Joseph Randolph Cockerill (January 2, 1818 – October 23, 1875) was a U.S. Representative

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 Ohio

Ohio

Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...

.

Born in Loudoun County, Virginia

Loudoun County, Virginia

Loudoun County is a county located in the Commonwealth of Virginia, and is part of the Washington Metropolitan Area. As of the 2010 U.S. Census, the county is estimated to be home to 312,311 people, an 84 percent increase over the 2000 figure of 169,599. That increase makes the county the fourth...

, Cockerill moved to Scott Township, Ohio

Scott Township, Ohio

Scott Township, Ohio may refer to:*Scott Township, Adams County, Ohio*Scott Township, Brown County, Ohio*Scott Township, Marion County, Ohio*Scott Township, Sandusky County, Ohio...

, in 1837 and settled in Youngstown.
He attended the public schools.
He taught school.
County surveyor in 1840.
He studied law.
He was admitted to the bar

Admission to the bar in the United States

In the United States, admission to the bar is the granting of permission by a particular court system to a lawyer to practice law in that system. Each U.S. state and similar jurisdiction has its own court system and sets its own rules for bar admission , which can lead to different admission...

 in 1851 and commenced practice in West Union, Ohio

West Union, Ohio

West Union is a village in Adams County, Ohio, United States. The population was 2,903 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of 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

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 Thirty-fifth

35th United States Congress

The 35th 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, 1857 to March 3, 1859, during the first two years of James...

 Congress (March 4, 1857 – March 3, 1859).
He entered the Union Army

Union Army

The Union Army was the land force that fought for the Union during the American Civil War. It was also known as the Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the Northern Army and the National Army...

 during the 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...

 and served as colonel of the 70th Ohio Infantry

70th Ohio Infantry

The 70th Ohio Volunteer Infantry was an infantry regiment in the Union Army during the American Civil War.-Service:The 70th Ohio Infantry was organized in West Union, Ohio and mustered in for three years service on October 14, 1861 under the command of Colonel Joseph R. Cockerill.The regiment was...

.
Brevetted brigadier general of Volunteers March 13, 1865.
He was again a member of the State house of representatives 1868-1871.
He resumed the practice of law.
Lost election for Ohio State Auditor

Ohio State Auditor

The Ohio State Auditor is responsible for auditing all the public offices of the state of Ohio. The auditor is elected to a four-year term. The current Auditor is Dave Yost....

 in 1871.
He died in West Union, Ohio

West Union, Ohio

West Union is a village in Adams County, Ohio, United States. The population was 2,903 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Adams County....

, October 23, 1875.
He was interred in West Union Cemetery.

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