Cornelius Cole (September 17, 1822 – November 3, 1924) was an American politician who served a single term in the United States House of Representatives as a Republican representing California from 1863 to 1865, and another term in the United States Senate from 1867 to 1873. Cole, who died at the age of 102 years, 47 days, is the longest-lived U.S. Senator.
On March 8, 1856, Cole was one of the organizers of the California branch of the Republican Party, acting as secretary and writing its initial manifesto.[2] He served on the Republican National Committee from 1856 to 1860.[1] From August 1856 to January 1857, Cole and James McClatchy edited the Sacramento Daily Times.[3]
Additionally, he was nominated on the Republican ticket for Clerk of Sacramento Court but was unsuccessful. In 1858 he was elected District Attorney of Sacramento County.[1] In 1862 he and his family moved to Santa Cruz.[1] During the American Civil War, Cole supported the Union.[4] In 1863, he was commissioned as a captain after winning an election to command the Santa Cruz Cavalry Troop, a unit he helped raise for the California Militia.[4][5] He did actively command because he had been elected to Congress.[4]
After returning to California following his retirement from politics, he practiced law in San Francisco and Los Angeles.[1] In 1880, he moved to Colegrove, where he lived in retirement.[1] Cole was the founder of Colegrove, a settlement he created on land that had been part of Rancho La Brea; he acquired the land from owner Henry Hancock as payment for helping Hancock confirm title to Rancho La Brea.[9] Colegrove was named for Cole's wife, and several streets were named for his children, including Willoughby Avenue, Eleanor Street and Seward Street.[9]
^ abcFreshour, Sidney Glenn (1995). Wagons to Soquel, 1732-1932. Farmington Hills, MI: Glenhaven Press. p. 317. ISBN978-0-9637-2656-8 – via Google Books. Cole signed the sworn and certified oath required for his commission as a Captain in the California Militia.