Clarence L. Cole

Title: Bankruptcy
Born: December 17, 1863
Birth Place: Alexandria, VA

Judge Clarence L. Cole was born in Alexandria, Virginia on December 17, 1863, son of James R. and Melissa Cole.

He attended the public schools of his native city until he was thirteen years of age. He came to Baltimore, Maryland, when he was just past fifteen, and remained there until July 4, 1882 when he moved to Atlantic City, New Jersey. His first employment after leaving school was as messenger boy for the Atlantic & Pacific Telegraph Company, then with the Western Union Telegraph Company, then as clerk in a general merchandise store, after which he became an apprentice to the moulding trade. After moving back to Baltimore he entered the office of the Western Union Telegraph Company as night office boy, and was sent to Atlantic City to fill a position as operator at the Brighton Hotel. Subsequently he became manager of the main telegraph office, which position he held until he began the study of law.

He entered the law office of Judge Joseph Thompson, under whose excellent guidance he was thoroughly qualified for membership to the New Jersey Bar, and was admitted to the bar as an attorney at the June term, 1890, and as a counselor three years later. Upon his admission to the bar he was appointed Assistant Prosecutor of Atlantic county under Joseph Thompson, who served in the capacity of Prosecutor, and served in that office during the term of his superior. In 1898, a partnership was formed under the firm name of Thompson & Cole, which was continued until Mr. Cole was appointed Judge of the Circuit Court by Governor Wilson, February 7, 1911, for term of seven years. He began his judicial duties on February 17, 1911, and succeeded Judge Allen B. Endicott.

He was a member of the State Bar Association and the Atlantic County Bar Association.

Judge Cole married, in January, 1885, Lizzie Conover, at Atlantic City. He had three children, Myra Ella, Clarence L. Jr., and Maurice Y.