Contents

Cornelius Cole

This article includes a list of general references, but it lacks sufficient corresponding inline citations. Please help to improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (March 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

James A. McDougall

Aaron A. Sargent

Timothy Guy Phelps

Seat eliminated

(1822-09-17)September 17, 1822
Lodi, New York, U.S.

November 3, 1924(1924-11-03) (aged 102)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.

Republican

Olive Colegrove

Wesleyan University

Lawyer

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.^[1]

Life[edit]

He graduated from Wesleyan University in 1847 and was admitted to the New York bar. In his lifetime he practiced law in his adopted state of California first in San Francisco, then in Sacramento. After returning to California following his retirement from national politics, he practiced in San Francisco again and finally in Los Angeles with his eldest son Willoughby.

On March 8, 1856, Cole was one of the organizers of the California branch of the Republican Party, acting as secretary and writing the manifesto. The 22 men who signed the organizing document included Edwin B. Crocker, the organizer of the new party, and Collis Potter Huntington. From August 1856 to January 1857, Cole and James McClatchy edited the Sacramento Daily Times, which was printed in the 54 K Street offices of the Central Pacific Railroad. It was short lived lasting only a few months after the 1856 National election.

Additionally, he was nominated on the Republican ticket for Clerk of Sacramento Court but failed to get elected. In 1858 he was elected as District Attorney of Sacramento County. In 1862 he and his family moved to Santa Cruz located on Monterey Bay. It was from there he went to the US Congress in 1863.

In 1880 he moved to southern California where he owned one of the original Spanish/Mexican land grants, what is now known as Hollywood, then was dubbed Colegrove after his wife, Olive Colegrove.^{[citation needed]} There are several streets now named after the family; Cole St., Willoughby Ave., Eleanor St. and Seward St.

The eastern California community of Coleville in Mono County is named for Cornelius Cole.

Cole's brother, George W. Cole, was a Union Army officer in the American Civil War who attained the rank of major generalbybrevet. After the war, George Cole was acquitted of the murder of L. Harris Hiscock, whom he accused of having an affair with Mrs. Cole.^{[citation needed]}

References[edit]

• Cornelius Cole, "Memoirs" (New York, 1908)
• Catherine Coffin Phillips, "Cornelius Cole California Pioneer" (San Francisco, 1929)
• Leonard L. Richards, "The California Gold Rush and the Coming of the Civil War" (New York 2007)

• United States Congress. "Cornelius Cole (id: C000607)". Biographical Directory of the United States Congress.

External links[edit]

• Media related to Cornelius Cole at Wikimedia Commons
• Cornelius ColeatFind a Grave

Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's at-large congressional district
1863–1865

Seat eliminated

U.S. senator (Class 3) from California
1867–1873
Served alongside: John Conness, Eugene Casserly

Oldest living U.S. senator
January 10, 1909 – November 3, 1924

Most senior living U.S. senator
(Sitting or former)
February 27, 1919 – November 3, 1924

Oldest United States senator ever
October 11, 1921 – present