Autobiography of the third president of Texas A & M University, born in NC. Upon graduation from what is now Duke University in 1861, he was mustered into the Civil War just prior to graduation, serving with Guilford Greys out of Greensboro, NC. He was a teacher, Texas legislator, serving Texas in the 12th legislature as a Democrat, representing Grayson County, and counties west. He served as superintendent of Abilene public schools and retired after opening a military school, COLES CLASSIC SCHOOL, in Dallas,Tx. He died in 1917 and is buried in a hystoric cemetery in. Downtown Dallas called Greenwood Cemetery.