Coole, Arthur Braddan, 1900-

Arthur and Ella Coole were Methodist missionaries serving in North China from 1924-1947. Arthur worked as a teacher and administrator, and Ella taught English and was active in church affairs. Arthur Braddan Coole was born January 6, 1900, in Birmingham, Kansas. His family lived in Kutien, Fukien, China from 1906-1913 where his father was a medical missionary. In 1917 Arthur attended Northwestern University before joining the Army. He completed his A.B. at Baker University in Baldwin, Kansas and his M.A. at the University of Denver in 1922. He married Ella Frances Endres later that year. The Cooles first went to China in 1924 and Arthur taught at the Tientsin Hui Wen Academy until 1937. In 1938 he resumed administrative work with the Methodist Church in Peking. From 1941-1944 Arthur was the Soldier's Pastor at Fort Riley, Kansas. He returned to China in 1944 to work as Field Treasurer of the Methodist Church and later as National Treasurer of the National Council of Churches. In 1947 both Cooles again taught at the Hui Wen Academy. Later that year, Arthur began a 12-year period as a Methodist minister in Kansas. After retirement he wrote articles and a book on Chinese coinage.