The Cockerill Family of Fayette County, Ohio

THOMAS G. COCKERELL.

Thomas G. Cockerell, farmer and stock raiser, is a son of William S. and Anna Cockerell, who were natives of Virginia. They emigrated to this state, in 1812, and settled near where the Hocking River empties into the Ohio, but a short distance below ]VIarietta. In 1821 they removed to this county, and settled on the waters of the Wabash; where in about one year Mrs. Cockerell died. They were the parents of nine children, five sons and four daughters: Elizabeth, married and now is deceased; William, married and now is deceased; Milly, married and now is deceased; Samuel, married and lives in Lowa; Eldridge, died when quite young; three died in infancy.

Mr. Cockerell married for his second wife Phoebe Mooney, by whom he had nine children, two sous and seven daughters: Mary A., married but is deceased; James, married and lives in the neighborhood; Lydia J., married and lives in the neighborhood; Ilarmanus, married and is deceased; Amanda, married and lives in the vicinity; Eliza, married but is now a widow, living near Washington; Hannah, married and is deceased; two died in infancy. In 1855, Mrs. Cockerell died. After remaining a widower for two years, Mr. Cockerell nifirried forbi third wife, Eliza Mooney, sister to his second wife; she lived but five years, and died. Mr. Cockerell remained single for two years, when he married Mrs. Doster, a widow lady of the neighborhood for his fourth wife; she lived nine years and died. Mr. Cockerell died December 19, 1879, having lived more than ninety years.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

EDWARD E. COCKERILL.

One of the earliest pioneer families to settle in Fayette county, Ohio, was the Cockerill family, which was first represented in this county by William S. Cockerill, a native of Loudoun county, Virginia, who was born in December, 1790, and came to Ohio in 1812, shortly after his marriage, settling first on the Ohio river just above its union with the Hocking river. Here he lived until 1821, when he came to Fayette county and purchased land of John Rowe in Perry township. Here he lived for one year and then bought land of Mr. Connor on the Little Wabash. William S. Cockerill was a man of decided literary tastes and more than ordinary intellectual ability. For several years after coming to this county he followed the profession of teaching in connection with farming. He served in the War of 1812 in an Ohio regiment. William S. Cockerill was married four times, his first wife being Anna Lehman, to whom he was married in Virginia in 1809, and whose death occurred in Fayette county, Ohio, in 1821, shortly after the family moved to this county. Nine children were born to this first marriage, Elizabeth, William, Milly, Samtel, Eldridge, Thomas G. and three who died in infancy. Thomas G. is the father of Edward E. Cockerill, with whom this narrative subsequently deals. The second wife of William S. Cockerill was Phoebe Mooney, the daughter of Judge Mooney, and to this second union nine children were born, Mary A., James, Lydia J., Harmanus, Amanda, Eliza, Anna and two who died in infancy. The second wife died in 1855, and in 1857 Mr. Cockerill married her sister, Eliza Mooney, who died in 1862. The fourth and last marriage of William S. Cockerill occurred in 1864, when he was united in marriage to Mrs. Doster, who died in 1873. William S. Cockerill lived until December 19, 1879, being nearly ninety years of age at the time of his death. He was a prosperous farmer and left an

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Google estate of four hundred acres of excellent land, which is now held by his descendants.

Thomas G. Cockerill, the son of William S. and Anna (Lehman) Cockerill, was born in 1812, and was married September 29, 1 831, to Sylvitha Cochran, the daughter of Barnabas and Charlotta Cochran, natives of New Jersey and early settlers of Ohio, who came to this state in 1806. To Thomas G. Cockerill and wife were born nine children, William Newton, Martha J., Edward Estell, Jacob, Thomas, Samuel S., James W., Amelia O. and Eldridge W. Four of these sons were in the Civil War, where they made a distinguished record for themselves. All of the nine children grew to manhood and womanhood, married and reared families of their own.

Edward Estell Cockerill, named in honor of the Rev. Edward Estell, was born January 22, 1837, in the township where he has always lived except ten years in other states. He is the third child of Thomas G. Cockerill and wife and one of the most highly honored residents of this county. He was born in a log cabin in Perry township, and spent a few months of his boyhood years in the primitive schools of his home neighborhood, and early in life became used to hard manual labor. He married two years before the Civil War opened and left his wife and two small children to serve his country. He enlisted in the One Hundred and Sixty-eighth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry and served for four months toward the close of the struggle. Immediately after being mustered out of the service he returned to his farm and has been following that vocation since.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Mr. Cockerill has a farm of ninety-three and three-fourth acres, well improved, situated two miles west of Jefferson ville. He is a member of Wilstach Lodge No. 368, I. O. O. F. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. They are highly respected citizens, and good neighbors.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

LUTHER G. COCKERILL.

Among the enterprising, progressive and successful farmers of L'nion tCAvnship, Fayette county, Ohio, is the gentleman whose name appears at the head of this sketch. This family)- name is one which is associated with the earliest history of this county and the bearers of this name have ever been among the leading citizens of this locality. Mr. Cockerill resides on his fami of two hundred and ten acres of land, splendidly located on the Greenfield pike about three miles from Washington C. H. He also owns one himdred and sixty-one acres located just south of his home place and his entire possessions bear ready witness to his progressive agricultural method and his business ability.

Luther G. Cockerill first saw the light of day on November 20. 1873, in Perry township, this county, being the son of Jacob S. and Hannah (Limes)

Cocker ill. Jacob Cockerill was also a native of Perry township, born in 1839, the son of Thomas and Sylvitha (Cochran) Cockerill. Thomas was born in 1812 or 1813 and was one of the first white children born in the state of Ohio. Luther, the immediate subject of this sketch, was one of a family of ten children, being the fifth in the order of birth. The others are: Oney, who became the wife of John King; Settle, Mrs. Patton; Augusta, Mrs. Haines; Elmer, who resides on the family home place in Perry township; Walter; Fletcher, deceased; Laura, Mrs. Rodgers; Daisy, and Ernest, also a resident of Perry township.

Mr. Cockerill received his elementary education in the district schools near the home in Perry township, later taking a more advanced house in the university at Ada, Ohio. From the time he was a small boy, and later on during vacation periods, he assisted the father in the work about the home farm and in this way early acquired a practical knowledge of agriculture. After finishing his schooling and desiring to start out in life for himself, he rented a tract of land from his father, which he tilled for two years. About that time he was married and for nine years after marriage he rented land from his father-in-law. Marion Parrott. His first purchase consisted of one hundred and fort-eight acres, which he so managed as to make it pay for itself in a remarkably short time. Mr. Cockerill has the reputation of being one of the best farmers of the community- and in the conduct of his business he employs only such methods as have been approved by long usage or by experiments along scientific lines. He has attained a most gratifying degree of success, quite commensurate with the thought and energy he has brought to bear in his undertaking".

On November 12, 1899, Mr. Cockerill was united in marriage with IMaud McVey-Parrott, daughter of Ir'in and Alsina (Zimmerman) McVey and legally adopted daughter of Marion and Hulda (Wright) Parrott. Her own parents were farmers of this county and the father saw active service during the Civil W'ar, being a member of the Ninetieth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry. They were the parents of ten children. Mrs. Cockerill being the youngest of the family. Ida, the eldest, is dead; Ina is Mrs. Hyman DeBruin; Turner resides in Cincinnati, Ohio; Minnie is Mrs. Charles Shaw; May is deceased: William resides in St. Joseph, Missouri, as does also Grant; Frank has long been a resident of Iowa and Charles is located at Dallas, Texas. When Mrs. Cockerill was only one year old the mother of this large and growing family died and one year later the father passed into the great beyond. This left their large family entirely on their own resources, most of them being of a helpless age, and in this way the children became scattered practically all over the country. Mrs. Cockerill, the baby of the family, found a place in the hearts and home of Marion Parrott and was reared as their own child.

To Mr. and Mrs. Cockerill have been born six children, Anna G., Ruth Irene, Jacob Marion, Irvin Perry, diaries Luther and Walter Herman, the oldest of whom and a little son, Irvin Perry, have been removed from the home by death. Both Mr. and Mrs. Cockerill are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and are among those most actively interested in forwarding the work of that organization. Politically, Mr. Cockerill gives stanch support to the Republican party and he takes a deep and intelligent interest in all public questions, though not in any sense a seeker after public office. Mr. Cockerill can honestly claim all the honor accorded him for what he has accomplished, for he has won his own way and is now one of the substantial men of the community as a result of his close application to business and his persistency.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

James Cockerill, farmer, was born in this county, June 7, 1828. Till within the last five years, he lived on the farm on which he was born, four miles northeast of Martinsburg. In 1876, he moved to his present home, one and one-half miles northeast of Martinsburg. He owns one hundred and twelve acres, well improved, ninety acres of which is in a high state of cultivation.

Mr. Cockerill enlisted as a private in the 168tii O. V. I., and was captured with his regiment at Cynthiana Kentucky, and paroled. In politics, he is proud to be called a Republican.

On the 3d day of September, 1862, Mr. Cockerill was married to Mary V. Hadley, whose father, James Hadley, migrated from North Carolina, to this state, in 1807, being four years old, and who now resides in Dublin, Wayne County, Indiana. Her mother died, in March, 1865, in her fifty-fifth year. Mrs. Cockerill was educated iit Eurlliam College, and at the S. W. Xoriiial Institute. Prior to lier marriage, she was a prominent teacher, who never failed to get a certificate. In all, she taught sixteen terms.

Mr. and Mrs. Cockerill are the parents of live children: Ina Bell, William J., Freddy, who died in infancy, Xellie S., and Walter R.

Mr. Cockerill is a worthy member of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mrs. Cockerill is a member of the Friends, by birthright, and is connected with Walnut Creek Preparative, Hopewell Monthly, Fairfield Quarterly, and Indiana yearly meetings.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.