Pioneer settler John Cole (1805-75) migrated to Texas in 1828. An active resident of the Cow Bayou community, he served in the militia during the 1836 Texas War for Independence. Moving to this area, he built a log cabin on public land (5 mi. W). In 1848 he received a land grant for his homestead (.5 mi. N). Cole was a successful cattleman in northern Orange and southern Jasper counties. The community that developed around his land from 1830 to 1902 was known as the Cole settlement. He is buried in the family cemetery on his original homestead.