a b William Lawrence Slout. "William Washington Cole". Olympians of the Sawdust Circle.
- ^ Atwell, Harry A. (1935). "Cole Bros. Circus". World Digital Library.
- ^ "Cole Bros. History: W.W. Cole's Legacy Lives On". Cole Bros. Circus of Stars. Retrieved 22 January 2014.