Territorial Timeline

President Andrew Johnson appoints George E. Cole territorial governor

In 1860 George E. Cole was in Oregon when "gold fever" struck. He moved to Walla Walla to take part in the various gold rushes in that area, but failing to make his fortune in prospecting, he ran for Territorial Delegate to Congress in 1863 and won, the first resident of eastern Washington to serve in Congress.

Following his term in Congress in 1866, President Andrew Johnson appointed Cole governor of Washington Territory. Although he was "acting governor," the U.S. Senate did not approve his appointment since the political body was engaged in a political struggle with President Johnson and refused to approve any of his appointments. During Cole's "administration," the Washington Territorial Legislature passed its first memorial to become a state. The timing was unfortunate because of the political struggle, and Congress ignored the request.

Some years after his time as "governor," Cole was appointed Postmaster for Portland, Oregon. For a time he also served as a contractor for the Northern Pacific Railroad construction along Pend Oreille Lake. In 1883 he bought a section of land near Spokane and settled down to farming, also serving a term as Spokane County treasurer. Cole died in Portland, Oregon, in 1906.