Jeremiah V. Cockrell
Encyclopedia
Jeremiah Vardaman Cockrell, also known as "Vard" Cockrell, (May 7, 1832 – March 18, 1915) was a U.S. Representative
from Texas
, after having served as a field commander in the Confederate States Army
during the American Civil War
. He was a prominent member of the famed South–Cockrell–Hargis family
of Southern
politicians.
, to Joseph Cockrell (the sheriff of Johnson County
and Nancy (Ellis) Cockrell, who had emigrated there from the Upper South. He attended the common schools and Chapel Hill College in Lafayette County, Missouri. He was the older brother of Francis Marion Cockrell, who also served as a Confederate officer and later as a US Senator from Missouri.
As a young man, Cockrell went to California
in 1849 during the Gold Rush
, where he was a miner and a merchant near the Bear River
. Cockrell returned to Missouri in 1853, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits, studied law, and, for a time, was a minister in the Methodist Church.
and Confederate States Army
as a lieutenant
and served throughout the Civil War, in which he attained the rank of colonel
. He was nominally in command at the 1862 Battle of Lone Jack
, Missouri. He was wounded so severely in 1864 that he could not return to field duty.
, where he practiced law. He became Chief Justice of Grayson County, Texas
, in 1872. He served as delegate to the Democratic state conventions in 1878 and 1880.
He and his family moved from the northern area to Jones County
, in the center of Texas. There he was appointed judge of the Thirty-ninth
judicial district court in 1885. He was elected to the position in 1886 and re-elected in 1890.
In 1893 Cockrell was elected as a Democrat
to the US Congress, where he served until 1897. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1896. He returned to engage in farming and stock raising in Jones County.
Cockrell died in Abilene, Texas
, on March 18, 1915 at the age of 82. He was interred in the Masonic
Cemetery.
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
from Texas
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
, after having served as a field commander in the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
. He was a prominent member of the famed South–Cockrell–Hargis family
South–Cockrell–Hargis family
The South–Cockrell–Hargis family is a family of politicians from the southern United States who achieved prominence in state and national offices, representing Virginia, Kentucky, Missouri, Mississippi and Texas....
of Southern
Southern United States
The Southern United States—commonly referred to as the American South, Dixie, or simply the South—constitutes a large distinctive area in the southeastern and south-central United States...
politicians.
Early life
Cockrell was born near Warrensburg, MissouriWarrensburg, Missouri
Warrensburg is a city in Johnson County, Missouri, United States. The population was 16,340 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Johnson County. The Warrensburg Micropolitan Statistical Area consists of Johnson County. It is home to the University of Central Missouri.-History:Warrensburg...
, to Joseph Cockrell (the sheriff of Johnson County
Johnson County, Missouri
Johnson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Missouri. As of 2010, the population was 52,595. Its county seat is Warrensburg. The county was formed 13 December 1834 from Lafayette County and was named for Vice President Richard M...
and Nancy (Ellis) Cockrell, who had emigrated there from the Upper South. He attended the common schools and Chapel Hill College in Lafayette County, Missouri. He was the older brother of Francis Marion Cockrell, who also served as a Confederate officer and later as a US Senator from Missouri.
As a young man, Cockrell went to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in 1849 during the Gold Rush
Gold rush
A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers to an area that has had a dramatic discovery of gold. Major gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and the United States, while smaller gold rushes took place elsewhere.In the 19th and early...
, where he was a miner and a merchant near the Bear River
Bear River (Mokelumne River tributary)
The Bear River is a river in the Sierra Nevada in California. It is a tributary of the Mokelumne River. The river and its watershed are entirely in El Dorado National Forest. The river begins as two forks several miles south of Kirkwood. The forks travel roughly southwest and merge just before the...
. Cockrell returned to Missouri in 1853, where he engaged in agricultural pursuits, studied law, and, for a time, was a minister in the Methodist Church.
Marriage and family
On April 7, 1852, he married Maranda "Jane" Douglas. They had five children together.Civil War
Cockrell entered the Missouri State GuardMissouri State Guard
The Missouri State Guard was a state militia organized in the state of Missouri during the early days of the American Civil War. While not initially a formal part of the Confederate States Army, the State Guard fought alongside Confederate troops and, at times, under regular Confederate...
and Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
as a lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
and served throughout the Civil War, in which he attained the rank of colonel
Colonel (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, colonel is a senior field grade military officer rank just above the rank of lieutenant colonel and just below the rank of brigadier general...
. He was nominally in command at the 1862 Battle of Lone Jack
Battle of Lone Jack
The Battle of Lone Jack was a battle of the American Civil War, occurring on August 15 – August 16, 1862 in Jackson County, Missouri. The battle was part of the Confederate guerrilla and recruiting campaign in Missouri in 1862.-Background:...
, Missouri. He was wounded so severely in 1864 that he could not return to field duty.
Post-war and politics
At the close of the war, Cockrell settled with his family in Sherman, TexasSherman, Texas
Sherman is a city in and the county seat of Grayson County, Texas, United States. The city's estimated population as of 2009 was 38,407. It is also one of two principal cities in the Sherman-Denison Metropolitan Statistical Area.-History:...
, where he practiced law. He became Chief Justice of Grayson County, Texas
Grayson County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 110,595 people, 42,849 households, and 30,208 families residing in the county. The population density was 118 people per square mile . There were 48,315 housing units at an average density of 52 per square mile...
, in 1872. He served as delegate to the Democratic state conventions in 1878 and 1880.
He and his family moved from the northern area to Jones County
Jones County, Texas
As of the census of 2000, there were 20,785 people, 6,140 households, and 4,525 families residing in the county. The population density was 22 people per square mile . There were 7,236 housing units at an average density of 8 per square mile...
, in the center of Texas. There he was appointed judge of the Thirty-ninth
39th United States Congress
The Thirty-ninth United States Congress was a meeting of the legislative branch of the United States federal government, consisting of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives. It met in Washington, D.C. from March 4, 1865 to March 4, 1867, during the first month of...
judicial district court in 1885. He was elected to the position in 1886 and re-elected in 1890.
In 1893 Cockrell was elected as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
to the US Congress, where he served until 1897. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1896. He returned to engage in farming and stock raising in Jones County.
Cockrell died in Abilene, Texas
Abilene, Texas
Abilene is a city in Taylor and Jones counties in west central Texas. The population was 117,063 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 158,063. It is the county seat of Taylor County...
, on March 18, 1915 at the age of 82. He was interred in the Masonic
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
Cemetery.