George Edward Cole | |
|---|---|
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| 6thGovernor of Washington Territory | |
| In office January 8, 1867 – March 4, 1867 | |
| Appointed by | Andrew Johnson |
| Preceded by | William Pickering |
| Succeeded by | Marshall F. Moore |
| Delegate to theU.S. House of Representatives fromWashington Territory'sat-large district | |
| In office March 4, 1863 – March 3, 1865 | |
| Preceded by | William H. Wallace |
| Succeeded by | Arthur A. Denny |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1826-12-23)December 23, 1826 Trenton, New York |
| Died | December 3, 1906(1906-12-03) (aged 79) Portland, Oregon |
| Political party | Democrat Republican from the 1870s. |
George Edward Cole (December 23, 1826 – December 3, 1906) was an American politician. He is remembered as the 6th Governor and 5th Delegate from theTerritory of Washington.
George Edward Cole was born December 23, 1826, inTrenton,Oneida County,New York. Cole attended thepublic schools and Hobart Hall Institute. He was employed as clerk in a country store.[1]
After living in theMidwestern state ofIllinois, Cole departed forCalifornia during thegold rush year of 1849. From there he moved to thePacific Northwest, arriving in theOregon Territory in 1850.[2]
Cole soon became involved in the politics of the Oregon Territory, serving as a member of theOregon House of Representatives in theOregon Territorial Legislature during the biannual session running from 1852 to 1853.[2] During that session he became an early supporter of the idea of splitting the territory — which then included the whole of today's states ofWashington,Idaho, and thewestern portion of Montana — helping to draft a memorial toCongress calling for the establishment of theWashington Territory.[2]
In Oregon Cole engaged in mercantile pursuits and steamboat transportation on theWillamette River. He served as clerk of theUnited States District Court of Oregon in 1859 and 1860.
Cole relocated toWalla Walla, Washington, in 1860.[2] He was elected as the Washington Territory's delegate to Congress in 1862 as aDemocrat, serving as a member of theThirty-eighth Congress from March 4, 1863, to March 3, 1865. He was the first Washington Territorial Delegate to Congress to hail from theEast side of the state.[2] He would also be the last member of the Democratic Party to represent the Washington Territory in Congress until 1885.[3] Cole served for one term only, not being a candidate for renomination in 1864.[1]
In November 1866 Cole was appointed Governor of the Territory by Democratic PresidentAndrew Johnson, serving in that position until March 4, 1867.[2]
With the Democrats out of power and himself out of office, Cole returned toPortland, Oregon, in 1867 where for the next four years he was instrumental in the operation of theOregon & California Railroad, helping oversee construction of a line from Portland to theSouthern Oregon town ofRoseburg.[2] In the interim he switched his allegiance to theRepublican Party.[3]
In 1873 Cole was appointed Postmaster of Portland by RepublicanPresidentUlysses S. Grant, taking reappointment to the post by PresidentRutherford B. Hayes in 1877.[2] Following the expiration of his second term as Postmaster, Cole went to work for theNorthern Pacific Railroad, remaining with the company through 1882.[4]
Cole moved toSpokane, Washington, in 1889, was elected county treasurer ofSpokane County, serving two terms in that position.[5]
He also maintained extensive interests in mining, manufacturing, and farming.[1]
George E. Cole died in Portland, Oregon, December 3, 1906. His body was interred inLone Fir Cemetery in the city of his death.[1]
| U.S. House of Representatives | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by | Delegate to the U.S. House of Representatives fromWashington Territory 1865–1867 | Succeeded by |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Territorial Governor of Washington 1867 | Succeeded by |
| International | |
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| National | |
| People | |
| Other | |
