Further research leads me to believe Capt Cole was the son of a Nathaniel Cole of Seekonk, Bristol, Mass. He appears to be in Central City, Gilpin, Colorado Territory in 1870 still single and then in Clear Creek Colorado in the 1880 census, still single. I don't find him in the 1890 Vet Census. He is not found in the Colorado 1885 census either.

FWIW
John R.