Cornelius Cole

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 , is the longest-lived U.S. Senator.

Early life and education Cornelius Cole was born in Lodi, New York on September 17, 1822. He received his education at local common schools, Ovid Academy in Ovid, Lima Seminary in Lima, and Hobart College in Geneva. After a year mining gold in California, in 1849 he began to practice law, first in San Francisco, then in Sacramento.

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. 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. He did actively command because he had been elected to Congress. He was on the speaker's platform near Lincoln, and both heard and saw him deliver the Gettysburg Address. He was also one of the senators who voted in favor of the Impeachment of Andrew Johnson.

Later life

After returning to California following his retirement from politics, he practiced law in San Francisco and Los Angeles. Colegrove was named for Cole's wife, and several streets were named for his children, including Willoughby Avenue, Eleanor Street and Seward Street. They were the parents of nine children.

Cole's brother, George W. Cole, was a Union Army officer in the American Civil War who attained the rank of major general by brevet. After the war, George Cole was acquitted of the murder of L. Harris Hiscock, whom he accused of having an affair with Mrs. Cole.

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