Edmund William Cole

Colonel Edmund William "King" Cole (July 19, 1827 – May 25, 1899) was an American Confederate veteran and businessman. He was the president of the Nashville, Chattanooga and St. Louis Railway, and the founder of the American National Bank.

Early life Edmund William Cole was born on July 19, 1827, in Giles County, Tennessee. He grew up on a farm.

Career Cole moved to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1845, where he worked as a store clerk and later as a bookkeeper in the post office. General Samuel Jones described Cole as "active and zealous" during the war. When August Belmont purchased it from Stevenson in 1880, Cole resigned, He also invested in real estate in Downtown Nashville and coal mines in Sheffield, Alabama.

Philanthropy

In 1885, Cole founded the Randall Cole School, and he hired Dr W. C. Kilvington as superintendent. In 1887, Cole donated it to the state of Tennessee, and it was renamed the Tennessee Industrial School. In 1892, he donated $5,000 to endow the annual Cole Lecture, "for the defense and advocacy of the Christian religion."

Personal life, death and legacy Cole was married twice. They lived at 182 Church Street. Their wedding, conducted by Bishop Holland Nimmons McTyeire, was attended by Confederate veterans Bushrod Johnson and Edmund Kirby Smith. They had a son, Whitefoord Russell Cole, who became a prominent businessman. His funeral was held at the McKendree United Methodist Church in Nashville. He was buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery. After his death, his widow hired sculptor George Julian Zolnay to design his bust; it was installed in Kirkland Hall, the administration building of Vanderbilt University.