Joseph Randolph Cockerill (January 2, 1818 – October 23, 1875) was a

U.S. Representative The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they c ...

from Ohio for one term from 1857 to 1859.

Early life

Joseph R. Cockerill was born in Loudoun County, Virginia, January 2, 1818.Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher, ''Civil War High Commands.'' Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. . p. 179. He attended the public schools. Cockerill moved to

Scott Township, Adams County, Ohio Scott Township is one of the fifteen townships of Adams County, Ohio, United States. As of the 2010 census the population was 2,180. Geography Located in the northern part of the county, it borders the following townships: * Jackson Township, Hi ...

, in 1837 and settled in Youngsville. He taught school. He became County surveyor in 1840. He studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1851 and began the practice of law in

West Union, Ohio West Union is a village in Adams County, Ohio, United States, about southeast of Cincinnati. The population was 3,241 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Adams County. West Union is served by West Union High School, the Adams County ...

. He served as clerk of the court of common pleas. He served as member of the State house of representatives in 1853 and 1854. Cockerill was elected as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

to the Thirty-fifth Congress (March 4, 1857 – March 4, 1859). He was a delegate to the Charleston Convention.

American Civil War service

Cockerill entered the Union Army during the American Civil War and served as colonel of the

70th Ohio Infantry The 70th Ohio Infantry Regiment was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War. Service The 70th Ohio Infantry Regiment was organized in West Union, Ohio and mustered in for three years service on October 14, 1861, und ...

, December 20, 1861. Except for the periods between August 21, 1863, and September 19, 1863, and January 28, 1864, and March 11, 1864, he exercised brigade command in the Army of the Tennessee from October 26, 1862, to April 13, 1864. He resigned his commission on April 13, 1864. On March 18, 1867, President

Andrew Johnson Andrew Johnson (December 29, 1808July 31, 1875) was the 17th president of the United States, serving from 1865 to 1869. He assumed the presidency as he was vice president at the time of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln. Johnson was a Dem ...

nominated Cockerill for appointment to the grade of

brevet Brevet may refer to: Military * Brevet (military), higher rank that rewards merit or gallantry, but without higher pay * Brevet d'état-major, a military distinction in France and Belgium awarded to officers passing military staff college * Aircre ...

brigadier general of volunteers to rank from March 13, 1865, and the United States Senate confirmed the appointment on March 28, 1867.Eicher, 2001, p. 742.

Later life

After the Civil War, Joseph Cockerill was again a member of the Ohio house of representatives, 1868-1871. He lost election for Ohio State Auditor in 1871. Joseph R. Cockerill died in

, October 23, 1875. He was interred in Old West Union Cemetery, West Union. File:Joseph Cockerill.JPG, Gravestone of Joseph Cockerill File:22-26-065-cockerill-cropped.jpg, Bronze relief portrait of Cockerill by T.A.R. Kitson, Vicksburg National Military Park

Notes

References

* Eicher, John H., and David J. Eicher, ''Civil War High Commands.'' Stanford: Stanford University Press, 2001. . * {{DEFAULTSORT:Cockerill, Joseph Randolph 1818 births 1875 deaths People from West Union, Ohio People from Loudoun County, Virginia Democratic Party members of the Ohio House of Representatives Democratic Party members of the United States House of Representatives from Ohio Union Army generals People of Ohio in the American Civil War Ohio lawyers 19th-century American legislators 19th-century American lawyers