Before the beginning of the Civil War, Eli Frank Cole (born 1826) moved to Georgia with some of his family members. He and his wife Clementine (born 1831) had five sons while living in Georgia - William R.P., Alonzo M., Gadimer D., Frank A. W., and Davis Y. Cole. After General Sherman's advance across Georgia, several members of the Cole family moved to Arkansas, including Eli's family. While in Arkansas they worked as farmers and had several more children, including A.B. Cole who went on to be a doctor. As adults the brothers - William, Gadimer, Frank, and A.B. - remained close. They lived in the same area of Craighead County and collaborated on land purchases together. During the Civil War, Ransome Stephens, Younger Alonzo Cole's father-in-law, served in the Confederate Army. Following the war, Younger and his family relocated to Northeast Arkansas with other members of the Cole family. Younger's brother, Gilbert Cole, stayed in Georgia and went on to become a locally known Baptist minister.