Edward Dorsey Cole, the son of Horace and Martha A. Cole, was born in Prince William County on October 10, 1843. He lived in the county until he was 18 years of age, when he joined the 15th Virginia Cavalry during the Civil War. He eventually settled in Fredericksburg, Virginia and became a prominent citizen there.
Here's a classic example of a home town boy making good.
Fredericksburg Daily Star
25 August 1917, pg. 3, col. 3
COL. E. D. COLE DEAD - Passed Away Suddenly at buffalo Lithia Springs. Prominent Citizen and Confederate Veteran - Body Will Be Brought Here Sunday. Col. Edward Dorsey Cole, one of Fredericksburg's most prominent and progressive citizens, died at Buffalo Lithia Springs, Saturday at noon, from an attack of acute indigestion and apoplexy, aged 74 years. The deceased was born in Prince William county, where he lived until he was 18 years old, his parents being Mr. Horace Cole and Mrs. Martha A. Cole. At 18 he entered the Confederate army in 15th regiment Va. Cavalry. Later he was detailed as a courier for Gen. J. E. B. Stuart until the latter's death, when he joined Col. John S. Mosby's command, and remained with it until the end of the war. After the war Col. Cole came to Fredericksburg and secured employment with Southern Express Company. He married his cousin, Miss Alice Cole, daughter of the late Counsellor Cole, after which he returned to Prince William and engaged in farming for two years. He then returned to Fredericksburg and formed a co-partnership with Mr. Richard G. Swift in produce business at the stand on Commerce Street which he now owns and is occupied by the firm of E. L. Jones. This firm continued until the death of Mr. Swift when it was dissolved and Col. Cole conducted the business of selling lumber and building supplies under the firm style of E. D. Cole most successfully for over 40 years and from which he retired some three years ago. Col. Cole was ever active in every movement that he thought tended to the advancement of Fredericksburg. He served continuously in the City Council for 28 years and was its president for four years. He was a deacon in the Baptist church, chairman of the public property committee of the church and one of its most efficient working members. He had been president of the Fair Society, and was a director at the time of his death, a State proxy of the R., F. & P.R.R. for years and a stockholder in the Princess Anne Hotel and other institutions looking to building up of the city. Col. Cole as a vice-president and a director of the Farmers and Merchants State Bank. He has been remarkably successful all through his career and leaves a large estate. Col. Cole will be greatly missed in the community. The deceased is survived by his wife, Mrs. Alice Cole, and by two daughters, Mrs. W. L. Brannan and Mrs. J. B. Rawlings. The body will be brought here Sunday when the funeral arrangements will be made.
