The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1924-11-06
PICTURESQUE FIGURE
OF OLD WEST PASSES.

flCIU hESQUE FIGURE
OF OLD WEST PASSES.
Cornelius Cole, former United
States senator, died at his home in
Los Angeles this week at the age of
102 years and two months. Cornell
ius Cole was a survivor of the most
striking and picturesque period in
the history of California-the era Of
the placer miner, the vigilantes, the
pony express and the transcontinent-
al railway building, of momentous
political and social controversies,
startling crimes and summary pun
ishments.
Mr.. Cole, who celebrated the
Tooth anniversary of his birth on
September IT, 1922, arrived in Cali
fornia when he was 81 years of age,
and became member of the first
gold-seeking party to reach the Sac
ramento valley overland from the
east in the rush of 1849. Every one
of those hardy pioneers who surviv-
ed the perils of the trail and trooped
into the Golden West in the stirring
days of 40 had just one object in
view-the discovery of pay dirt
and Cornelius Cole was no exception.
But as the time went on and the
ceaseless hunt for gold came to be
regarded in the light of permanent
institution there were some who
called up memories of the comfort
able civilization that had been left
behind in the distant east, and with
these memories came a desire for
leaders. Among the latter Cornell
ius Cole was an exception.
He continued to mine for gold, as
did everyone else, but he also found
time to serve the new county of Sac
ramento in the capacity of district
attorney at moment when the
legally constituted authorities were
taking from the vigilantes the reins
of law and order. This guided his
steps along other political paths, and
he became the real leader in the
fight to keep California on the list of
free states. He took a prominent
part in organizing the Republican
party of the Golden State, and later
served on the Republican national |
committee as the first California |
representative.
AS an indication of the range of |
his political career and that of his
wife, who shared his early expert
ences, it is sufficient to note that he
was chosen a delegate to the con-
vention which nominated Fremont
for president, and that Mrs. Cole
was a member of the delegation to
the convention that nominated
Charles E. Hughes for the same Of
flee more than half century later.
During the civil war Mr.. Cole occu-
pied seat in the house of represent
atives, and in 1856 was elected to
the United States senate from Cali
fornia, serving until 1878.
Nearly fifty years after Senator
Cole had closed his desk in the ma
.ional capitol and returned to the
state of his adoption he appeared
)nce again in Washington and took
lis old place in the legislative cham {
)ers, there to receive the tribute of s
| new generation that was guiding t
he affairs of the nation He was s
! centenarian then-or within few {
months of the 100-year MARYLAND
Is he stood in the senate to speak G
lie saw none who had been there in I
lis day
Despite his advanced years, Mr.. '
,ole insisted upon making the trip T
asst in the early summer Of 1922 to a
eceive the degree of doctor of laws a
rom Wesleyan college, his Alma b
later, seventy-fve years after his t
He also visited Hobart O
ollege which he had attended in his
outh. The tour included a visit to h
lew York which the pioneer had not il
cen for more than forty years. c
lale and hearty as man of half "
is years, and without a wrinkle on d
is face, the aged visitor spent an a
ctive week in the metropolis after
leeting the heavy demands made a
pom him in Washington, where he n
ad been welcomed by President t.
[arding and many other high Of Il
Gals of the government, as well as U
he house and senate. a.
Mr.. Cole was born at Lodi, N. Y, /,
eptember II, 1922. Completing G
is academic work, he studied law it
| the office of William H. Seward, II
no later became secretary of state
nder Lincoln. In 1849 he struck w
ut for the far west, and with three al
"panned" gold with zt
arying success until in famed Ore st
On gulch they struck a rich pocket,
ne days work on which netted c.
lem $1,849. They were compelled la
sell the claim for song, however al
hen mining camp rumor drifted m
telling of better pickings else lii
here, but all lived to see the Ore til
IN gulch subsequently produce mil ia
ons of dollars worth of coarse
I'D. w
Years after this venture Mr.. Cole ri
as one of group of men who met G;
the law office of Coils P. Hunt oil
gton and Mark Hopkins in Sacra- TT
ento to organize the Central Pa ia
ic Railroad company. Later, as 10
ember of congress, he brought its
out the enactment of laws that ha
ade the building of the transcon- ju