Education
Born in Cazenovia, New York, Cole attended the common schools and graduated from Union College, Schenectady, New York, in 1843. He studied law.
United States representative lawyer politician
Born in Cazenovia, New York, Cole attended the common schools and graduated from Union College, Schenectady, New York, in 1843. He studied law.
He was admitted to the bar in 1845 and commenced practice in Chicago, Illinois. He moved to Potosi, Wisconsin the same year and continued the practice of law. Cole was elected as a Whig to the Thirty-first Congress (March 4, 1849 - March 3, 1851) representing Wisconsin"s 2nd congressional district.
He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1850 to the Thirty-second Congress.
He resumed the practice of law in Potosi until 1855. He served as associate justice of the State supreme court 1855-1880, and chief justice from April 1881 to January 4, 1892.
He resumed the practice of law. He retired in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where he died on May 5, 1903.
He was interred in Forest Hill Cemetery, in Madison, Wisconsin.
His former home, now known as the Carrie Pierce House, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. They had two children, Sidney, who lived to adulthood, and Orasmus, who died as an infant in 1853. Julia died in 1874. She died June 17, 1884.
He served as member of the State constitutional convention in 1847.